Wednesday, 29 October 2014

The First Nowell



Jingle bells! Jingle bells! Christmas is nearly here!

It came as a shock to receive our first Christmas present earlier this week. Our friend, Dor, had gone to the effort of making us a stand-up calendar for next year.  She included all sorts of pictures she thought we might be interested in, including some of her own paintings. She is, by nature, a miniaturist, someone interested in the small detail, though on their last cruise she did learn to let herself go & try to capture movement in a more fluid style.

She & her husband are off for a month’s cruise next week. They knew we are off to Amsterdam in December & so thought we might not see each other until after Christmas, hence the little present. As it happens we return not many days after them, so we should bump into them anyway before the day arrives.

Coming back from the golf club, where we usually meet them, I couldn’t help noticing the Christmas trees sticking out above some of the hotels- so much more obvious now it’s dark by 5pm. In the windows you could see some hotels are already bedecked with glittering items dangling from ceilings. Personally I can’t help thinking surely it’s still October. There’s lots of time to go before Christmas, but I suppose commercial businesses have to get their clients into festive, & therefore, extravagant spendthrift spirit.  

Our festivities are unlikely to begin before December & our trip to Amsterdam & its Christmas fairs. I will try to get our cards written before we go so they will be ready to post as soon as we’re home again, but that’s all I intend to do before.

Meanwhile, today, we’re having a Turkey Quiche for dinner, using up some of last year’s Christmas turkey. We need to make room for this year’s. Clearly Christmas is coming on apace.


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