Christmas Has Finally Arrived

In our home. Late, I know, but better late than never (this should be my motto).

I'm struggling with the inevitable battle that most 'working from home' people go through, at least in the beginning, of getting the home/work life balance right. It's too easy when your email 'pings' to, kindly, let you know that you have mail not to just want to take a quick look. I mean it could be urgent. Couldn't it? The answer is almost invariably that it's NOT urgent, but hey, one day it could be! Add to that the fact that the phone can and does ring at any time of the day or week and you can probably well understand that I, at times, feel I am living and breathing work 24/7. It's easy to forget that I am only working 15 hours a week.

It is further complicated because Noah is still only at school for half days so I am having to get everything done in the few hours of each morning when he is at school (I can forget even attempting to get any of my tasks done during the afternoon hours when he is at home, suffice it to say he is a little trying in the afternoons!). And by everything, I do mean everything. Cleaning, laundry, tidying, food shopping, work, Christmas shopping... the list goes on... and no time for 'me time' anywhere amongst it.

The upshot of this is that whilst I have done the Christmas 'Thank You' cards for our church I haven't managed to write a single one of my own. In effort to get them out in the post before Christmas I am trying to cut a few corners by completing address labels on the computer (this way I'll have them all ready for next year too) and I'm leaving out the whole 'To' stuff and just signing them from us. Phew! I may just about manage it.

I've also had our Christmas tree (keeping cold outside) for over a week now but, after a couple of false starts, I finally finished decorating it yesterday. This isn't as late as you think as we traditionally put our tree up the weekend before Christmas, so just a couple of days late.

I love a nice Christmas tree. It has to be real. I have to decorate it as it has to look 'just right', LOL. Poor children, although they do get to put a decoration on themselves at the end, a sort of crowning glory. Aren't I kind?

Now it feels like Christmas. We have our tree (and beautiful it is smelling too), we have all our special German decorations, like our Weihnachts Karussel (Christmas Carousel) but all those of you who know me will notice one glaring omission, especially on the tree.

There are no candles! I can't find them. I know I bought a load whilst we were in Canada. I know exactly where they were stored (in the drawer of the dining room side unit) but can I find them? I managed to find some small candles on line yesterday, ordered them and am hoping they turn up in time for Christmas Eve, which is traditionally when we light them for the first time. I know. Real candles on a tree=danger. But we've had real candles on
our trees for years and as long as you are sensible it really is OK. Honest. And it looks FAB to boot!

If I don't get to post again before Christmas, which with my current track record isn't looking good, then a MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ONE AND ALL.