Monday 7 December 2020

Photo diary: week 49, project 366

 Two weeks of school to go, and Christmas holidays will start. I'm absolutely unprepared - I have bought hardly any gifts. I have a food delivery booked for the 21st by miracle with Ocado, and still undecided what to cook as the main for Christmas lunch. Most likely we'll have a vegetarian main, but for the boys I will make pigs in blanket, and maybe a little ham. 

I was browsing Fortnum & Mason Christmas hampers (just for fun, I haven't actually bought anything), and saw their famous hamper for £6,000. It made me think that even if I won a lottery, I wouldn't spend this amount of money on a hamper. Don't think I could justify it to myself. I don't pontificate, if anything, I have always wanted a little F&M hamper as a gift. There are several competitions running at the moment where you can win one. Have you spotted the competition at Nigella.com, you need to find a pudding every day for 24 days to be entered in the draw. You can catch up on the previous days as well.

Talking of giveaways, don't miss a chance to win over 1,4kg of chocolate - I am running my annual 12 days of chocolate giveaway, and you still have a chance to win, just go through all the questions and answer in separate comments. And good luck! I have enjoyed choosing different chocolate bars for this giveaway.

Are you working on your advent comps? Any wins to report? Nothing here so far, but I'm ever hopeful.

The bleak beauty of naked trees - walking across the bridge over the Windrush river.

Witney, nature of Oxfordshire, Chez Maximka

A lovely sunny morning... St Mary's Church and the Church Green.

churches of Oxfordshire, Chez Maximka

As soon as the cafes were open after the second lockdown on the 2nd, I had a latte at Costa. It was lovely too. It was nice to see the familiar faces of the staff and have a quick chat. 

Chez Maximka

This month One More Chapter is running a book photo challenge, there are daily prompts and ideas. On the 3rd you had to choose a book with snow on the cover. I read The Girl Who Speaks Bear last year, and loved it. We even met Sophie Anderson in person last year (live book events, do you remember these things happening in the past life?!), and she signed a copy to Eddie. 
If you're looking for a great stocking filler for someone who enjoys YA/middle grade fiction, this is a fantastic story.

Chez Maximka, best YA fiction

The Blue Boar has decorated its interior for Christmas. Even their boar head is wearing a Santa hat. It was nice and toasty indoors, with a roaring fire and a hot drink.

Witney pubs, Chez Maximka

We braved the cold and ventured to the playground on the Leys, but I could just about endure half an hour before begging Eddie to leave. My fingers were so frozen, I couldn't even catch Pokemons.

Chez Maximka

We walked in town and admired all Christmas decorations. Someone has added a huge ribbon to the front door, it was very pretty (my second photo from Saturday, as on Monday I haven't done any pictures).
What else is "newsworthy"? We have set up our Christmas tree, it only needs a string of lights to be added. It's one of my favourite seasonal tasks, to take the ornaments from the box, unwrap them and lovingly place them on the branches. So many memories...

Chez Maximka



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14 comments:

  1. Ahh! I like to look at the Fortnum & Mason Christmas hampers. I think the only way I would buy one is if I was a millionaire. lol I have been entering the competitions though.
    Fantastic photos! Our local shop has just got a Costa machine in so I will be treating myself to one soon.
    That door with the bow on is so pretty. What a great idea. x

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    1. Thank you, Kim! That hamper is still there. There was a £175 million top prize on Euro Millions last Tuesday. I did buy a ticket, and was dreaming of buying myself a hamper (not for 6K). Didn't win a bean, no surprises there. :)

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  2. I don't think I ever looked at the F&M Christmas hamper. I think they look nice, hampers in general, but I wouldn't buy one (regardless of the price).
    It's nice Eddie could play outside, although you were brave to stay 30 minutes in one place on a cold day. :)
    My husband and I went for a coffee, with our books, while the car was passing (yay!) its MOT. I love being able to go for a coffee again.

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  3. £6k for a hamper that's insane! I agree with you I don't think I would if I ever came into that kind of money either it would seem rather wasteful. Good luck with your advent competitions, I haven't been entering any. I used to back in my time as a seasoned comper, but these days I never seem to get round to it x

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  4. Very envious of the pubs and cafes being open. I do like the door with the ribbon on it, although a handsome door anyway.

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  5. OooO you got to get to work for Christmas. That's a lot for a hamper. That does look like bleak beauty. Delicious looking latte and tart. OoOO so cool to meet an author. That ribbon does look great

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  6. Woah 6K for a food hamper! But I guess that is small change for the extremely rich.

    That book looks like something my eldest might enjoy. Might try and get hold of a copy.

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  7. I've been entering competitions too, but need to get properly going on the advents. Haven't won anything though yet. We need to still put up our tree. I'm now feeling like it's too long to wait til next weekend, but the OH will moan if it goes up as soon as this weekend. Maybe we'll do a good clean this week, then it'll be ready for midweek if I can be bothered one evening.

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  8. I had no idea they did a hamper worth that much! Thats the same price as a car! We did actually look at getting a small one for my in laws but there are allergies and couldnt find one suitable. Love all the Christmas decorations. We are not ready either but I have only two days of work left and then I am planning on trying to get it all done before the kids break up!! Ever the optimist!

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  9. I love all these door ribbons that everyone is doing. Sadly it won't work on ours though. I have entered a few comps but not as many as usual due to work

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  10. We need a picture of the tree please. £6000 for a hamper? wow that is expensive and I agree, even if I had the money I just don't get where the value comes from.

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  11. Love the pic of the sky over the church. I would never spend that much on a hamper either! #project366

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  12. A £6000 hamper?! You have to be kidding!!! I would want the keys to a new car to be in it! Nicely done on organising an Ocado shop, just checked and only a few spots left for tomorrow at £6.99. With everyone food shopping online, I can only hope the supermarkets will be quieter! Sim x

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  13. This year, I was so busy, I didn't even find the time to enter your Christmas giveaway - I don't know where the time went ! Finally catching up and chilling out now though :) There is no way I would ever spend £6000 on a hamper - or even a big supermarket shop ! How the other half live, eh ?! Ahh the joys of catching up with a quick coffee in town ! It's been very cold lately so I'm not surprised you didn't want to hang about at the playground - brrr !

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