Getting Festive

Hello, dear readers. I'm just starting to feel a bit Christmassy, rather later than usual this year.

Already I've been to two of D's music concerts, to two work Christmas meals and on two cinema trips (to see 'The Lady in the Van' and 'Carol', both excellent). Yes, it's definitely that time of year again, but I haven't done anything remotely crafty yet for Christmas! This must surely be a world record for me, as by now I am usually in the midst of making several presents at once, as well as cooking and producing all sorts of decorations. Perhaps it's a new, more relaxed me at Christmas? Or maybe I should get my skates on...

We may not yet have put up any decorations, but I have been opening my new advent calendar. Unlike the rest of my family, I prefer those with pictures to chocolate ones. Here's my new Angela Harding calendar which I love for its wintriness and countryside theme.

In a similar vein I've just finished reading this book below, which is a beautiful description of a year in the life of the flora and fauna of a village in the Somerset Levels, which is not far from here. It was a lovely read, full of detailed descriptions of nature and fascinating information.

On a more festive note we went recently to Winchester Christmas market with my brother and his family, which I have to say was a very jolly afternoon out. There were twinkly star lanterns,

coppery vats of steaming mulled wine,

and sizzling hot chestnuts.

Some of the stalls were extremely ornate, things of beauty in their own right.

I must confess to finding it very difficult to photograph a Christmas market without getting lots of people in the foreground. As you can see, I've gone for an over-the-head view of it here.

The cathedral was as Gothically gorgeous as ever with its front window a giant, stained-glass collage after Cromwell and his army smashed it to pieces during the Civil War.

I love to walk underneath its flying buttresses in all their medieval splendour.

The ice rink was in full swing next to the cathedral and we watched with my little nephews, mesmerised as the tractor drove around the rink, making the ice smooth for the next session. My nephews really rather fancied the idea of a job in which you get to drive a tractor around an ice rink.

Similar icy patterns appeared the next morning on the outside of the Velux window in our bedroom. We had a frost in the night and wonderful tiny twirly fronds and frosty leaves spread themselves across the surface of the glass, like a beautiful wintry doodle. I edited these photos to enhance the definition of the patterns, as the sky wasn't really that blue that day, but the sparkly designs are truly amazing.

By contrast most of the mornings lately have dawned windy and wet and look like this. December in recent years is so often mild and wet in our part of the world.  Never mind, we are very fortunate in not having suffered any flood damage, unlike so many people this week, so I really can't complain.

I shall leave you with a photo of one of the roses still blooming in our garden. Not very Christmassy, I know, but I'm getting there.

 See you soon x