Shadows on the Wall

Not being at home for Christmas has a huge down side.

Having finished present buying and sending several weeks ago, and with Christmas cards dispatched, life pre departure seems a little flat.

There is no Christmas tree with twinkly lights adorning the sitting room, no decorations gracing the walls and absolutely no festive spirit permeating the Dower House.

Outside I see a steady stream of people hurrying into town, intent on choosing presents and returning laden with bright carrier bags and bearing home Christmas trees, while I feel like a spectator and left out of the excitement.

No amount of thinking how nice it will be to be warm again with unfamiliar sights all around, can compensate at the moment for missing all the build up to Christmas: the sound of Kings College Choir with their carol singing, the cosiness you feel when you walk past all the darkened houses with the glow of their Christmas trees, the usual angel and star nicely positioned at the top, and the pile of gaily wrapped gifts waiting at the foot of the tree for the family to claim them. And of course seeing the excitement as they open their presents.

When we return, the festivities will be over and we will be launched into the bleakness of a long drawn out January and the thought of an equally drab February.

However today I'm off to nibble some dainty morsels and imbibe some mulled wine with daughter #1 and her friends. That should cheer me up.