I absolutely love this time of year. Three of my favourite festivals all rolled up into one. I am much more of an autumn/winter person than I am a summer person - I am actually allergic to the sun so summer is not the most fun time of year for me! And I am also a night person (fits quite well with the whole Goth thing) so I love the dark. I am one of those people that never turns the lights on in a room unless I really have to. I love sitting in the dark. Milord doesn't quite understand it, I don't think, and turns lights on in the room all the time, but darkness is definitely my friend.
Anyway, back to the current festivities. We have of course just passed the first celebration of Halloween, one of the favourite times of the year for almost any Goth. I absolutely love it and our flat has been adorned with various spooky trappings for weeks now. I shall attempt to persuade Milord to keep a lot of it as it is, but alas some of the things will need to come down. Halloween is definitely a wonderful time to get lots of spooky nick-nacks for the house, and it's a great opportunity to get some more dark clothing too, as people like to jump on the bandwagon at this time of year. Whilst that has its distinct disadvantages, it does mean that things like stripy tights and fishnets are more easily accessible!
Then of course there is Bonfire Night, a tradition truly English. I think people tend to forget about why we actually celebrate Bonfire Night (giving the lie to the rhyme 'Remember remember the fifth of November), which is a shame in some ways. But aside from the memorial aspect, it's become quite a ritual in my family. We have fireworks of course, and then a bonfire supper which consists of any number of things but usually involving either tomato soup, sausages and mash, jacket potatoes, or parkin (a kind of oatmeal flapjack type thing, flavoured with spices). I love the cold air and the dark nights around bonfire night too - there is something lovely about wrapping up all warm and cosy, and going and standing outside to watch the fireworks. Alas, this year I won't get to see any fireworks as I'm not in London this weekend, so I shall miss out on all the displays. Unfortunately they're all either on Friday, Saturday or Sunday and I won't be here for any of them! A real shame as I have some very fond memories of fireworks displays of the past.
However, Christmas is of course my absolute favourite and I am still like a little kid when it comes to the build up to Christmas. I am already getting all excited about it, much to the chagrin of Milord! Don't mistake me - he does love Christmas but tends to get excited about it on Christmas Eve, rather than at the end of October like me! I do have a valid excuse this year as I will be away on business for almost the first half of December, so I shall have limited time to really get the full Christmas experience. However, I do have a lot of fun things lined up to make the most of it! They've turned on the lights on Oxford Street already, so tonight my plan is to walk down Oxford Street once it's dark, and take in the spectacle. I shall treat myself to some sort of Christmassy coffee (gingerbread latte, perhaps) and wander down the street, for once not caring about all the irritating people jostling me. I shall look into the Selfridges windows and see what treats are in store - I would never dream of actually shopping there but I do love the displays they make of their windows. I am curious to see what the theme this year will be! As I mentioned previously, I am off to spend the weekend away this weekend and Milord will have to fend for himself. I am sure that he will have a whale of a time as he'll probably spend a lot of it gaming with his friends, and the rest of it either sleeping or playing one of the many new computer games he's recently acquired. The reason I'm going away is to first of all have my locks dyed and trimmed, but also to see my parents and get some Christmas cheer in early... There is a wonderful garden centre not far from where they are which does the most fantastic array of Christmas decorations. We have to go and have a look there - it's become a tradition in our house. As Milord and I only moved into our place this year, we have no Christmas decorations at all. So, I shall this time be on the lookout for either a purple and black theme (to be inkeeping with the rest of the decor) or to go completely down the traditional route. Milord has already mandated a fibre optic Christmas tree, so all I need to look for are the decorations to go on the tree and some other ornamentation for the rest of the place. Unfortunately I shall be away when the Christmas decorations are due to go up, so it will have to be a nice surprise for when I get back. With Milord's artistic leanings, I am sure that he will do a glorious job. I might have to put the cauldron and skull candles away before then though...
