Christmas come early?

It was my first day back at work in Derby today after our holiday. I found time to get out for a lunchtime walk, but as expected nothing I saw quite measured up to what I have seen in Rome over the past five days.

So for my blip today I have opted for this shot of our Christmas Cactus. We have had this plant for many years and it has always reliably flowered for us a couple of times per year, though never actually at Christmas.

Every year we put it outside for the summer, which seems to be the key to making it flower later in the autumn. It has really excelled itself this time.