School's Out

For another year.  They officially break up next Wednesday but as the film project wraps today there is really no point in him going Monday and Tuesday and I won't have a car Wednesday and Thursday anyway so today will be Josh's last day.  This year has gone so fast and he's been a little trooper facing school when it's not easy for him.  Next year will be Year 10, his school certificate year and I can hardly believe it, my baby boy is growing up so fast, I can see changes in him every day, he's a young man now and what a wonderful young man he is. 
I feel a bit lost, usually this time of year is so busy.  But having pared down our celebrations big time there just isn't much to do.  All the presents are bought and wrapped, I'm just waiting for a couple of small things I ordered online to arrive.  We ended up getting the kids more than we had planned but it's still not much, especially compared to last year.

This is the dining room.

All that is left to do is get the fresh stuff on Christmas Eve, the seafood and fruit etc. 

I just did the fruit for another fruit cake, I used spiced rum this time instead of brandy.  Might make some shortbread as well, I just feel like doing SOMETHING.  As I was adding the spice to the mix  I though of my grandmother who one year accidentally put cayenne pepper in her fruit cake instead of the mixed spice.  I liked it and she gave me the whole cake, I was only about 12 or so.  It still makes me giggle when I think of her doing that.

I got a card from a favourite aunt yesterday, she is the wife of my father's younger brother Bill, who died a few years ago.  Both of them have always been so good to me and I lost touch with Pat for a couple of years after Bill died but I'm so glad we're back in touch. 

Trying my hand at salmon rissoles tonight, I haven't made them for years but we couldn't get any fresh salmon which is what I usually like to have on Friday night.

I hope we get some rain tonight, it's so dry and dusty, I'm sure the dust isn't helping this cold get better.  There's a truck yard two doors up and every time the huge trucks come in and out they throw up huge clouds of dust that flies everywhere.