Christmas has really snuck up on me this year. In previous years I’ve been counting down the days from the end of October and usually have my Christmas shopping nailed by mid-November. This year it all feels a little last minute and I’m not sure I’m really ready for it – I could do with an extra couple of weeks before the big day! (Though I feel like I need some time off work, so Christmas Eve can’t come quickly enough in that respect!) Every year I pore over the Good Housekeeping Christmas special and plan to make homemade hampers; full to the brim with homemade chutneys, jams, fudge, biscuits and so on – and I’ve never quite managed it yet – maybe next year! It’s quite hard to get your Martha Stewart on when you work full time and have a busy lifestyle isn’t it? I always end up feeling a bit like a Christmas failure and shunning my collection of DIY Christmas pins on Pinterest!
At least it’s looking suitably Christmassy in our house, with the tree up and lots of twinkly lights and decorations. We put our tree up in the first week of December – it always feels so magical to come downstairs and see the lights flickering away – makes it a little easier getting up in the dark! The present pile underneath is also starting to grow, ready for us to pack them all up to take to my Mum’s on the 23rd. I can’t wait to spend some time at home with my family; it’s what makes the Christmas period especially special as we don’t get to all be in the same place at the same time very often, particularly since my brother moved to Aberdeen.
(One of my favourite decorations – the mini Christmas jumper!)
Selfridges kindly sent me a hamper of treats to celebrate the launch of the new Paddington film on the 28th November. I’m so excited to see it, I used to be such a huge fan of Paddington as a child and had a little Paddington teddy and a Paddington that you made out of cardboard with a little suitcase and jar of marmalade! Paddington is currently watching over our tree (and we’ve also been tucking into the Paddington marmalade they kindly sent!)
Talking of generous gifts, Bodhi got a hamper of treats this Christmas from the lovely people at Petplan. I wish I’d made a video of him opening it; he knew straight away when I brought it home that it was for him. As soon as I put the beautifully wrapped collection of goodies on the floor he got straight into tearing into it!
I think this blue rope toy was his favourite, he immediately dragged it off and refused to surrender it!
He also took a liking to this grey squeaky bone, which he dutifully did ‘paw’ for!
The Mutts and Hounds bed they sent us is just beautiful, it’s so cosy and Bodhi adores it. It’s the first bed he’s had that he willingly hops into at night, he curls up inside it and just looks the picture of comfort!
Petplan are a really lovely company who support over 1,000 charities and who really care about pets – I’d encourage you to check them out if you are considering insuring one of the four-legged members of your family. I owe them a big thankyou for the lovely gifts they sent Bodhi, he is one spoilt little doggy! I’m sure there will be a few more treats under the toy for him this year, we’ve even bought him a special little Christmas dinner to have on Christmas Day.
How are your Christmas preparations coming along?
