As I write this, I am sitting in a lovely country hotel on a crisp November morning. There is a white mist hanging in the air, and the smell of woodsmoke drifting in from the open door. It's days like this that make me love this time of year. The hotel is in the middle of a wood and the leaves of the trees are the most vivid and spectacular colours - absolutely beautiful. I must remember to take a picture of the front entrance before the mist disperses... and for that matter, I must remember to check out before 11:30!
The surroundings have put me in a very Christmassy mood and my thoughts are, as usual, turning to the upcoming festivities. Most important is the question of presents. I have quite a few ideas for Milord, and my parents too. But having ideas and managing to make them happen are two entirely different things! We shall have to see what Santa manages to pull off this year. I am really excited to be bringing Milord into the Christmas fold... as I may have mentioned previously, our family absolutely love Christmas and have all sorts of lovely traditions for the time of year. One of my absolute favourite traditions is one for myself and my wonderful father. On Christmas Eve, we rise at the crack of dawn (or quite a bit before, actually) and wrap up warm. We then climb into the car, put the heated seats on, and drive down to the local butcher. Every year for as long as I can remember, we go to this butcher - the best one in my home town. We always order a free range turkey from them, and dad and I go on Christmas Eve morning to go and pick it up. However, this butcher really is very good, and so lots of other people similarly order their Christmas meats from there. The shop itself is rather small so only a few people can get in at a time... the rest of us have to queue outside. In December. In the early morning. Hence the wrapping up warm. We usually queue for half an hour or more before we can get in and get the turkey, and then haul it back to the car. Next stop is Sainsbury's - my mother organises Christmas in a way that a regimental soldier would be proud of. However, she always leaves a couple of things for my father and I to collect from the supermarket. So, on we go, and pick up the things that we have on the list, plus a couple of things that we inevitably think of at the last minute. Then, flushed with success, we return triumphantly home and wedge the turkey into the fridge. It sounds like a very mundane tradition and not terribly exciting, but I have to confess that it is one of the most fantastic things that happens in my year. I absolutely love it.
So, back to presents. Father Dearest is coming down to London next weekend to come Christmas shopping with me - another of our traditions. I am hoping to be able to get some lovely presents then, and the rest will be acquired over the next six weeks. The problem is getting things that you didn't get last year! This year I am going to have to think 'outside the box' as it were, and get some more unusual things. And Milord will need special attention. He is unfailingly wonderful, and if I can't spoil him rotten at Christmas, then when can I? The poor man will need some TLC methinks, seeing as he will be spending a whole week with my family over Christmas! I'm sure he will be fine - I have already been quizzed as to his favourite foods and what he eats for breakfast, what beer he likes, what other drinks he likes, and a raft of other things. He certianly won't be going hungry or thirsty!
