Christmas spirit

I have just landed after two months of work, work, work and more work. The work home balance went badly wrong, no time for the children, no time to blog and on some days no time to even cook a meal. I ended up having to have a quiet word with my boss reminding him that I only really work part time and I do have a life outside of the office. In the last few days I have started to feel relaxed, the children are getting to know me again and I can feel the Christmas spirit coming (or is it that Bailey's talking). Anyway it is 5am on Saturday morning - couldn't sleep again - so I am using the time to blog.

Yvonne from The Yves town blog has got her tree up and is full into decorating mode, well done you (I do love her house so fresh and clean and decluttered). We managed to get the glitter out this week to make Christmas decorations for the school tree. I now have a dinning room carpet which sparkles. I never put the decorations up until the week before Christmas just so it feels special, but I shall have to dive into the basement and get 'the box'. When I was wee, we never decorated until Christmas eve. It was such a really special occasion my dad going to the attic and getting out all these lovely sparkly things. One tradition I still follow is always buying one new special decoration each year. As yet I haven't got the one but I will know it is Christmas when it is bought.

My other half has very little Christmas spirit I think coming from his Anglo Indian background and the fact he hates spending money. He just goes along with my plans though he has been keenly bidding for original Subbuteo sets on eBay this year.

I don't know if it is just wee quiet hours in the night or my age but I have become nostalgic for a simpler Christmas. I have always found the commercialism of Christmas unpalatable and we have always made a conscious effort to keep the presents under control. I've never had the luxury of a Santa list as for some reason my children either don't won't to make one or they are secret (which is helpful). This year my daughter who is horse mad just wants anything with a horse on it and my wee lad wants a Christmas snow globe (he has started to collects them). So in actual fact they don't really have a great desire for anything. I have got them presents ( don't want you to think I'm a mean Scrooge) and I want to do their stockings really well this year.

Another reason for peace an harmony to land in our house these last few days is that the television is sick. So quiet and peaceful. My daughter has found it hard to live without - and I didn't know why because she doesn't watch it much. I think it is just background noise. While Danny has almost forgotten it was ever there and just plays, makes, draws etc. I will be sad to see it come back.

Starting to feel tired now, so I'm going to bed. Ta Ta for now.