I have been making lots this winter – great fun! I have even produced kits. And on Etsy they sell – to the USA and to Europe. But not so much here, in the UK. This I really don’t understand. Cowls (neck warmers, snoods in the States) are warm, super practical (stuff one in your pocket, plus no tails to get in the way, especially good for outdoor sports). They are also obviously less expensive than the time consuming hand made traditional long scarf. So why are they not catching on? Are we just being a bit slow?
Though there were two days when I very nearly didn’t – and ended up posting far too close to midnight… It’s been an interesting discipline. Definitely not one I could keep up forever, but I’m feeling rather smug to have completed the challenge.
Busy weekend ahead – looking forward to making a start on Christmas – and candlelight concert tomorrow evening in the Pavilion – always a pretty treat.
Two trees landed on the balcony this week – even earlier than usual. We always try to have the house ready for Christmas after the first weekend in December – but there are too many other commitments this year. We realised on Sunday that Monday 27th November was the only slot the grandchildren were free to come and help choose, and they were very keen.
Christmas decorations – and especially tree dressing – are taken pretty seriously round here. There have been wars in the past – including one year when a family member got up in the night, stripped the tree her sisters had done up the day before and completely changed the colour scheme. Another year we reached a compromise – literally a half-and-half set of colours, divided vertically….that was weird. The younger children used to be fobbed off with a small Dog’s Dinner tree of their own upstairs. That one was quite a sight.
This house suits Christmas. It has high ceilings, so it can accommodate a sizeable tree and the fireplace comes into its own – definitely a winter room. Just a question of taking a deep breath and pitching in with the greenery – it does all take time!
Some random photos from previous years, for encouragement. Pity I never got a picture of the half and half tree though….
Literally and metaphorically. This is the time of year when on days that I work – which has been every day for the last month – I leave the house in darkness and return the same way. I know this is the case for most working people, but I don’t like it. The other morning – a rare blue sky day – I defied the clock and went for a walk before my day officially started. My car was parked in the street top right – and I simply walked past it towards the sea and that i360 tower known locally as our giant ‘loo roll holder’. Brighton as you rarely see it, almost as quiet as in lockdown. Which, of course, provoked other thoughts, generating echoes and memories that were not too convenient at that time of day. But I have learnt to let it take its course. It is a truth that is always alongside me, ready to spring out at the most unexpected moments.
SpinningStreak 