MIGHT HAVE TO....

... think about putting the tree up this weekend. I never like to do it too soon, but there's a fine balance between allowing time to appreciate all your expensive Christmas decorations, and them driving you mad because they clutter the house up. Once New Year's Eve is out of the way I cannot wait to take everything down and get back to normal! I'm not too sure how I feel about Christmas this year, mainly because we are unlikely to see Christina as she has effectively cut links between us. This leaves me feeling more sad than I could begin to explain, but it's her choice and we need to respect her decision. It will be the first time that she won't have been part of our Christmas and it hurts. Apart from that, we will be having a strange Christmas Day - just the two of us until mid-afternoon when James and Claire come to celebrate birthday AND Christmas. I think we're planning to have our actual Christmas meal on the Sunday, so that will be a huge departure from the norm as well as having implications on shopping!! BUT the most important thing, and I suppose the reason for Christmas feeling a little insignificant this year, is that the new baby is due any time around New Year and that certainly feels more important. Strangely, I remember feeling the same 31 years ago!!