Christmas Crackers Countdown

December 2021

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If we repeat an activity from before, when does it actually become a tradition? Our greetings, cards, charities and jokes are arranged in order of the date Gelly Babes thought, or actually had, sent them me.  ('Yes', even on-line posting can go astray, and 'no' it wasn't in my safe space or bin!).With a bit of untangling, downloading, transcribing and the addition of missing jokes, I think you will agree that we are a lovely bunch of babes and have a lovely blog.  Enjoy the read!

Charlotte

Our chosen Charity is supporting Sofia and Satyam in their education in UK. 

Sofia is now in year 10 and doing really well. She is proving to have a talent for languages, studying Russian, French, Spanish and English at GCSE. 

Satyam is in year 9 and also doing well academically but his real talent is sport: cricket, swimming, off road cycling and now golf!

Merry Christmas, babes x x x

Knock, knock!

Who’s there?
Gladys.
Gladys who?
         Gladys Christmas. How about you?

Alison

 I have made my donation to “sightsavers” which helps children across Africa

 from going blind from trachoma.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

I hope you all have a great Christmas,

Love from Alison xx

                                                                              

Why did the dalek go to the bodyshop? 

To exfoliate

Julia

Chosen Charity: Crisis, the national charity for homeless people.

Happy Christmas to all the Gelly Babes!

Looking forward to lots of fun meet-ups in 2022.

Much love from Julia xxx

Why was the snowman looking through the carrots? 

He was picking his nose!

Lynn

My charities are Ashgate Hospice and the Salvation Army. 

Merry Christmas everyone!

How did Mary and Joseph know that Jesus was 7lb 6oz when he was born?

Because they had a weigh in a manger.

Helen M

Helen J

I am donating to  the Guardian and Observer's appeal this year.  Funds raised will support four charities fighting global climate injustice, for those who have been displaced or had their lives severely disrupted from flooding and drought, to rising sea levels. 

 

(From my lockdown recycled card project and now recycled again!)

 With love and hoping to see you all a lot more in in 2022! xx

What did Adam say on the day before Christmas?

"It's Christmas, Eve!"

Maggie

I have sent a donation this Christmas to the British Red Cross for their Kindness Has no Borders campaign. Half of my donation will help people in need in the UK and half will go to their International Relief Fund.

Why are Christmas trees so bad at sewing?
They are always dropping their needles!

Pam

It was a hard task choosing a charity this year as a there seems to have been an increase in need both in the UK and across the world this year. I've chosen the International Rescue Committee (IRC) which responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all you lovely friends.  

Looking forward to meeting up with you all in January 2022. 

Why does Santa have three gardens?

So he can 'ho, ho, ho'

Jane

Merry Christmas everyone!

What do angry mice send to each other?

Cross mouse cards.

Jo

 

I have chosen to send money to Tearfund.  I have a lovely advent calendar 

which sends me a daily message from the people around the world they are supporting.

Have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.  See you in 2022.

Why was the turkey in the pop group?

Because he was the only one with drum sticks! 

And finally, looking ahead.......

What do vampires sing on New Year's Eve?

Auld Fang Syne

 

 

 

Pre-Christmas Carsington Catchup

Pre-Christmas Carsington Catchup. 9/12/21.

In lovely morning sunshine Jo and Helen J made an early start to do a bit of birding. They didn’t meet up until they both arrived at the Visitor Centre. Helen had been searching for redpoll and seen flocks of bull finches and Jo had walked from the Sheepwash car park and back creating a bird count of 40 different species. 

Jo bumped into Simon Roddis – ornithologist at Carsington who had seen a female smew and 2 little egrets!! and then Lynn and Tali by the bird hide. We were  so lucky to see a gold crest twittering away and showing off on a branch about 5 metres away. 

Carsington water looked wonderful.

Thank you Lynn for booking the restaurant. 

Her reward was to be first to receive her full English breakfast and was quick to tuck in. Lovely festive top Lynn.

The Gellybabes ready to tuck in…. 

just waiting for Julia to arrive bit later. Charlotte was unable to join us due being tied up with online lessons. Lots of chatting took place, HJ shared stories from her Norfolk trip, Christmas cards were delivered, Pam produced some extra sweet fudge, HJ told us to keep a look out for the Christmas task that’s going out on What’s app soon and reminded us about our charity donations this year.

Julia arrived in time for a cuppa, with her chauffer Bob (who chose to sit at a table on his own). Chatting continued until we were virtually thrown out at 11.55 to make way for the Christmas lunches. Bob was able to take a photo of us altogether outside by the rock.

 Time to pay for the car parking!! - if we can work out how to do it!

Jo went off to look for the red polls and the bull finches as everyone left to go home. She found the redpolls but no bull finches!! Look at what the babes missed – looks like fun!!!

Elfie!

Mischievous elves were everywhere.

Stealthy squirrel.

Bird list:

 Robin, Crow, dunnock, greenfinch, goldfinch, chaffinch, bull finch, great tit, bluetit, long tailed tit, coal tit, mallard, pochard, teal, tufted duck, mute swan, grey heron, lapwing, great crested grebe, little grebe, blackbird, coot, moorhen, Canada goose, greylag goose, pheasant, gold crest, house sparrow, wood pigeon, red poll, siskin, black headed gull, lesser black backed gull, buzzard, red shank, redwing, starling, field fare, thrush, magpie, cormorant, jackdaw. 42 

- didn’t see the smew or the little egrets that Simon Roddis had seen.