![](https://www.theannoyedthyroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/taking-stock-dec-23.png)
Happy New Cheer one and all! Hope 2024 has been good to you so far. I’m a bit on the back foot because here I am well into 2024 taking a look back at 2023. We had a December to remember for all the right and some of the wrong reasons but I thought I should document it for posterity. Yes friends, it’s time to take stock so buckle up and enjoy the ride!
Making: Caramilk fudge, Rocky Road Wreath and these delicious little Christmas pudding treats!
![](https://www.theannoyedthyroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/christmas-puds.jpeg)
Baking: A delicious blueberry loaf – recipe coming soon!
Eating: Our way round Budapest enjoying all kinds of Hungrian deliciousness, like this langos with sour cream, bacon, red onion and cheese.
![](https://www.theannoyedthyroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/langos-2.jpeg)
Drinking: Baileys on ice!
Leaving: On a jet plane for a wonderful winter escape to Budapest.
![](https://www.theannoyedthyroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ryanair-1.jpeg)
Worrying: About how small the plane was – I’m not used to these baked bean tins with wings!
Staying: At the beautiful Hotel Moments in Budapest. I highly recommend!
![](https://www.theannoyedthyroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/hotel-moments-3.jpeg)
Spilling: The beans about our winter escape to Budapest here.
Enjoying: The Christmas markets in Budapest.
![](https://www.theannoyedthyroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/shopping-street.jpeg)
Swapping: Hungarian for French on Duolingo… so much easier!
Listening: To Christmas tunes – I just can’t get enough!
Singing: Along to all our favourite Christmas tunes at the pub sing a long.
Hanging: Our stockings on the fireplace.
Waiting: For Santa. Yes, I’m still a believer!
![green white and red stockings on white mantle](https://www.theannoyedthyroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/stockings.jpeg)
Watching: All the Christmas movies and some cracking Christmas Norwegian series.
Recommending: Home for Christmas and A Storm for Christmas – so, so good!
Playing: Bingo at our local. I didn’t win but I did have a lot of fun.
![](https://www.theannoyedthyroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/kh-bingo-2.jpeg)
Catching: Covid for the first time. I guess I’m not a Covid unicorn after all.
![](https://www.theannoyedthyroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/covid-test-1.jpeg)
Wishing: I had been able to join friends Christmas at a local pub for friends’ Christmas dinner.
Isolating: While everyone else was feasting. Wah!
![](https://www.theannoyedthyroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/crown-christmas-table.jpeg)
Missing: Out on family Christmas too in Newcastle as David was poorly. Christmas Day was a sad affair.
Feeling: Like there was a lot of missing out in December between both David and I being out of action.
Seeing: Our old friends from London/Sydney – so much fun!
![](https://www.theannoyedthyroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/gang-at-crown-1.jpeg)
Having: Fun with friends old and new.
Opening: Christmas cards and doors on my Bonne Maman advent calendar. Look at my gift from door 24!
![](https://www.theannoyedthyroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bonne-maman-decoration.jpeg)
Wondering: What to do with 17 mini pots of jam… All ideas welcome!
Lighting: The candles on our menorah because we’re a multi faith family and that’s how we roll.
![](https://www.theannoyedthyroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/hanukkah-candles.jpeg)
Getting: Our annual family festive photo in matching jumpers.
Marvelling: At our photographer – Hanna always creates some Christmas photo magic.
![](https://www.theannoyedthyroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/xmas-photo-shoot-1.jpeg)
photo credit: Bourne Photographic Studios
Snapping: Pictures of the beautiful wreaths on the old doors around town. I’m obsessed.
![a baby pink front door with a christmas wreath hanging on it by a red ribbon](https://www.theannoyedthyroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/pink-door-xmas.jpeg)
Loving: The Christmas Tree House in town. Terrible pic but you get the idea…
![a four storey house with 2 windows on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd floor with 1 window on the ground floor. It is dark outside and in every window there is a Christmas tree that is lit up](https://www.theannoyedthyroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/christmas-tree-house-2.jpeg)
Liking: Cosy nights by the fire.
![](https://www.theannoyedthyroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/winter-living-room.jpeg)
Disliking: The weather – it’s been absolutely feral!
Publishing: The recipe for this Rocky Road Wreath. It’s only taken me a few years LOL!
![](https://www.theannoyedthyroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/rocky-road-wreath-2.jpeg)
Joining: Sherry and friends for the December edition of In My Kitchen.
Buying: A couple of decorations for the tree from Budapest – this Hungarian Pulli dog is my fave.
![](https://www.theannoyedthyroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/pulli.jpeg)
Putting: The Christmas linen on the bed for the last time. Sob!
![](https://www.theannoyedthyroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/christmas-linen.jpeg)
Thinking: I sleep better in Christmas sheets. That’s my theory and I’m sticking to it!
Wearing: A Christmas jumper a day, every day for the month of December.
![](https://www.theannoyedthyroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/christmas-jumper.jpeg)
Dressing: Teddy up in Christmas jumpers too!
![](https://www.theannoyedthyroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/teddy-x-mas-jumper.jpeg)
Walking: Teddy and his pal, Ruby. Don’t they make a cute couple?!
![](https://www.theannoyedthyroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ruby-and-ted.jpeg)
Channeling: My inner Elsa with my Frozen inspired nails.
![](https://www.theannoyedthyroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/christmas-nails.jpeg)
Spotting: These amazing nacreous clouds – so pretty!
![](https://www.theannoyedthyroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/rainbow-clouds-.jpeg)
Looking: Forward to a happy, healthy and peaceful new year for all.
Now I’ve told you about my month, I’d love to hear about yours. Tell me everything in the comments!