The best TV specials over Christmas!

There’s nothing quite like gathering around the telly with a steaming mug of hot chocolate and a plate of mince pies during the Christmas season when all the TV shows go all out and have their Christmas specials. This year the festive line up looks great that promises laughs, drama and all the warm, fuzzy feels!

The Great British Bake Off: Christmas Special!

No Christmas is complete without a visit to the Bake Off tent. This year’s festive special is hosting a soap reunion, welcoming Dean Gaffney, Sheree Murphy, Shobna Gulati MBE, Natalie Cassidy and Chris Bisson to take part. Expect gingerbread masterpieces, towering Christmas cakes, and plenty of puns from Noel and Alison.

Strictly Come Dancing: Christmas Spectacular!

Strictly fans, rejoice! The Christmas special is always a dazzling treat. Celebrities and pro dancers hit the ballroom floor with festive routines that bring glitz and glamour to your living room. This year the celebs are: Josh Widdicombe, Tayce, Vogue Williams, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Tamzin Outhwaite and Billy Monger.

Call the Midwife Christmas Special! 

A tradition as beloved as mulled wine, Call the Midwife brings its heart warming touch to Christmas once again. For the first time in its history, Call the Midwife fans have a two-part Christmas special to look forward to rather than the traditional 90 minute instalment, the BBC has confirmed that there will be two 60 minute episodes, which will also include a Christmas cliff hanger. The midwives are "all busy delivering babies and doing the job they are most dedicated and committed to", while Poplar also welcomes a funfair, which adds "a burst of colour and excitement to the frosty landscape". But there will be challenges, including influenza and the Hong Kong flu, not to mention an escaped prisoner.

Gavin and Stacey: the finale!

The Gavin and Stacey Christmas special in 2024 will be the final episode of the sitcom and will air on BBC One on Christmas Day! It’s five years since we left Nessa down on one knee declaring her love for Smithy and asking him to marry her. What has happened since? In Barry, Bryn’s packing the Picasso in readiness for a trip to Essex; Gavin and Stacey are looking for new ways to spice up their seventeen year marriage and Gwen is behaving most strangely. Nessa’s started a new business venture and Neil the Baby’s about to begin an apprenticeship with his dad. Over in Billericay Pam is stressing out at the prospect of playing hostess, not helped by a newly retired Mick practicing his golf swings in the living room and there have been more ups and downs in Pete and Dawn’s relationship.

Doctor Who: Joy to the World! 

For sci-fi lovers, the Doctor Who special is a yuletide staple. This year the episode focuses on a powerful but dangerous piece of technology finding its way to a futuristic time-traveling hotel during the holiday season. As a treat this episode will star Bridgerton and Derry Girl's Nicola Coughlan as one time companion Joy. Who doesn’t love a good alien invasion with their turkey dinner?

EastEnders: Christmas Day Drama!

It wouldn’t be Christmas without a trip to Albert Square. EastEnders always delivers the drama and this year promises to be no exception. Cindy Beale and Junior Knight's affair is exposed, Denise Fox gets a very different Christmas to last year, maybe a happy on? Phil Mitchell faces loneliness and Linda Carter is on a downward spiral! Eek!

What are you looking forward to watching on TV over Christmas?

Share our Lives - My Favourite Smells!

This month's Share Our Lives linky prompt is: Favourite Smells. Smells are powerful! A single whiff can transport you back to a cherished memory, lift your spirits or even make your day. If you're anything like me, you've got a list of favourite scents that make you go, "Ahhhh."

That crisp, Autumn morning smell!

I love opening the back door first thing on a morning and taking a deep breath. It’s cool and fresh with just a hint of the earthiness that comes from this time of year!

Petrol!

I know, I know this one divides people but there’s something oddly satisfying about the sharp, sweet tang of petrol. It reminds me of days out when I was a kid, getting in the car and stopping off at the petrol station to fill up the car. It also makes me think of my dad, he is always working on his vintage cars and when I walk into his workshop it always smells of petrol.

Rain on dry pavement in the summer!

After a long, hot day, when the first raindrops hit the ground there is that smell, an earthy smell which my family hate but I love it. It makes me think of summer especially the summers when I was a child. Sudden showers stopped playtime, there was the rush of scrambling indoors, laughter and my mum shouting when I dripped water everywhere.

Gingerbread Candles!

A few years ago I discovered a gingerbread candle in Home Bargains and each year I buy a new one even though I am still burning one from a couple of years ago. The smell hasn't changed and my family love it. Usually they complain about me burning candles but this one, they will just leave it be!

Bacon!

Bacon cooking is the smell of happiness. It’s savoury, salty and instantly gets my stomach growling even if I'm not hungry!

Babies!

Babies have such a unique smell, not when they have a dirty nappy of course but when they are just out of the bath and are all fresh and clean. I remember when my girls were little I used Johnson's Baby Bath and Shampoo and it is one to those smells which when I smell it again I feel a pang of sadness that my girls aren't babies anymore.

