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With the Indian summer we have recently experienced, all of a sudden, November has arrived without me even noticing. The clocks went back, and although it was nice to have an extra hour in bed, this also meant the evenings are shorter, and getting even shorter from now onwards.

My dog looks at me with mournful eyes when I come in at 5 o’clock, as it’s now too dark to give him that extra walk that he loves. By Christmas it will be 4 o’clock, and it will be colder, maybe with snow on the ground and howling winds. Not that he minds what the weather does when I take him out.

But in spite of all this, we have Christmas to plan for, and pay for too. We have presents to buy, food to stock up on, parcels to wrap, and cards to fill out. We have to fit this in with all the other things in life that keep us busy. On a lighter note, there are parties to go to, friends to visit, families to meet up with, and good food and wine to sample.

We  have decorations up in the loft, out they come again, and it’s hard to believe it’s a year since we got them out before. Then there is the Christmas Tree to decorate, whether it’s a real one or a fake one, it needs lights and glitter, and all the other things that go on it.

We have so much to do, and so little time to do it, no wonder we get stressed and harassed. All that work, preparation , and spending, then it’s all over in 2 days.  For me the greatest Christmas gift is to spend time with my family, and I would willingly put in as much work and effort as is needed to make sure they enjoy that time with me. It is precious, more than money can buy, the family unit.  Thank goodness for Christmas!