IT IS ONLY the second week in January, and yet it feels like a lot more time has passed since the holidays. The decorations are still up and we're still turning on the white Christmas lights in the evenings, glittery in their delicate glass globes and strung along the archway of the built-in bookcase in the corner, instantly making things feel festive. For the past two weeks, it's been busy, busy, which is the reason why it feels like so much time has passed.
WHEN YOU think about holiday decorating, the colour black doesn't normally come to mind. Green and red; and of course, white, are the more obvious choices, for black seems a bit severe and lacking their festive quality at first glance. However, when paired with some gold or greenery ...
THIS PAST WEEK, we were back in London, thinking it might be the last time in a long time again that we would be able to be out and about before another national lockdown. We were also there to celebrate the holidays and two anniversaries. When we were last here, it was May, and things were only tentatively opening up again. All the pubs and restaurants were outdoor seating only, which mean it was difficult to find a table without booking the good places in advance through an app. The weather was unseasonably rainy and cold and we wondered if it had been a good decision to come ...
When we first moved to Spain three years ago, one of the only things that we lamented was that around the holiday season, the city just didn't seem very festive. There was the usual carousel and a few smaller decorated trees here and there, but over all, the shops and streets never really got into the holiday spirit like they do in the UK.
This year my holiday structure is changing: fewer plans, no schedules, no compromises. While everyone else is planning their big Christmas dinner, this year I am headed towards making my own traditions, including a small dinner with friends and some more time for myself and my readings.