I can tell you that I’m not. December has come round far too quickly this year. Where the heck did 2022 go?! It feels like just yesterday we were complaining about the circa 40° temperatures in London. Now London is grey and cold, and wherever you turn we are reminded that Christmas is nearly upon us.
The past two years I threw myself into Christmas as soon as December arrived, which anyone who has known me a while knows is very unlike me. Christmas was something to look forward to while the world felt like it was standing still, even if lots of people’s usual festive plans had been disrupted. It was a way to say goodbye to the year and get ready to start afresh for the promising year ahead.
This year I’ve definitely not got that urge and I’m back in bah humbug mode. 2020 and 2021 had their lows, but it feels like 2022 has taken the lead in terms of WTAF years! I’ve given up hoping that next year will be better as the last three years have, in a lot of ways, been progressively worse.
That said, I am looking forward to venturing out over the coming weeks to check out London’s Christmas displays and turning the flat into a cosy oasis to escape from the world at the end of the day.
This year’s newest addition to our decorations is this 12 days of Christmas hanging that I stitched in 2020 (one of a few xStitch magazine stitchalongs I did when I had far too much time on my hands!) and has since been waiting around to be finished. I finally got the sewing machine out last week and it’s ready to hang in an as yet unidentified prime location.
Christmas is not an easy or enjoyable time for everyone. It’s meant to be a holiday, but in so many ways it doesn’t feel like one with the pressures of forced fun and consumerism. I’ve found it easier over recent years since introducing some of our own little traditions, but I don’t count down to the big day with joyous excitement like many people. Before we know it, it’ll all be over, we’ll be wondering what all the fuss was about, and the countdown to Christmas will start again.
If you want to stitch your own 12 days of Christmas the pattern is available on the xStitch magazine website.
Absolutely right, this year has been worse, not enough family time – made too expensive by the withdrawal of Frequent Traveller tickets by Eurotunnel. OK, our fault for living in France but from where we stand it has been a better ride than being resident in the UK, sorry folks. Will be good to see people at Christmas but definitely not in the Christmas spirit just yet. Seems the cathedral in Rouen hasn’t got it yet either, stood outside and listened to the wonderful midday peel, wandered in to see a rather lack lustre nativity and was asked to leave by security – shutting for lunch!
I’ve never known you to be a humbug! I’ll soon be enjoying mulled wine in the fabulous mug you gifted me last year and feeling quite festive. 🙂
I haven’t dug my mulled wine mug out yet but I sense I’ll be doing that soon too!