Backwards In High Heels

Baby Jesus or Zac Efron?

I am not unduly religious and brilliantly elastic with my beliefs. Spiritual pick n mixer - that's me.

But if there's one thing I like in the run up to Christmas it is an advent calendar.

Here's the thing, I want an advent calendar that is relevant to advent. On day 24 I want to open the door and see baby Jesus and possibly a donkey.

I do not want a chocolate in the shape of any part of Zac Efron. I don't want chocolates full stop. I want a little picture that'll make me go 'ahhh'.

A Victorian scene, Santa - yep, I'll take those too. Glitter? Oh yes, can't beat a bit of glitter but I don't want High School Musical, the Simpsons or whichever film Disney have out at the moment.

This year I had to go on quite a hunt for a traditional Advent calendar. In the end it was WH Smith that came up trumps for me. I think it's rather lovely. Admittedly me stomping round the shops moaning 'why the hell can't I find an advent calendar with the baby bloody Jesus, is it too much to ask?' may not have been in-keeping with the spirit of the season.

On taking the photo of my advent calendar the camera flash has saved baby Jesus's modesty. Pfft, you may have Zac Efron on your advent calendar but I've got baby Jesus's winkle. Someone, somewhere is praying for a mix of the two and an advent calendar with Zac Efron's winkle on it - good luck with finding that.

Twas The Season To Be...

Jolly? Grumpy? Guilty? Which were you?

I managed all three at one point or another. I love Christmas but in recent years they have been difficult mainly due to chest infections and illnesses. But still I cling to the hope that I will get back that magic cheer that Christmas has. Rose tinted glasses rimmed with holly I suspect.

One glorious moment of Christmas cheer was visiting a local church Christmas tree festival. Coming from 'up dale' Christmas trees were banned from our church when I was little. Well the elder aunts from those days, the ones who wore hats in church even if they were there cleaning, would be as appalled as I was overjoyed.

I was expecting perhaps 7 or 8 trees in the church but walked into a veritable wonder land with 82 trees of one type or another crammed in. Each was decorated by a different group. The Brownies decorated their's with homebaked cookie decorations, the local dog's charity had pictures of those dogs looking for new homes. The local children's hospice had rememberances of those who they said goodbye to this year which was heart rendering.

There was tea and biscuits, a raffle and the most wonderfully welcoming congregation.

And from that lovely thought I shall skip to my number one moan of Christmas 2008 - blue lights. So many houses are adorned with blue lights. They are not Christmassy. Red, green, gold and clear lights I will allow but not blue. Blue lights should be left to police stations and colour blind prostitutes.

Silent Night...I Wish

I'm brimming with stuff I want to waffle about on my blog but I am into day 10 of a cold and lung infection (deja vu to last year).

I am clinging on to my Christmas spirit despite repeated attempts by it to escape my body in the form of mucus.

As you were.