It's the week before Christmas, and no one can say it's too soon to feel festive now. Nice and early on 6 December, we went to our nearest Pines and Needles and walked back with a 7 foot Nordmann fir tree, fired up the Bublé, started simmering mulled wine and unpacked the decs. This year, we're embracing the more is more approach, with controversial tinsel, mixed metallics and a rainbow of baubles. Pile it on.
We just got back from Lille where we visited les marchés de Noël and picked up chocolates, saucissons and stocking fillers after a week packed with dinners, drinks, and my office Christmas party. The weekend before, we went to our friends' annual party (with compulsory Christmas jumpers and sequins), and the weekend before that I was up in Yorkshire visiting Christmas at Harewood - the festive event at the beautiful Georgian stateley home Harewood House, which I'd recommend if you're up north - catching up with friends and pottering around the Leeds Christmas market.
This week, I have more catch up drinks with pals, including the annual traditions of champagne under the Claridges Christmas tree, and ice skating at Somerset House. I'm attending a performance of Handel’s Messiah at St John's Smith Square by Stephen Layton, Polyphony and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and - my favourite festive tradition - going to see the Nutcracker with my mama: the ballet I’ve seen the most, with the person I’ve seen the most ballets with. We mix it up and went to the Royal Opera House last year, so we’re going to see the English National Ballet at the Coliseum.
This week, I have more catch up drinks with pals, including the annual traditions of champagne under the Claridges Christmas tree, and ice skating at Somerset House. I'm attending a performance of Handel’s Messiah at St John's Smith Square by Stephen Layton, Polyphony and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and - my favourite festive tradition - going to see the Nutcracker with my mama: the ballet I’ve seen the most, with the person I’ve seen the most ballets with. We mix it up and went to the Royal Opera House last year, so we’re going to see the English National Ballet at the Coliseum.
I also need to make some iced biscuits and mince pies, finish writing cards and wrapping presents (whilst watching Love Actually and Home Alone, of course), and start thinking about what to cook as we’re hosting this year. I hope you're having a festive, fun month filled with cosy catch ups, some questionable knitwear, quiet moments to enjoy the rituals, lots of fairy lights, mistletoe and wine. I’m just going to leave this here...
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