Merry Christmas and a not-so-happy New Year

Christmas always manages to creep up on me unexpectedly, and this year was no exception.

 I spent December visiting the festive light shows at Chatsworth and Calke, visited Kedleston's Advent Trail twice but I don't like to put up my own lights and decorations till late in the month. 

Then, of course, it feels like everything has to be done in a last minute rush. I always intend to take time over wrapping parcels, adding little tags and decorations, thinking about the recipient as I go, but so often I do them in a hurry. 

My tree this year was small, and not a typical Christmas tree. I wanted to buy a growing, potted tree but there wasn't a lot of choice left and they were quite expensive. The alternative fir tree I picked was small and less spreading than a usual tree, but fitted well in a corner behind furniture, and is now out in the garden recuperating, hopefully to be brought back inside next year.

Christmas itself was fun and hectic. This year my youngest daughter came to stay for a full week, and her boyfriend joined us after Christmas. On Christmas Day we went round to my older (nearer) daughter's for turkey, trifle, and chocolate log, and then a few days later we were back for my grandson's birthday 

We ate lots, pulled crackers and groaned at the jokes, stayed in and played board games, went out walking, and had a great time. Then we got to New Year ... 

 My house guests had gone back north, and we'd intended that my local daughter and family would come round on New Year's Day, but getting up and walking downstairs that morning I had a stupid accident. Not paying attention to the steps, I missed the last one and ended up in a pile on the floor.For a while I just lay there. I couldn't believe that I hadn't broken something. Fortunately there was no real injury done, but I've spent this first week of the year hobbling around with walking sticks. It doesn't feel like an auspicious start to the year but hopefully things will get better.