A Country Christmas

Well I like it, but then I like fairylights and big red poinsettias and gold glittery things and lots and lots of garlandy green things. It is in fact the one time of year where I am happy to embrace a slightly country look, because otherwise the hovel looks a bit wrong. There was the blue fairylight year and very funky they were too, I must admit they were inspired by my favourite hotel cocktail bar in Dublin (at the Morgan) but in country cottage, oh dear it just sort of didn't say cosmopolitan city chic more OMG Santa's Grotto crazy nut job alert. So I stick with a country type Kirsty Allsopp meets Nigella, meets Poundland sort of vibe.



It's actually quite cosy and comforting, rather like myself, not very exciting, maybe a bit predictable, but nice. Scruffbag loves Christmas, mainly because there's Turkey and chocolates and well lots of food that she can be spoiled with. As you can see here, she rather likes to share a cosy fireside wine with me.



This year of course we had snow, which is something that Scruffbag rather loves, she enjoys trying to catch snowballs, heavens only knows why , must be chilly on the nose. Equally she likes to try to join in with sledging (and yes someone did let her have a go with them, she loved it). I suspect she may have a teeny smidgeon of husky in her interesting doggy DNA somewhere, as she loves dragging me down the Lane which was not dissimilar to the Cresta Run. It was almost a new extreme sport, very exhilarating, similar to wake boarding (not that I'm exciting enough to do that, I'm just nice). Exciting enough for little me to be dragged down the road by a dog who clearly misheard "Heel" and "Stop dragging me you smelly hound" for "Mush".

Cooper on the other hand, can do without the snow, ta very much and looks appalled whenever he gets his paws wet. He looked panic stricken when he got caught outside in it. As you can see and decided it was a never to be repeated experience. (He has retired to the bedroom which thanks to new central heating (oh yes at long last), resembles Hawaii (fabulous).



Christmas Eve saw my first attendance at midnight mass (let's face it I need all the prayers I can get) which was quite enjoyable, love a good sing song me. It was very Midsomer Murders especially when the power failed and we were plunged into darkness. Pretty sure it was EDF being rubbish as ever, rather than an actual visitation but who knows. "If you see Miss Marple love run", made me chortle, but prompted tutting from more sober congregation members (ah well never mind hey). Here it is, the village church, very picturesque don't you think?



A frenzy of feasting for Christmas Day, then walkies with Scruffbag in the forest on Boxing Day (she's still smelly and snoring as I type). All in all, a pleasant enough country Christmas. No wake boarding, or tawny port or generally posing about thinking I'm god's gift or anything, but hey that's never been me and never will. I'm off to be boring , dependable, nice little me hot chocolate anyone? Oh and I will share my selection box, even the curly wurlies if you ask.

Merry Christmas everyone xoxo