I've just realised that today is 85 years since my parents, Jim Cooke and Edith Barrett, got married at All Saints, Briston, Norfolk. Here are the happy couple, both aged 26. I didn't arrive until 8 years later, partly because there was a war on and Jim was in India with the RAF for 4 years!

My birthday present from Dear Husband arrived today - a new Swatch watch to replace the one I bought myself in 2006 which has stopped working and cannot be repaired. I am pleased with the design I chose and am happy to have the time on my wrist as well as on my phone!

A cold day but dry this afternoon so I went out into the garden briefly to look for signs of life and found snowdrops, aconites and the odd pansy which was cheering.

I have just spent a very pleasant afternoon in the first of two Zoom workshops on fabric collage run by the Royal School of Needlework which was Dear Husband's Christmas present to me. Here is progress so far on my abstract landscape. The small hoop shows the finished picture.

Having a slow relaxing day back home. Doing the washing, setting up TV recordings and reading. Here are the three books I got for Christmas. The embroidery one is linked to an online course later in January.

Happy Christmas everyone! Here are some Christmas Roses by the British artist Dorothy Larcher, painted around 1949 so nearly as old as me.

Today I decorated the tree in my usual over the top fashion, partly while watching Now Voyager. I couldn't resist this year's new bauble. What could be better than a glass Christmas tree on a Christmas 🎄?

Thanks to number 1 son the tree is now up! I'll let it settle and then decorate, probably on Friday.

Really glad to have had my hair cut today. I have tried growing it a bit longer this year but have not felt comfortable, so now I am back to my usual length and feel much better. Before and after.

Very happy that Timpsons have at last got a replacement strap for my watch and fitted it today. I bought my Swatch in 2006 as a birthday present to myself just after my mother died. This is its third strap but I'm so glad I can wear it again.

My advent calendar is up on the larder door and I have opened the first window. It's from the Bodleian Library this year and I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next.

I also have several screenprints on canvas of trees and gardens by Karl Torok

Collected my auction purchases this afternoon. Here is a Sicilian landscape by Piers Browne- with cows!

Woke up to a little bit of snow in Skipton which is melting already. This is the view from the front of my house when I drew the curtains this morning. I don't have to go out today so will be staying in the warm.

Had a successful shop in Saltaire and bought a treat for myself. I love a large Christmas tree and usually buy a new bauble for it each year, but today I decided to get this small ceramic forest to add to the other trees I have.

Today we have come out to Saltaire to do a bit of seasonal shopping. We have been to the Peace Craft Fair in Victoria Hall and are now in Salt's Diner waiting for lunch. Dear Husband is attempting the crossword while I am posting on multiple platforms!