only 4 days till Christm….whaat??

at about the same time every year

i can be heard exclaiming

"..how the heck did that come around so quickly?!"

but it has and as always

there is a frantic, frazzled fug of 

last minute shopping

the shops only close for one day

but i stockpile food

like there is a famine

we try not to go overboard

when planning the menu

but who am i kidding?

paul likes to make an occasion of present wrapping

the kids are put to bed on time

we fix ourselves a pot of tea and a few slices of pannetone

put on some suitably festive muzak

and wrap away

carefully labelling and embellishing each parcel

before laying them under the tree

imagining the anticipation

and look of the children's faces 

on christmas morning

when all the gifts have been opened

when all our bellies are full

we'll sit down to watch a christmas movie together

drift in and out of sleep

cups of tea

fruit mince pies

maybe a splash in the pool

life is good here

and not just at christmas

we try not to forget that

i wish all of you

a restful christmas with everyone you hold dear;

and the gift of time to be still and enjoy being together

Merry Christmas!