My Christmas!

Being able to celebrate Christmas in deepest Wiltshire with all the glories of the countryside about us, makes it even more special.  Now that my children are grown up and living/working in London, they so look forward to the family time that Christmas is. 

Once all the mundane and necessary shopping is done, it is such a special time doing the last bits of preparation.  We love getting our Christmas tree from Longleat where there is always a festive atmosphere and then the family arrive.  We never decorate our tree until the family can do it with us, because that is part of the tradition.  The dogs have their treats placed under the tree and must wonder why it is only once a year that the crinkly wrappers indicate that someone is about to spoil them AGAIN! 

When our children were small we lived in Heytesbury and every Christmas eve we lit a tilley lamp and went round to the barns at Parsonage Farm.  We used to sit on the bales of straw singing carols with the calves all around us, wondering what was going on.  Our children say it is one of their happiest memories of Christmas.  One year the Lions came through the village with their carols and Father Christmas and whoever it was under the beard, recognised my husband and called him by his name.  My children were so impressed that Daddy actually KNEW Father Christmas! 

Nowadays, the day is filled with stockings, church, drinks and presents around lunch time.  The Queen's Christmas speech and then a long walk before the traditional turkey supper and games.  What could be better?