Holding Hands

Betsy and Al carefully negotiate the slippery steps in Osterley Park.

We always go there on Christmas Eve, and we always play hide-and-seek in a little place that the children used to call 'The Dark Forest', which is really overgrown and full of bushes and fallen trees. It's been cleared and cut back this year, sadly, but we still managed to find a few good places to hide. It's always muddy, freezing and really slippery there. I don't think we've ever been in summer.

Our other traditions are to watch Elf and The Polar Express, and read Hurry Santa, Careful Santa, Dear Santa and The Night Before Christmas.

Stockings are up, letters to Father Christmas are in the grate, with milk and biscuits, plus a carrot for the reindeer.

Something happened today which was almost (almost) like something out of a Christmas story. It was a good thing. It didn't happen because of Christmas though, but because of Chris.