Reflected candlelight

Today was the day we decided to put up and decorate the Christmas tree.  We always do this to a background of suitable (or, sometimes, unsuitable) Christmas music.  If I run out of ideas, you may yet get a blip of the tree but I will try and avoid it (for a change) this year.

We always used to  have a real fire over the Christmas period.  There is something very welcoming, cosy and mesmerising about flickering flames.  However, although our fireplace is still operational, the constraints of a smokeless zone mean we can only use fuel which, apart from producing less smoke, also produces virtually no flames:  it just glows - which isn't quite so entertaining. In any case, the risk of soot or hot burning coals spilling out on to our brand new carpet is something I'm not prepared to accept.  Instead, we put a candle (in an attractive glass vase) on the hearth.  When the room is illuminated by little more than the Christmas tree lights, the flickering flame is still captivating, and this is enhanced by the reflection from the brass plate behind.

On dark evenings, sitting there watching the flame and eating a mince pie, I feel almost festive.

(I did say "almost".)