Back to basics

One of my favourite books at this time of year is the wonderful British Library anthology "A Literary Christmas" (the cover of which is my extra photo). 

No matter how often I dip into it I seem to find something new and especially relevant.   

Today it was this illustrated excerpt from Arnold Bennett"s "The Feast of St Friend", and his observation about Christmas that " In spite of our declining faith, it has been preserved for us and here it is , ready to hand" and he goes on to observe how, failing at the end of the year, it thus "prepares us for a fresh beginning that shall put the old to shame."

Much needed in these times.