OK it's not night yet, it's actually early afternoon but I am loving the Christmas season. My spirits were nearly brought low by a nasty cough (not very useful when Steve and I have been singing at four Carol/Churchy things in as many days) but I have overcome and am now full of festive cheer.
I said Merry Christmas and goodbye to my two loveliest friends Melon (Helen) and Lottie (Charlotte) yesterday morning over croissants and as Melon (my standard of self control) suggested we open our presents there and then rather than tomorrow morning I am now the proud owner of a mini kitchen compost bin to compliment the new big one the Stewarts gave us a week ago and a lovely matching, hand made hat and pair of gloves in the photo above. I am spoilt rotten not just by thoughtful eco-friendly gifts but by such wonderful friends with whom I've walked through so much. For my gift to them I had two canvas prints made of our adventures together in the Czech Republic and Norway for 24-7 Prayer. They are two very different and wonderful companions for my literal and metaphoric journies in life.
Steve is upstairs as I type wrapping my presents. I'm such a big kid. I can't wait to open them! All his presents and the remaining gifts for our family and friends are now spilling out from beneath our tree and starting to encroach on the rest of the lounge. The 'Monica' in me is starting to get itchy but it's only one more day until we have the delight of giving it all away :D
Later this afternoon the Revs Choir is leading our community in a candle lit Carol service with mulled wine and mince pies and later tonight, by the magic of video Skype, I'll be waving at my family and reading along with them 'The Night Before Christmas'. It's traditional that I would be there with them, sitting on my younger brothers bed, passing our slightly fraying copy from person to person (how many years have we been doing this now?) but with the expansion of my family and the changing of my name I'm no longer there each year. Tonight though we will have the next best thing. Last year Lisa (incredibly thoughtfully) hunted down an immaculate copy of the out of print edition of the poem we've been reading since childhood. So now we can read along with Mum, Dad, Lisa and Adam in the midlands :) Depending on how late that is and how over excited I am we may then make our way, bundled up nice and warm, to Chichester Cathedral for Midnight mass. Carols, gifts, family and Jesus... I can't think of a better way to welcome Christmas. xc