Solstice Penguins

The local tradition of decorating a window for advent goes from strength to strength. The idea is that one (or these days usually more than one) household(s) decorates a window each day from 1st to 24th December. As the days go by the neighbourhood becomes more and more lit up. If you participate you're invited to make a donation to the fund which keeps the three local defibrillators in working order. 

I always choose 21st, not because that's my house number, but because it's the winter solstice and the slow return of the sun is a big thing. The solstice has actually passed but we won't see any change in the light for a few weeks yet. 

The window would look better if I waited till it's dark but I have no time for that. It's five years,  before the pandemic, since we invited friends and neighbours in for a festive event. I'm currently preparing:
Mulled wine ( and soft drink alternatives of course)
Mince pies
Fruit cake
Gingerbread 
And the parmesan  biscuits and anchovy & olive bites I mentioned a few days ago. It is completely all go here. 

My grandson arrives at 2pm. Hope he's in a helpful frame of mind!  I don't know how many people to expect this evening. It's an informal invitation. 

Something else that happened is the delivery of the goody bags. I've included an extra as  a record of the contents and one of the cards made by the P2 class at the local primary school. Each bag gets a card inscribed (tissues at the ready) "To Someone Special". 

Happy solstice whether it's mid winter or mid summer.