GET READY, START NOW, MAKE LISTS

Champagne, prosecco, alcohol-free sparkling wine, or sparkling water with a splash of elderflower cordial - whatever works!

Hello!

It's been so very long since I did a blog - almost three months. Life has been a bit crazy as well as us travelling for six amazing weeks away in the UK and Europe. Lucky, lucky me. Caught up with old friends made in London and further afield, spent time in the Peak District, Eurostar-ed from London to Antwerp, onto Luxembourg, Zurich, Lucerne, Grindelwald and Geneva. Flew to Madrid then onto Bilbao and San Sebastian. Each and every place special. Please feel free to catch up with our travels and see some glorious photos on:

https://www.facebook.com/annemarie.rawson.1

You don't need to be on Facebook or join up to view any of my posts. Start at the very beginning - 19 September - and work your way through. Hope you find something that inspires your own travel and enjoy the different comments made.

Now, "Get Ready, Start Now, Make Lists" relates to the upcoming (and already started in some countries!), festive season. I love all the planning and make endless food shopping lists and start early so I don't have the cost all in one week. No matter what or how you celebrate, you'll find some fabulous suggestions on our latest podcasts - you can listen in via Soundcloud or go to Chats/Podcasts on my website.

https://soundcloud.com/annemarie-377690792/living-life-with-annemarie-ginny-26nov24-episode-17-christmas-planning-no-1

https://soundcloud.com/annemarie-377690792/living-life-with-annemarie-ginny-3dec24-episode-18-christmas-planning-no-2

Here's the divine recipes to go with those podcasts.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/food-wine/recipes/118374217/recipe-pomegranateglazed-side-of-salmon

Or try the one on the right from the fabulous New Zealand Dish magazine.

But there's many more you can Google if these don't take your fancy.

Every year I make the same Christmas Cake - which I love and is devoured by friends and family. I cover mine with a brandy butter icing only. So delicious!

Here's the recipe in a larger format and easier to read.

Another delicious recipe is one New Zealand-born Julie Biuso created for Pavarotti when he was touring here. He just had to get the recipe from her, he loved it that much. You'll find it here - orange rind and juice, honey, mustard. It's divine and one I use each year too.

For dessert, I always head to my favourites: choux pastry Christmas wreath and Chelsea Winter's pavlova. You can't go wrong! Pipe out your choux pastry into a circle, when ready to serve, carefully cut through the centre to create a top and a bottom. Fill the bottom with a mixture of whipped cream and lemon curd, top with your favourite fruit, pop the lid back on. Ice with melted 50% or 70% chocolate and decorate with chopped nuts while icing is still 'wet'. Fill the centre with berries, decorate with mint leaves and serve. Voila!

There's many more suggestions about how to make your celebrations affordable and enjoyable on our podcasts. And really, for most of us, it's not the commercial aspect of Christmas and in fact, we buy very little in the way of presents. For me, it's about being together and enjoying each other's company. That's where I find the 'joy'. I hope you find some too during this festive season