31st December 2009

This is the end, my friends! I have documented a year in the lens of my Nikon, my (great-uncle's) ancient Olympus Camedia compact and my camera phone, and this blog has charted the outcome of what has been a fairly inconsequential year (with a couple of minor exceptions)!

Thanks to my loyal followers on this blog -- Caio Fernandes, Abi and Zweden gids! My Amateur Eye blog will still be active, despite my not having updated it in months. Must work on that. I think it might be my inspiration blog from hereon in, as I'm in need of one! :-)

I also have a new blog entitled The Daily Giveaway, documenting my need to, er, need less!

But for now . . . Happy New Year from ayearinthelens!

(Celebrated twice, for Sweden and the UK. Despite a decent I still don't like New Year's Eve. Overrated, much? :-) )

30th December 2009

Massive bruises obtained by chasing my friend's 2 year old boy round a soft play centre! Not sure who enjoyed it more, him or me! :-)

29th December 2009

28th December 2009

My friend, having a 'fika' (coffee and cake break)!

27th December 2009

First attempt at macaroni cheese. Might have to amend the recipe next time. Stodge, anyone?

Family Christmas 21st to 26th December 2009

So that was Christmas!

20th December 2009

Took a walk in the new snow after church (by then it was only semi-new but still satisfying!). The sky has been an unreal shade of blue today. I just wish that everyone could enjoy it.

19th December 2009

A vegging day (aside from the usual frantic dash around the supermarket!). Been watching some of my favourite Christmas films to immerse myself in the mood:

A few favourite Christmas moments:
Love Actually: Mark at Juliet's doorstep
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation: Clark cranks up the lights!
While You Were Sleeping: can't find my favourite part on YouTube (where Lucy is welcomed into the family on their belated Christmas Day), so here's the trailer.
The Snowman: Walking in the Air - it took me years before I realised they were flying over the old Brighton pier!

and a little less sacrosanct but fun:

Mean Girls: Jingle Bell Rock

18th December 2009

1. Decorations in town with extra snow topping
2. My church, looking very quaint
3. Outside my building - snow pile!

17th December 2009

Snow. Nuff said! It began during choir . . . and didn't really stop!

16th December 2009

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Snow! In December! Only a sprinkling but still!
I can't remember having snow in December since I was a child, or a teenager at least. And even then the memory is hazy!
And tonight we were carol-singing in the underpass of the station. It sounded pretty good, actually, quite a lot of us there, lots of gusto!
Feeling more Christmassy now. :-)

15th December 2009

The pilot of Glee was on this evening (yuh-huh, we're a bit behind the times here in the UK), and after rave reviews from my cousin I thought I'd give it a look-in though I'm trying to cut down my TV hours for next year and do something more constructive with my life! However, I could get into this! The girl playing Rachel reminds me of Idina Menzel.

(Excuse the subtitles; I find it easier to watch with these on. Ye gads I'm elderly!)

14th December 2009

Yep, while watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation followed by One Tree Hill (Lucas and Peyton's truly shmaltzy wedding - aaah!) I made a stable.
Next year my resolution is to get a life. But for now, here's my rather sub-par picture-vomit of my home-made nativity! (Must improve my PS skills.)

13th December 2009

My church social group (well, 7 of us plus a baby) went out for a yummy Christmas lunch at the pub - absolutely delicious roast beef with Yorkshires, and chocolate fudge cake with cream as a pudding, which I couldn't finish! Me! Chocolate aficionado. I failed my people. :-( But it was delicious!

12th December 2009

Decoration compilation!
In trying to explain to my mother how my flat decorations had turned out, I ended up making this hasty little collage. Not my best work (again) but gives a good idea! Still haven't created my Nativity scene, though; I need a plain cardboard box as a stable . . .