‘Crush leftover mince pies & stir into brownies before cooking,’ I read in a magazine I found on the train today.
It’s mid November.
Another page mentioned M & S selling mince pies with chocolate brownie filling…
This must be a new trend for 2024, chocolate brownies mingling with mince pies.
Some homes already have Christmas decorations up, with shiny baubles and rows of twinkling lights peeking out from curtains to brighten the view as you walk past.
My friend begins early, and this weekend will festoon the house with tinsel & garlands, covering everywhere with sparkly stuff and more lights than there are stars in the Milky Way. It is deliciously over the top.
It’s dark before 5 p.m in the U.K., and her family will be welcomed home by a ‘round of applause’ in fairy light form! My favourite are the brussels sprout ones…
Even Scrooge would smile at them.
They’ll have baubles made by lost generations of the family, clinking next to trinkets from a Disneyland trip last year. Many happy memories on display, for a family that has also known much sadness over recent years.
Some people are critical of anyone who starts early for Christmas, but isn’t it just seeking the light in a time of darkness, in many ways?
And who cares what style gurus think, just follow your heart and continue any festive traditions your family enjoys, or none at all. Perhaps just notice and appreciate seeing more brightly coloured lights from windows on your street, and the good intentions behind them.
I love the Icelandic tradition of ‘Jolabokaflod’, meaning a Christmas Book Flood. The giving and receiving of books on Christmas Eve, and reading them together. That sounds calm and cosy.
Just don’t smudge your book with sticky fingerprints from the brownie mince pies… warmed in the air fryer this year, of course!
For a cosy gathering before then, I’m running December Mindfulness & Writing Zooms. It’s a mellow way to begin a busy month. We play with ideas & prompts, following our curiosity rather than aiming for perfection. Always with a lightness of heart and a ready sense of humour. Often with cups of tea.
There’s never any pressure to share anything you write, but it’s lovely when someone chooses to. We wind down each session with a chill out meditation, to relax & restore, leaving you with a sense of calm & comfort. Well, that’s my intention.
Last dates for 2024 are Sunday 1st December 10.30am – 12 p.m. (UK time), and Monday 2nd December 7pm – 8.30pm (UK time)
There’s a warm welcome, in a friendly group. Whether you’re already a regular, or someone who dips in and out when other commitments allow, or if you’re reading this and have never tried a session before, contact me from the website to find out more.
I wish you the best for the coming weeks and hope you find plenty of light and cosy warmth amid the darkness & chill of Winter. There’s a light snow forecast for parts of the U.K. next week, so if you’re reading this in Australia, enjoy the sunshine, while we’ll have our thermal vests on, as you get the ice lollies out…
Brownie picture thanks to Fotoweedio at Unsplash
