Welcome!

I’m pretty sure I write much the same thing around this time every year, but it really is so hard to believe we’re just a few weeks away from Christmas. And team, Amber, has already blown us away, declaring in mid-November that she’d finished wrapping her last present and all her gifts were sitting ready under the tree she’d put up before! I had to ask twice if she was just showing off. But no, it was all true. To our relief, Amber said she’s not normally so organised. But this year, after such a long period of relative quiet while working from home, she decided she couldn’t face the usual Christmas crowds at the stores. ‘Most years I’m as frantic as everybody else,’ said Amber. ‘But this time, I decided I wanted to have a relaxed Christmas and I’m so glad I did!’ We were all very impressed. I haven’t even started on my big job each year, which is putting together a parcel of bits and pieces for the Pass the Parcel we do at our family’s Christmas Eve dinner. We started the tradition when my nieces and nephews were little, so it was easy to amuse them. But now, the eldest is 17, which does make it trickier. However, they’ve assured me the fun for them is that every single year I’ve accidentally mixed up which name goes with which gift. I’ve got to admit it’s funny when I stop the music and my dad unwraps a bottle of glittery nail polish meant for my niece, Ruby, nine. Or when the parcel stops at Ava, 15, and she unwraps a novelty stubby holder. Our eldest grandson, Harley, is about to turn four so I’m looking forward to sharing my big fun parcel with the next generation. It’s those kinds of traditions that help to make this time of year so magical. I hope your preparations are going well!