winter is here!!

and boy is it cold. Hats, gloves, winter coats are all out. Thank goodness for the good old English cuppa!! Pipping hot tea always works (though not quite as well as proper hot chocolate, but that is a treat rather than a daily drink seeing the amount of chocolate and milk that is needed).
Looking forward to Friday afternoon when kiddies break up for the Christmas holidays, and an excuse for lie-ins but also, and more importantly, an excuse to play silly games and bake and listen to music with them and dance in silly ways, and have loud Christmas music on.
Talking of music, rediscovered the beauty and power of Gospel music a few days ago. Uplifting and fabulous singing. Funny thing is that my Methodist Aunt can't get her head round the fact that one can be atheist and still enjoy Gospels, Christmas carols, and other religious works. She is lovely aunt, the only older member of the family I can be fairly open to, but she misses the point that beautiful music is just that. I love singing and listening to carols because they are beautiful. I love listening to gospel and singing Requiems etc as they are composed by such talented artists. Just like actors play roles which don't reflect their personality or beliefs, so can singers (even amateurs) sing music in which the words don't reflect their beliefs.
I suppose I had  better switch the Xmas lights on now kiddies are home, not sure why I don't put them on during the day when I am alone, it is Xmas time after all, so tomorrow I shall have them on all day and put silly Xmas music on. After all it will take me all day to wrap up all the presents!!
ho ho ho. The man in red is coming next week!!