Tuesday 7 December 2010

December

And so we are into December, almost a week in. Last week there was snow, lots of it, walks to the station in snow boots, two scarves. Friday night was frosty, bitter cold. I almost went out, but the three of us, my flatmates and I, convinced ourselves, each other, that staying in was far more practical. Mulled wine and a movie instead, and a brief walk around the block in the darkness, slip-sliding on the snowy pavements, for some fresh air, inhaling deeply, every breath almost painful from the cold, but exhilarating.

Saturday morning I wake and temperatures have risen, marginally, but enough to melt the snow and leave the pavements grimy. I feel slightly despondent, with the grey, with the drizzle, sit in bed and watch the final episode of Season 3 Gossip Girl, wish I was in New York.

And then we go Christmas tree shopping. Half an hour umm-ing and aah-ing at different specimens, until we all agree on one, small but jaunty, bring it home, place it on some upturned wine crates, decorate it with lights and ribbon and golden bells. C makes dinner, lentil curry, and more mulled wine, other C sticks on the Christmas music and tackles the decoration of the wreath, and as the light slips away all is well again. I venture out to Hammersmith later that night for wine and corn chips, playing cards and drinking games, boys in woollen Christmas jumpers, The Ashes on the television. Miss the last train home, brave two night buses alone at 3am, silently promise myself twenty minutes into a freezing half hour wait for the second that next time I can have a taxi home.

Sunday was the Underground Christmas Market hosted by Ms Marmite Lover, and we have the most wonderfully festive time. Demonstrations and tastings, stall upon stall of goodies (though I confess I bought more for myself than others), gingerbread hot chocolate in the garden, fresh bread from the Aga. Lynne was there with her Papermash stall where I bought a couple of stocking fillers, and was sorely tempted by more Japanese masking tape (check out the Christmas ones), but had to stop myself because M is already on a masking tape buying mission. A bunch of mistletoe on the way home, clementines in the fruit bowl, a mug of tea, internet Christmas shopping whilst I watch Footloose.

Monday brings more frost, blueberries in my porridge, a late shift at work. But we are into December, and I am happy.







7 comments:

  1. Love the Christmas tree - small but perfectly formed! Think we're going to get one like that this year as we're going away for Christmas so it seems silly to get a full sized one.

    Also, am so jealous you went to the underground market, it sounds amazing!

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  2. What a gorgeous sum up of the beginning of December Becky! Love your little jaunty tree and those gorgeous clementines. I am rather envious you made it to see Lynne - I would have loved to have gone.
    Hope your second week is a great one.
    xx
    PS: That poor rose reminds me of my poor limp hydrangeas in the garden now after the snow.
    xx

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  3. A delightful synopsis. 'Chemin du Bonheur' - what a wonderful sign! It cheers me just to glimpse it.

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  4. What beautiful pictures. I love your tree! We have a fake one because we already had it (someone gave us their old one a few years back) and we can't really afford £35 on a real one. It is a good fakey though and looks oh so pretty. I LOVE Christmas!! xx

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  5. A lovely run down of what you have been up to! That christmas market sounded amazing!!!! Yes i have a total addiction to Japanese masking tape, and had to use serious will power to stop me buying all the amazing christmas designs!

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  6. What a lovely sounding weekend, and how beautifully you have captured it!

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  7. Beautiful pictures! The sad-looking rose is such a beautiful colour.
    Ooh, and yes I have been watching Any Human Heart although dont have a TV so have to wait for them to put it online so it's become more of a Monday night thing! It's v v good isnt it - I love the cast and Freya's outfits! But have at times I sort of feel it has been charging through the story a bit - although I've never read the book.

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