It Was Diana's Day Off,

so first thing we were out, 

and the day started with some good news, Hotpoint telephoned and we made a appointment for our new fridge/freezer to be dropped off next Friday at the same time the other new one to be picked up, next into the car and out, and a drive past a few trees, changing the colour of their leaves, 

and we were soon here, Ruxley Manor Garden Centre, Steve and Kai had recommended it for a drive out to look at the Christmas decorations, not that we needed any but we both just love Christmas, as it happens we nearly did not go inside, we like many others drove round and round looking for a place to park in all of the car parks, as we were about to leave a car pulled out and we pulled in, and that was on a Friday, it must be manic here on Saturday and Sundays!

as soon as we walked in,

we were in Christmas land!

as well as bonsai's

this one looking nice, yours for £100, 

Diana decided to try a pair of boots on, but it was a no sale,

everywhere we looked,

Christmas decorations,

these looked so cute, 

we left before breakfast, 

so a coffee and a toastie for Diana with chips,

and a mug of coffee and a croissant for myself, I was going to have a bacon sandwich, but at £9.99 I thought it was a tad too expensive, so I went for sausage, mash & peas at £12.99, but it was not served until after 12.00 noon, so a £2.50 croissant it was, 

Diana tucked in, 

the restaurant was huge, and packed!

if you like jams this is the place,

we started looking at the Christmas decorations,

the Ginger bread train,

Diana wanted to take the Gingerbread man home!

illuminated garlands for sale,

along with candles,

and bubbles in every colour and hue, 

this little guy was so cute, 

Diana made a video of him,

one more for the tree?

there was a model village here similar to the one at Polhill Nursery, 

lots of homes, 

shops,

railways,

and attractions, 

on display, 

some moving like this one, 

as it happens I made a short video of it, and what from a distance looked like a real open fire, though to be fair the village at Polhill was much more impressive, you can see it here, 

we entered the lighting section,

everything you need for Christmas!

a quick look at the plants for sale,

cactuses,

and orchids on offer,

and these I just love,

carnivorous plants,

like this sundew,

Venus fly trap, 

or trumpet pitchers, 

these were so bright, 

it was difficult to walk past them,

at first I though they were from Portugal,

but I was wrong, they were from next door, Spain, we made a move for home,

blue skies all the way, arriving home Diana got busy with the tree, 

and nice it is starting to look,

under it the Christmas village,

time for a sherry and a read,

then a real treat, beef stew and dumplings,

 

eyes down and tuck in!

we followed that with sticky toffee pudding,

'Cheers!', 

then feet up for our evenings films, firstly Renfield, talk about a over the top gore fest, this has to be it! I liked the fact that bugs to Renfield were like spinach to Popeye, it is of course a comedy and very watchable it was too,

we rounded off the evening with The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, a computer generated film fest, if you are into this genre what is there not to like? very enjoyable, with the end of that we were then off to bed.