started in mid October when the big store advertisments kicked in. I often worry about 3 for 2 offers on bath gift sets while I'm buying my halloween pumpkin.

Humbug! (I'm shaking my fist at the sky while I'm typing this) ;)

http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Fundraising/Inyourarea/England/Oxfordshire/L...

It's the carol concert in Oxford Cathedral, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. The readings are always evocative and the Schola Cantorum are just breathtaking.

Have an up for Darlene.

Always at one set of grandparents or another, so our decorations go up early to give the Boblets a bit of time to enjoy them. It's happening this weekend, and I'm pretty excited. Seeing the lights and tinsel inside, and the strings of white lights strung through the bay tree in our front garden always gives me a pleasurable little glow.

But it's still the old magic that does it the most: Gloucester Cathedral in darkness, a kind of massed shuffling as a couple of thousand scarfed and overcoated people try hard to stay quiet, and a single chorister at the West end beginning a solo, unaccompanied "Once In Royal David's City". In the second verse, he's joined by the rest of the boys and the men of the choir, and then everyone - plus organ - in verse three. Me and my dad singing the bass part (now that he's retired from the choir). My mum singing alto. The lights coming on, West to East. The Quire coming alight and sparkling like nowhere else can.

That's Christmas, right there. That's my childhood, my five years as a Cathedral chorister. It still gladdens my atheist heart like almost nothing else can.

I know that Christmas is truly on the way when I can no longer put off the inevitable and have to sit down and get my books into a fit state to present to my accountant. Which is what I should be doing right now instead of fannying about on here.

Once that's done then I can start to relax and think about Christmas.

Getting the two week slog of schools coming to have their services, nativities and carols leading up to Christmas, followed by the church's carol service on the following Sunday. It essentially means I get to listen to children singing Christmas songs, dress up as donkeys and angels, and traipsing into church with gloves and hats for two weeks solid. All the while stood in front of a massive glowing tree.

I work at the church, not the schools so we only get them for a couple of hours each, but it makes such an impact, retelling the story of Jesus' birth in a number of different permutations, its quite invigorating.

I'm a fellow 'tree up on Christmas Eve-er' (in childhood, not now I'm familied up it's not allowed - Bah!)
We loved the whole magical change that occurred whilst we slept. I persuaded the wife and kids to try it one year, but it didn't take.

I love visiting towns like Halifax or Skipton during December. The twinkling lights make the old sandstone buildings even more beautiful.

With the cobblestones, old-fashioned street lights and Christmas trees, it's almost as if you're going back in time. You half expect Scrooge to come tearing round the corner to buy a goose on Christmas Day morning (or something)

Gawd bless us everyone etc

- Tree goes up whilst listening to Christmas tunes
- Mince Pies are eaten
- Christmas Film

Yesterday was no exception.

I don't even think about the shopping before December, but from the 1st it's all go!

is the vivid colour of a Christmas tree bauble. Particularly green or purple. I get very emotional over baubles. Couple it with the pine scent of an old fashioned tree and it's life in essence.