I left my mother’s house quite early; that’s how I happened to have my first own Christmas tree at the tender age of 18. Back then, I didn’t have much money, and the little fir tree in a pot had to be decorated with bright red taffeta bows only. In the sale after that Christmas I bought two strings of fairy lights. Ever since, I have been collecting Christmas ornaments. And I just can’t seem to get enough.

Birchcraft Designs

Last weekend, I dragged the whole family behind me and forced them to indulge in a whole morning of oestrogen fuelled Christmas madness. We went to the Country Living Christmas Fair! The yearly event is housed in the Business Design Centre in Islington, which happens to be just around the corner from where we live. How could I not go?

It's girls only. Almost...

The hall has been packed with mostly female visitors. The few male companions that I spotted must have been brought along for carrying purposes only, as they grumpily tottered behind the respective other halves. My very own better half, Big M, has been busy chasing behind little L, trying to keep her from pulling over the delicate decorations or playing football with the Christmas baubles.

Bollywood Christmas

All the while I have been skimming the scene with an eagle eye. Where to go first? Which colours to choose? And what to bring home? I went for an advent calendar and some cute gingerbread men from Birchcraft Designs, some Scandinavian looking ornaments, a Santa Claus on an elephant and a little angel from Bollywood Christmas and a cute T-Shirt with an elephant-illustrations (you got it, we are in the elephant phase) for little L.

As for my tortured family, little L brought home a new word: ‘Spa-tly! Spa-tly!’ (sparkly, sparkly) and Big M bagged a new idea: ‘Maybe you want to go with a girlfriend next year?’

Time to deck the halls now, time to bundle the wreaths (ok, whom am I kidding, there’s definitely no bundling) and to fill in this little advent calendar. Any ideas?

If you are still not ‘in the mood’, I recommend watching this on end: