60 days till the 21st December!

It's always lovely when you see the daffodils appearing. Just up the road from me is a high bank of ground and in March it is covered in hundreds of daffodils. It's a beautiful sight to see.

I’m looking forward to the 21st - we’re going to a carol concert at the magnificent Sheldonian theatre in Oxford, with Gdd1’s primary school choir, another youth choir, the adult Bach choir, and a couple of orchestras.
Last year’s was wonderful. 🎄
Oh, and it’s my Dbro’s birthday!

I don't mind the dark evenings walk the dogs, close the cutains into pjs and just do nothing. During the bright nights I feel I should be out there doing stuff.

I find the solstice far more meaningful than Christmas, it is an actual tangible event. I don't mind the dark nights but love the gradual return of the light.

Many cultures have always celebrated the darkness and in particular the turning of the year and the coming of the light. I am always in awe of how the builders of Stonehenge got it exactly right.

So many traditions which are now part of Christmas had their origins in earlier midwinter celebrations. The yule log, the bringing in of greenery, the fires or candles.

There is room on this earth for a whole lot of celebrations.

Cant wait for the 21st! The Solstice means not too long to wait till Spring begins to show! My favourite time of year.

My birthday is 21 December but the fact that the date marks the start of lighter evenings is far more important to me! Hate long winter nights - roll on spring!

Our wedding anniversary is 22nd December. Mad, I know. But we do celebrate, usually with a day in London seeing an exhibition, and having a nice lunch.

Please! We have a few more days before we do the clock thing. I'm trying to make the most of the light afternoons this week before the darkness sets in!

keepingquiet

Please! We have a few more days before we do the clock thing. I'm trying to make the most of the light afternoons this week before the darkness sets in!

Sorry! to mention the dreaded ( for some of us darkness)

Apparently I am to embrace snuggling with hot chocolate.

Either that or bail out to Morocco for the duration.

GrammarGrandma

Our wedding anniversary is 22nd December. Mad, I know. But we do celebrate, usually with a day in London seeing an exhibition, and having a nice lunch.

My parents were married on 24th December and my father's parents were married on 23rd December They were both stereo typist so the only days of the year the paper was not printed and they managed to get the day off. No honeymoon off in those days.

60 days! Oh my goodness, that is the day my first grandchild is due. I’m so excited 💕💕🍼

All Christmas shopping done and wrapped, Christmas cards printed , mince pies in the freezer. Just making wreaths now . Isn’t retirement a blast !

tictacnana

All Christmas shopping done and wrapped, Christmas cards printed , mince pies in the freezer. Just making wreaths now . Isn’t retirement a blast !

Doesn't that take a lot of the fun out of the December run-up to Christmas?
I started my Christmas run-up this week by when I flashed up the Christmas spread sheet and updated it for this year.

First task is to timetable Christmas cooking - mincemeat needs to be made before DD visits on 10 November -. Then I will check my Christmas card list and buy cards, and so on, before all comes together seamlessly on 24 December.

No last minute panics, just a gentle build-up to the great week. I would hate to have it all done in october and then nothing left to do.

I enjoy all the seasons, I really do. At the moment sitting at the from a table typing while shafts of sunlight spread across the surface, piercing grey clouds and showing the changing colours of the leaves in my overgrown garden. Being so boggy underfoot means I can't go out and rake them up, always benefits if you look hard enough!.

tictacnana

All Christmas shopping done and wrapped, Christmas cards printed , mince pies in the freezer. Just making wreaths now . Isn’t retirement a blast !

Good heavens!
I'm thinking about the birthdays, wedding anniversary and a wedding we have between now and Christmas!

The only time I was really organised in advance was when our Christmas baby was due.

jasper16

keepingquiet

Please! We have a few more days before we do the clock thing. I'm trying to make the most of the light afternoons this week before the darkness sets in!

Sorry! to mention the dreaded ( for some of us darkness)

Apparently I am to embrace snuggling with hot chocolate.

Either that or bail out to Morocco for the duration.

You have to hygge.

Log fires, hot toddies, blankets.
Huskies pulling sleds through the snow etc.

M0nica

tictacnana

All Christmas shopping done and wrapped, Christmas cards printed , mince pies in the freezer. Just making wreaths now . Isn’t retirement a blast !

Doesn't that take a lot of the fun out of the December run-up to Christmas?
I started my Christmas run-up this week by when I flashed up the Christmas spread sheet and updated it for this year.

First task is to timetable Christmas cooking - mincemeat needs to be made before DD visits on 10 November -. Then I will check my Christmas card list and buy cards, and so on, before all comes together seamlessly on 24 December.

No last minute panics, just a gentle build-up to the great week. I would hate to have it all done in october and then nothing left to do.

I'm with you on this one Monica. For me Chritmas begins on Christmas Eve- never did understand this need to 'get it over' with!

January is a long enough dull month as it is!

Love Christmas, I start shopping and everything late November, beginning of December. I have no panics and all the fun. I choose my real tree from 12/12 onwards. It's magical.
Why the need for the military precision?

jasper16

keepingquiet

Please! We have a few more days before we do the clock thing. I'm trying to make the most of the light afternoons this week before the darkness sets in!

Sorry! to mention the dreaded ( for some of us darkness)

Apparently I am to embrace snuggling with hot chocolate.

Either that or bail out to Morocco for the duration.

We'll bail on a nice holiday after December 6th. Good preparation for whatever will happen beyond December 20th.

Skiing scheduled for late January - looking forward.

Lucky old you Norah! I'll possibly bail to the pub for the foreseeable.

jasper16

Lucky old you Norah! I'll possibly bail to the pub for the foreseeable.

Reasonable approach for getting beyond December.

I totally agree...I hate the dark nights

We have had a lovely Autumn so far- maybe we are being lulled into a sense of false security but I am feeling more upbeat than I thought I would be by this time.
We have some cooler but sunnier days forecast so winter hadn't arrived yet, thankfully.
I am now almost winter ready; my heavier curtains will be up later and my winter duvet is aired and ready, but let's hope it will be a while before I really need it.
Anyone else finding the clock change means you're waking up earlier? The last two morning I've been awake at five o clock and exhausted by eight in the evening!

keepingquiet

We have had a lovely Autumn so far- maybe we are being lulled into a sense of false security but I am feeling more upbeat than I thought I would be by this time.
We have some cooler but sunnier days forecast so winter hadn't arrived yet, thankfully.
I am now almost winter ready; my heavier curtains will be up later and my winter duvet is aired and ready, but let's hope it will be a while before I really need it.
Anyone else finding the clock change means you're waking up earlier? The last two morning I've been awake at five o clock and exhausted by eight in the evening!

The Autumn has been the summer that didn't arrive!

I feel I have got one over on the gas companies by not needing heating.

Oh dear! I'm afraid I dislike Christmas which I know sounds awful but there's so much spending when people can't afford it but try. I visit a shop and lo! Christmas hits me in the face. I feel pushed into buying gifts that probably people don't really want. HOWEVER, I do enjoy the singing and Christmas get togethers so it isn't all bad - and the weather is currently quite good - we have sunshine! Yes the Autumn is lovely at the moment