Christmas at Number 3

The temperature is dipping, cards are falling through the letterbox, the kitchen cupboard is filling up with tasty foodstuffs, and the houses of the neighbourhood are suddenly bedecked in a million fairy lights.  It could only mean one thing - Christmas is here again!  

In our home, the decorations made their way up a couple of weeks ago, and this year there are some new additions to the tree.  A memento from New York City; a reminder of a treasured birthday trip to Longleat; a keepsake from a day trip to St Ive's in Cornwall; and a lovely gift of a hanging sailboat are amongst the new adornments, mingling with the old favourites that hang from every branch.  A Christmas tree is always the focus of the home's decorations, and for me it's the place to celebrate our childhoods and the rich memories that such decorations invoke, be they old or new.

Christmas really is a time to be at home, to reconnect with the people and the things we love and hold dear.  It's also an opportunity to switch off from work and the wider world, and to find some time for peace and reflection.  For me, this usually involves a good bit of reading, and I'm pleased to say that this year, I've a good selection to get stuck into through the dark and cosy evenings.  

A festive Yankee Candle wafts gently through the crooning tones of Perry Como and, just like in the world at large, Christmas has come to number 3.  We're looking forward to settling down for a few days of festive cheer with those we love - I hope every reader of my blog finds their peaceful and perfect home for the holidays.