As I hit ‘publish’ on my last post I realised that this it was my first of December – poor form Mr Crump.  The reason for this being that this month has been ridiculously busy both at work and at play.  I have literally not had an time to tap away on a keyboard the way I enjoy doing.

So as I find myself with a spare moment to ponder the highlights of December I shall get tapping…

Make mine a pine: ‘Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, how lovely are your branches’.  I really am someone who loves Christmas and for me the highlight is the Christmas tree.  If I have bumped into you over the last few weeks I will have shown you this video of our tree a twinkling on my iPhone:

I just love the whole thing of dragging the tree into the house, getting out the decorations (plus buying new ones every year) and the whole process of lights, plugs, tree stand.  It takes hours and I enjoy every minute.  We couldn’t find the Christmas CDs so Chad selected Holst’s ‘The Planets’ (if you don’t know it think Star Wars orchestral score and you aren’t far off) for us to listen to as we debated whether various styles of baubles were equally spaced out.  Fun I hear you ask?  Oh yes I retort.

Food, food and more food. I’ve eaten out so many times this month (nearly every day and sometimes twice in a day) that I think I might pop.  Highlights of my gastro-odyssey have all been courtesy of Mr Gordon Ramsey.  He knows how to put together a restaurant.  I went to The York and Albany a few times this month and had my first visit, last night, to Maze Grill which was fantastic.  We ate at the chef’s table – known as the Butcher’s Block – which meant we had a full view of the kitchen, the chefs came and explained the food to us and two of the team even went into the kitchen to flame some amazing cuts of beef.   If you are a veggie then close your ears… I’ve never eaten such good (and so many different types of steak).  It was totally yummy and the doggy bag (catty bag) that I brought back for Sophie went down a treat.

I really do love a Christmas carol.  We have our annual friend’s gathering to sing festive songs later on today.  We all stand around a piano and sing along having consumed lots of bubbles and mulled wine.  We even have homemade song books courtesy of Rhian – she is a miracle worker that girl.  Chad and I also going to the Royal Albert Hall on Monday night to hear the King’s College Choir ‘do Christmas’.  How marvellous.

Snow panic: We had at least one whole centimetre of snow fall in London this week and you would have thought (from the media’s reaction) that the world was coming to an end.  Guess what?  It didn’t and us plucky Londoners managed to carry on regardless!

Rest, what rest?  I have been working like a demon this month (which is brilliant) although I do look rubbish (dark circles under my eyes – which are easily concealed :+), as well as chubbier than I’d like as a result of restaurant fare).  I literally cannot wait for the days between Christmas and New Year when I am planning to do NOTHING.  (Un)fortunately from now until December 27, while work is nearly over I have a marathon of partying to do – it’s a tough job but someone has to do it.

Well there is my Christmas omnigatherum – it is a wonderful time of year – lots of reasons to be cheerful.

Merry Christmas one and all.

N x