Christmas!

Nearly Christmas!  Time to stop obsessing about politics and think of better things. (In fact, it's almost always time to stop obsessing about politics and think about better things). I hope you'll like to see a few Christmassy photos that I've pulled from files from various years, and I hope you enjoy them. 

On Wednesday we took S and A to the trad panto at Hackney Empire - a mix of hiphop, jazz, schmaltz, talented dancing, the world's corniest jokes, over-the-top ugly sisters, hilarious ghosts, amazing special effects and lots of audience participation.  Here's "Buttons" having a conversation with the pantomime horse, Clopton.  We all squashed into the tiny seats they always seem to have in these old theatres, and the lads consumed what seemed like their weight in Haribos and pork pies, and we all had a very good time.  

Below is a view of Southwark Cathedral decorated for a Christmas service in aid of the homeless.  I like it here and end up visiting it quite often.  This was the year when Little A was in the choir, (though I took the photo before anyone, including the choir,  had arrived.)

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Here's a very festive garden in Hackney, (complete with fuschias, so there can't have been any snow or frost yet.) I think the santa looks very pleased with the good job he has done in keeping the flowerbeds tidy. 

I always think German speaking countries do the best Christmases.   I loved this ski scene in, of all

places,  Munich airport, less for the detail than the bold concept of a ski slope cutting right down through the airport.  Can you see someone has come a cropper right by the deer?

Here is a beautifully decorated Christmas window in Vienna. 

And here's one the twins reflected in a Christmas bauble in Rotterdam (with me taking the picture, also reflected). He was very interested in seeing himself looking all red. 

And this was their Christmas present to us last year, decorated with their own fair hands. 

 And some very expensive Christmas sweets looking very beautiful from Fortnum and Mason (which I like to visit every year before Christmas). Lovely though they were, I'd rather have the things the children made.  

As I look at what seem to be ever increasing numbers of homeless on the streets, I know that for many people, Christmas isn't necessarily a happy time. They might be undergoing some kind of crisis, or have nowhere comfortable and pleasant to be, or they might be grieving a loved one. I was touched by a  recent post by Jeanie, who I've been following for some years.  Her blog "The Marmelade Gypsy" is usually upbeat, but she posted this which struck me as a very good thought to keep in mind amidst the celebrations.   

I hope your Christmas is a peaceful and contented one.