Sun cream!

That creamy, coconutty scent immediately reminds me of when my girls were little and trips to the beach, sandcastles and collecting shells.

Markers!

Remember being a kid in school, uncapping a fresh marker and taking a sniff? It sounds odd but the slightly chemical, strong smell of permanent markers makes me think of school. Bringing back memories of art projects and doodling on notebooks.

New shoes!

This is a weird one but I love the smell of new shoes, it doesn't matter what type, whether they are leather or trainers there's a smell that they have which I love. 

Freshly baked cakes!

The smell of bread baking takes me back to my Aunty Jean's kitchen. I can almost see her with her apron dusted in flour and busying herself making tasty treats for us all! She was the person who taught me to bake and made the best ever fruit scones!

What are your favourite smells?

I am linking up with:

Adrienne from Mom Life with Adrienne.

Dara from Not In Jersey.

Jen from Show me & Sweet tea.

Joanne from Slices of Life.

Sarah from Toronto Sam.

Our weekly meal plan! 9th - 15th December. #MealPlanningMonday

Last weeks meal plan went great until Saturday when I realised that I had forgot to buy the lasagne. I had got carried away ordering things for Christmas in the food shop and forgot to buy real food that we needed. I wasn't going to go to the shop as the weather was terrible but we were never going to starve, we have food in the freezer. We had beef burgers, chips and baked beans. 

Today's plan was to go shopping with my dad to get the freezer food from Christmas from Iceland but we ended up going yesterday as my dad needed a few bits from town before Monday. I think we got everything that we needed and a few extras. Today I am going to do the last of my present buying, the online things to send to people and then I need to actually add things to my fresh online Christmas food shop instead of just the alcohol which I popped in there to book the slot.

This week I am out for another Christmas meal! I am so looking forward to it as it's one of my favourite places to eat. Then for the rest of the week I don't know what I am doing, I have no plans at all. Usually at this time of year I am doing things to prepare for Christmas but this year I am ahead of myself.

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - Gousto meal - Pork & Sage Stuffing Pizza With Gravy Dip.

Tuesday - Gousto meal - Crispy Pork Spring Roll Wraps With Sweet Chilli Sauce.

Wednesday - Gousto meal - Pan-Fried Chicken, Roast Veg, Stuffing & Gravy.

Thursday - Something with pasta. I am not 100% sure yet.

Friday - Fishfinger sandwiches.

Saturday - Burgers in buns and fries..

Sunday - Sausages, mash and veg.

What are you eating this week?

Week 49 of #Project365 1st - 7th December! A photo every day for a year!

Where has the past week gone? December needs to slow down a bit but I am feeling pretty organised at the moment. I have all the girls presents bought and wrapped, the alcohol, soft drinks and cupboard stuff bought and hidden away. I have 4 more presents to buy but they are online one's and I don't have to worry about wrapping and delivering them. Then all I have to buy is my dad's cheese closer to Christmas. (That's what he wants) I have already got him the crackers and chutney. I still have the big fresh food shop to do but barring any disasters that is booked in to be delivered just before the big day! How are you getting on with the preparation for Christmas?

We have had a good week. It has gone in a blur, my week seems to have revolved around food, we've had some lovely meals. I am writing this yesterday lunchtime so tonight's tea (lasagne) seems pretty boring in comparison to what we've had. lol 

I hope everyone stayed safe in during the latest storm? Storm Darragh. We lost a fence panel, one of the one's in the middle. It came down yesterday afternoon after I took todays photo. Stu will hopefully fix it today although we are forecast snowy showers this afternoon. It might be a job for tomorrow.

Now for a photo every day!

336/365 - 1st December

We went to the pub for a carvery and it was so good as always. They cost £12 and I always get more meat than I can eat and as much veg as we want. I always overdo it with the parsnips but I do love them. 

337/365 - 2nd December

I cooked the minty lamb and potato stew in the slow cooker and it came out perfect! It was just what we needed on a cold day. Stu called into the shop on the way home to get some nice bread to go with it.

338/365 - 3rd December

A new gonk! I didn't buy it this time. lol Becky's girlfriend did. They keep sending me TikToks about how all mums are obsessed with Gonks and want to raise an army of them, I am well on the way.

339/365 - 4th December

I did think about adding Baileys to my coffee on Wednesday afternoon. I didn't. lol

340/365 - 5th December

Christmas lunch out with friends and it was a good one although as much as the dessert was nice it didn't really taste of Irish Cream like I was expecting with it being an Irish Cream torte.

341/365 - 6th December

I said I wasn't going to buy us matching Christmas pj's but here we are. We went with the one's from B&M. They have a fleecy touch to them and only cost £9 for the the girls and mine and £10 for Stu's.

342/365 - 7th December

What a rotten day! The wind is blowing and the rain was coming down hard. I was so glad that I didn't have to go out. Ellie stuck to her routine and went out for snacks and sweets for our Saturday night in front of the TV. Weather doesn't bother her but I did make her wear a coat.

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