Have yourself a merry little Christmas

As I write this the rain is battering on the roof of the extension, and presumably washing most of the remaining snow away. The journey to work was not great this morning because there was still a lot of snow lying on the roads and some drivers were going very, very slowly, however I saw a fine sunrise on my way. When I drove a sick pupil home at lunch time the back roads were still very snowy, however the thaw had started by the afternoon. It was a good old busy day at work, and as an unexpected bonus I was delighted that my twilight course was cancelled because of weather conditions. I got cakes for James' hill-walking committee meeting on the way home, it is going on in the lounge just now. I hope they choose some lovely destinations for outings for next year; James mentioned that someone has suggested St Kilda which would be great, it has long been a dream of mine to go there. I have just been checking out Christmas ceilidhs on the internet because Ally's friend Clarissa, whom he met on holiday in St Lucia, is coming to visit this weekend from London and he wants to give her a Scottish experience! We have narrowed it down to two venues and I hope to book one of them tomorrow for him. If not he will have to give her the Scottish experience of a fish supper from Benny's! I am beginning to feel a little bit Christmassy, which surprises me because after last year when Mum died I thought I was kind of finished with the excitement of Christmas. I of course enjoyed our Christmas celebration with Heather and Ewan, and Christmas morning with Grandma, Marjory, Forrest and the children. And the boys opening their stockings on our bed on Christmas morning is still one of the joys of my life (yes they still do that!) But last Christmas without Mum was very sad for me and we went for dinner to a hotel for the first time ever because I couldn't bear to have Christmas dinner in the house without her. Dinner in the hotel was fine but a bit flat - it lacked the personal touch. However this year we will be back at home because the new extension won't remind me so much of Christmases past, and as we start the preparations I can feel stirrings of the old Christmas excitement that I thought would not return. Maybe it was the lovely Mince Pies outing to the Ochils, or the first snow, or the Kate Rusby carol concert; I don't know why exactly but Christmas is beginning to work its old magic! Have yourself a merry little Christmas, let your heart be light, from now on our troubles will be out of sight....I hope so.