Today starts my countdown to Christmas

Got my window lights on. My small fibre-optic tree was not working. Thought I’d go to the loo for a wee, before I sorted the plug etc. Flushed the toilet - it was blocked 😫. Gloves on , plunger out - no luck. Then I noticed something white - gloved hands in - guess what it was? The toilet freshener (that you hang on the rim) had fallen into the bowl. So be warned if you’re using one of those. So glad I noticed it - a plumber would have cost me an arm and a leg 😫

I’ve opened the first window on my corny doggy Advent calendar. Nothing else, spent most of the day in the car, driving back from relatives in the Yorkshire Dales.

Small potted tree from last year will go outside the front door tomorrow, nothing else (apart from carols on CD and YouTube) for a few days, since I’ll be starting the annual pre Christmas housework blitz, plus will be away for at least 3 nights helping SiL with 3 Gdcs while dd is away for work.

Then final blitzing, buy bigger real tree and decorate, plus other decs all up and everything pristine and Christmassy before Dsis arrives from US on the 11th.
Also have to finish writing cards, and post.
I will try to fit in making plenty of mince pies. Dsis doesn’t like them but dh and I do! 🐷🐷

A song I was surprised to love is A Change at Christmas by The Flaming Lips. Thought provoking if not true to my usual gentler preferences
My tree is up and lit, some gifts wrapped and that's it so far.
paddyann54 have a wonderful afternoon with your granddaughters!

Bit early for me but each to their own.
At least the presents have been bought which is def my worst chore done.

Here’s the mince pie recipe I always used to make, year on year, hence the smudges!
🎄

Started decorating today. The children come for lunch and their advent presents. Very excited.

No decorations up here until about a week before Christmas 🎄. We have opened the first window on our Advent Calendar though. It's a wine one bought for us by our daughter. There is a small bottle of wine behind each window, probably enough for one large glass. Today's is a Colombard Sauvignon. Cheers.

Tree up, turkey in freezer, cards written ready to post later today - about half as many as previous years. Presents all wrapped bought/sent. Sandabch Xmas market and meal ot with friends tomorrow, walking netball meal next week, writing group meal the following week, family meal the weekend after and firms' do'. I shall weigh a ton .

I dont celebrate christmas so no cards, decorations, lights or trees. I dont buy any special food or drink, I havent celebrated it since 1979!

Im counting down to the time when I can close all my online shops for several weeks and just kick back. For now I am concentrating on getting the orders out of the door in time to reach international customers.

Ps. paddyann54 What a lovely version of the song - so much more so than the John Lennon version 🤶

As happens every year I was wakened by "It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas" by Michael Buble that DH plays for me every 1st December. We've also opened the first window on our wine advent calendar from Laithwaites.
Merry Christmas everyone 🎅 🍷 🎄

Forgot to say my favourite Christmas song that ‘gets me in the mood’ is “Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow” by Dean Martin.
🎵 🎶

Happy Christmas to you too paddyanne. 😊
My Christmas cards have been posted. I no longer make mince pies but I do have a lovely recipe somewhere from when I did. I’ll dig it out later and share it on here if I may? We have a very small immediate family - nine in total which encompasses 4 generations so not much present buying. We may go over to the Trafford Centre later today to get things running. Our lights are up on the balcony so they look pretty in the evenings and cheery as part of the town centre festive feel. We buy a real tree for the balcony from the very popular florist up the road, once they get the delivery out at the forecourt at the side of the shops. We usually get one on a wooden base about 5’ so our tradition is to carry it home between us. Himself takes the heavy end and I take the tip! It’s too short a walk to bother with delivery. I’ve bought new gold lights or it at the garden centre last week.

As we get older I’m enjoying the ‘less stress’ Christmas. I’ve never been a fan really. My lovely mum used to ring me on Boxing Day morning and always made me laugh by saying “well it’s as far away now as it’ll ever be”.

I miss her very much.

I'm making a start today too. Putting up the tree and start decorating it a bit at a time. Earlier than usual to cheer the place up.
What a lovely voice Sarah has . I like that song very much.
I'll be playing Johnny Mathis singing Mary's Boy child, and Celo Green singing Mary did you know. And the Pogues of course. Etc.

I have all my decorations and trees up and so do my family and friends. I think we all feel we have to lighten life up a bit so Christmas cheers us up. My Christmas CDs are played every day while I potter around. I break tradition I make mince pies all year around I am making chocolate bark with boozy fruit in it later today. My favourite tune for the season is Driving home for Christmas by Chris Rhea.

Very nice, i wish i felt enthusiastic for Christmas but its just one lovely day spent with my wonderful family and the rest is just another day.