Merry Christmas!

It's Christmas Eve and the builders/plumbers/tilers/decorators have finally finished. The entire house needs a good clean, the electrician still has to finish his bits but ... I have the house to myself for the first time in ages. I've managed to keep the kitchen tidy throughout all the work so today I'm concentrating on getting the living room clean and tidy for Christmas. There won't be any decorations this year but I'm okay with that, and am just looking forward to relaxing in my 'new' home!

Dates haven't been agreed yet but in January/February the new carpets will be fitted, the rest of the decorating will be completed and the electrician will finish up, so not much longer to go. Photos will follow when it is all done.

I've planned a very different sort of Christmas this year. Tomorrow morning I will be visiting a hospital with the brass band (all adults) one of my teaching friends runs and we'll be playing carols around the wards. I know how much this meant to my late partner when he was in hospital at Christmas, so am looking forward to it. Afterwards, it'll be back home for a planned rest of the day alone, which again I am looking forward to ... food and treats have been organised and I'll open my presents then. Weather permitting, on Boxing Day I'll be meeting friends at the beach for a photo treasure hunt if it's dry, or will spend the day with them at one of their homes if it is wet, or too cold.

I was supposed to be playing at my final Christmas event late this afternoon but it has been cancelled so I will be at home watching Carols at Kings and then settling in for my new Christmas tradition based on the Icelandic Jolobokaflod. I have five new books to choose from but haven't yet decided on the one for tonight. 

I hope you all have a lovely Christmas however you choose to celebrate. I'll leave you with a final Christmas song ...