I don’t know about you, but I find the Great British winter a dismal time. We’ve reached that time of the year as we approach the shortest day when it is dark until after 7am, dark again at 4pm, some days it hardly gets light at all here on the fens. If it wasn’t for my Lumie Alarm clock I’m not sure I’d get out of bed at all.
I start to get the winter blues some time after Bonfire Night on 5th November and they last pretty much through until I see my first daffodil, sometime in March (if the seasons are behaving).
For the time of year it has been deceptively mild – warm even by November standards. But it’s not the temperature that gets me, readers, it’s the dark.
But December is a bit of respite because there are so many brightly coloured lights and decorations, bizarrely flavoured coffee in Starbucks, presents to buy (and receive) and a big tree in my living room waiting to be decorated. Himself and I are home alone (avec kitties) as all other family members are away and quite frankly, after the year I’ve had, I cannot wait for some peace, quiet, delicious food and alone time with the beloved.
December Intentions
1. Write and post the Christmas cards by 10th December
2. Work the Mill Road Winter Fair – I’ll be opening the clinic for free massage tasters and wearing tinsel in my hair. What more do you want?
3. Make the mincemeat by 5th December
4. Get the Christmas cards/gift vouchers for clients written and posted by 16th December (which is also the date of the annual Christmas trip to see the best band in the world).
5. Make stollen and gingerbread by 20th December (there will be updates on this as this year I try to make them wheat free).
6. Master the art of the Yule Log for New Year.
(A lot of food related stuff there eh? But it is Christmas! All the recipe links take you to last year’s Vegan Christmas Recipes – see the whole set here)
November in Review
1. Finish reading Stephen King’s “On Writing” – DONE you can read my review here
2. Clean out the pantry – I just did this. I couldn’t announce to the world I’d failed on this front again. These lists do make me accountable!
3. Order the Christmas cards and start finding out what people want for Christmas (always a long and difficult process) – DONE
4. Write at least the first 2 days of the aforementioned Foundation Course – DONE (in fact the whole thing is written, it just needs a bit(lot) of tidying up)
5. Start Playing Little Big Planet again (played this for the first time in 2 years the other night and forgot how much fun it was. I need more fun in my life – everything is always work, work, work!) – NOT DONE – work has been super busy! Which is a good thing of course but, oh my I am looking forward to those two weeks off!
Oh my God, New Model Army are still touring. Must buy tickets!!