Festivities

December, always a busy month, got off to a strong start with my book group annual get together in London.

I always enjoy a trip to London but it is especially lovely (although very busy) when you can see all the festive lights and windows.

And treat yourself to a fancy lunch.

I made individual Christmas cakes for my book group friends as gifts, using washed out baked bean cans as the tins. 

It was such fun icing and decorating them: there is so little time now for me to make gifts for others that I had forgotten quite how much I enjoy it.

Other weekends were less glamorous but not less lovely for that. Local walks, drinks with friends, wreath making, carol services and a lovely trip to Winchester for some last minute Christmas shopping. 

At home, there is always so much comfort to be had in the repetition and tradition that comes with Christmas. The Christmas book pile comes out every year. Some I read for the first time, others I re-read, but it is always enjoyable.

Making mince pies is one tradition I truly love, although it is only John and I who eat them. I didn't make a Christmas cake this year. I just ran out of time before Christmas but it's ok, I can always make one in January. Or next year.

The same decorations (with a few additions from recent travels) are hung on the tree. The old nativity scene always comes out.

There is the usual Christmas Eve cooking and rushing around, trying to get everything ready for the next day. This year, my parents hosted fourteen of us but we all brought different elements of the meal. My job was roast potatoes, gravy and sprouts. It's only a five minute drive so we had an oven dish of potatoes wrapped in foil and towels in the back of the car. 

My embroidered napkins had their annual airing on Boxing Day, when we hosted lunch for family.

I still recycle old Christmas Cards into gifts tags using a large hole punch.

And styling the mantel is always a pleasure - the same yet different every year. 

New traditions have crept in too, such as adding some Christmas bits to the printer's tray hanging in the hall.

Bella and I bought and decorated a little food-themed tree for the kitchen this year. 

And I tried making a Christmas tree sourdough, which came out pretty well overall.

One week before Christmas we celebrated this superstar's birthday. Oh Bella, how are you nineteen?! Confident, kind, funny, bright, impatient, chatty - I see elements of myself in her (I love a chat and am very impatient) at times, 

After the hectic run-up to Christmas, and the cosy, chaotic days in the middle, we reach the best part: the quiet days. Those beautiful days between Christmas Day and New Year when you (if you are lucky enough not to be at work) can rest, relax, eat leftovers, read in bed, do jigsaw puzzles, watch films and go on long walks. 

This is honestly one of my favourite times of the year. I feel I have space to breathe, to think, to make plans. To start a new crochet project.

After a wet start to December, the weather over the last week has been beautiful: we've had cold, bright, blustery days and grey, still ones. Both equally beautiful. 

Yesterday, John went back to work and I thoroughly enjoyed myself taking back control of the house. Presents were put away and I went through the fridge, freezer and cupboards, taking stock of leftovers and planning meals. All very satisfying. 

I received, among other things, some delightful new books to read and a picture to hang on the wall. 

I also received this beautiful swan vase, from John, which I cannot wait to fill with spring flowers. 

I think Bandit enjoyed his first Christmas with us. He certainly did very well out of the turkey scraps!

I hope you had a lovely Christmas with your families and friends, and wish all the good wishes for 2026. Thank you so much for reading and leaving your comments, coming with my on this little journey with my family through everyday life. 

Leaves falling, pages turning

There are moments throughout the year when you can feel one season shifting into another. The first warm day in late winter when there is that smell of greenery unfurling; a chilly morning in September when you smell wood smoke in the air; the first hard frosts of late autumn when winter blows in. We had that last week: suddenly, a week of cold, cold weather and even a snow flurry. Even though it's technically autumn, the weather says winter. 

Pumpkins have either been eaten or packed away and replaced by berries, candles and clementines. Warm reds, whites and oranges.

The leaf colours have been glorious. I always think November has better colours than October. 

We finished decorating the hall. I love the green woodwork and metalwork on the stairs. We really wanted to wallpaper that wall with the mirror but had a disaster with some paper that would not pattern match, no matter how we tried. We returned it and will find another pattern at some point. Probably next year. 

Life has been all consuming these last weeks and I have been focusing on small pleasures. Nothing exciting, just everyday joys like clean bedding, warm soups and new books.

I have begun Christmas shopping. Small and local where I can, but not always.

A couple of weeks ago my mum, Bella, my niece and I went to the Winter Fair at Spring Gardens in Pulborough, West Sussex. It's an annual event and this is our fourth year going I think. It's delightful. A glasshouse by a farm shop filled with independent sellers selling all manner of vintage and handmade delights. I do a lot of Christmas shopping there. 

One of the reasons life has been so busy of late is this: the arrival of Bandit the retired greyhound a month ago.

He is settling in beautifully. We are loving his company and big walks at the weekends again (as well as lots of little ones throughout the week of course). He's starting to show a mischievous nature which is lovely to see. No drink is safe from him slurping. It's fun getting to know him. It took us a long time after losing Ziggy to feel ready for another dog - a year, in fact - but here we are, happily home to another four-legged friend.