Christmas is a coming...







IMG02148-20111120-1523.jpg



London is definitely getting into the Christmas Spirit, from the Winter Wonderland to the Enchanted Woodland, the festive activities are truly underway. I love this time of year as the excitement crescendos to the day itself. Having a little one that has suddenly begun to take notice of the decorations will make it all the more special for us this year. You can see her little mind ticking away, trying to comprehend what it all means. Whilst driving past Harrods yesterday, I heard a huge 'Wow Mummy Wow' as she pointed towards the Christmas windows surrounded by twinkling fairy lights. Fortnum and Mason provoked an even stronger reaction from her, their windows portraying a rather theatrical, high camp Follies Bergere theme. They looked stunning appealing to my old theatrical senses. Though I've now left my old life in the past, I still get a thrill from a bit of greasepaint, glitter and feathers!

Also got me thinking about new Christmas traditions to start instilling this year, when the most obvious revival of an old family custom suddenly occurred to me . Every Boxing Day after a late lunch eating the huge amount of leftovers, my father would drive us around London looking at all the Christmas Lights. We always made one stop at Trafalgar square to walk round what seemed like the biggest tree in the world, and the life sized Nativity Scene. As a child I looked forward to this little wondrous drive around the Centre of London, as much as I did to the unravelling of the presents. So this year we will be retracing those same steps with Matilda for the first time, watching her little beaming face she sees all the sparkly lights surround her. I will be taking a moment to recall my own perfect childhood Christmases, filled with joy, presents I'd been waiting all year for,  mountains of food and big family get togethers. I just hope our little girl can look back when she's older with the same warmth.

IMG02130-20111120-1150.jpg

Comments