It’s starting to get really confusing with Christmas looming.

The daylight and climate is just not very christmasy. I was wandering around the supermarket this evening and heard a carol and was temporarily glued to the floor as I tried to reconcile the seasonal music to the circumstances. Sure, traditionally christmasy foods are starting to appear in the shops – there are crackers and gift packs – but it just doesn’t feel right.

Earlier today I was horrified to find my EA has a christmas tree on her desk, complete with lights and red bows. I’m not sure whether it was the fact that it had appeared in November or more of the same sensory confusion that bows and christmas trees just don’t feel or look right when the sun was shining outside (don’t be fooled folks, the southerly promptly blew in tonight).
Still, in my usual style I will do my MT Christmas shopping this weekend, after getting my christmas hairdo in readiness for the christmas parties next week. Need to work on finding a christmas outfit and get on top of my christmas cards which will never reach the UK if I don’t send them next week!

Talk in the office is as to whether people prefer the traditional christmas dinner or whether a BBQ is the way to go. Need to have a family board meeting I think to decide what we will do.

The fact that Christmas here is a potentially very long holiday here – most people take at least 3 weeks off – makes the seasonal break something that has more to it than the lunch, pressies, TV and stroll about the village. We’ll be off work for 2.5 weeks and then still having a week in February to look forward to.

There is a chance that there will be too much of a good thing at one time since when the winter comes around it’s a long haul from Queen’s Birthday (June) to Labour Day (October) when in the UK you’re enjoying the summer breaks.

It’s all a new experience, different but still good. Now, If I’m ever going to get ready for the traditional greetings I’d better find those Christmas cards I put away safely and now can’t find!