A CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN

I know it may seem a little early to talk about the joys of Christmas – indulge me a little here – but last night as we sat down with our diaries and worked out what the next nine weeks would look like, it's pretty clear that Christmas will soon be on our doorstep.

As these darker nights draw in and a cool chill hits the air, I can't help but let my mind wander to the twinkly season ahead. F has already started asking when it will be time for us to get a tree as the shops start to stock advents and snow filled trinkets in the countdown to Christmas.

As a child the excitement was almost too much to bear, with everything geared around a visit from the big man himself. I remember all the years spent at my Nanna's house, where the neighbourhood children would run out of their doors at the first sign of snow. Even if it was past our bedtime we would emerge wrapped up, smuggling our PJ's out in the cold air for a quick snowball fight before our parents would call time and we were wrestled back inside to sleep.

Even thought we don't have much snow these days, I am still the same now as I was then. As the first flakes fall I am always ready and raring to go, no matter what time the clock says, I'm ready to leave the first impressions in a blanket of white.

And don't get me started on the tree! The annual hike to find the perfect Norwegian pine to sit with through the cold winter days, keep us full of cheer with its winking lights and nostalgic decorations, each holding a memory of its own.


There are so many elements that makes Christmas special for most people: the tree, the food, the presents, family and friends, but for me it's Christmas Eve that holds my heart, not the presents or indulgence of the day itself, but the magic that all children know and most adults forget. It's the belief that something wonderful is about to happen, that people hearts are warmed and a smile touches most faces, friendly hellos in the street and the togetherness the season brings.

I read this book to F every year, and every year I cry when I read it, nothing captures the spirit of Christmas so beautifully and if you ask me I'll tell you, I believe in the spirit of Christmas and the old man himself, and like an old fable carried down through the years, I will pass this on to F and hope he carries the magic in his heart.

In the hopes to make Christmas truly magical for F and give him wonderful memories to look back on, this is my entry for a chance to win a trip to Lapland with Transun for our little family.

SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE

It's Thursday and the weekends starting early as we load up the car and head off to another festival. Oh and did I mention I am SO excited? Even though it may rain and I may be coming down with a cold, I have every intention to drink rum, laugh with friends and dance like no ones watching at End of the Road. I'll be back blogging on Tuesday after having fun and hopefully staying dry, until then you can follow our adventures on my Instagram feed or read last years adventures here. 

On my return I can't wait to share with you my thoughts on home, our yummy lunch date at Zizzi's, joining in with Styling the Season, my 52 photo, our festival fun and style trends and our a new good book.

Until then have a beautiful fun filled weekend and see you on the other side. x

You can buy awesome this print here

FESTIVAL FUN AT END OF THE ROAD

 

 

 

So we've finally settled back into normality after an amazing four days at End of the Road Festival and I'm still feeling a bit wiped. F has bounced back into his routine with a skip and a hop while my brain is taking longer to get up to speed, but hell it was worth it. We've been going to End of the Road – without fail – for six years and have watched it grow from a fledgling festival to one of the best on the festival circuit.

Set in the stunning surroundings of the Larmer Tree Gardens near Salisbury, it was a family friendly long weekend full of magic and twinkling lights. F was ecstatic at the prospect of camping as usual and was very keen to help with the mallet and tent pegs, so we hauled our stuff over to the quiet area rather than the family area allowing us to pitch with our friends – this actually turned out better than last year as it seemed to be closer to the main area and there wasn't the thunderous roar of kids going past our tent at 6.30am.

During the day we spent our time wandering through the woods, sitting on blankets in the warm sun listening to music, testing out our circus skills, reading Dr Seuss in the woodland library, watching pirate puppets, eating an enormous amount of amazing food, chilling in the Badger Inn, and spotting the peacocks and macaws that were roaming freely. In the morning we'd grab ourselves some tea and toast and head over to the cinema tent to nestle down to a bit of Disney or Studio Ghibli, while the other of us had a lie in and nursed their head.

As dusk settled in and F danced in pj's and wellies, a more electric and magical vibe took over. We ate dinner by the roaring pit fire, hundreds of twinkling light shone down through the woods, the warm glow of the food stalls and bars called out to passerby's, the light up disco in the woods came to life and the everyone seemed to be buzzing. We both tried out the Silent Disco on alternate nights, exchanging £10 for a set of headphones that switches between two tracks while dancing like a loon and singing aloud to your favourite songs. Only to lower your headphones once in a while to realise that everyone sounds completely out of tune and half of the tent are dancing to a different beat. Hilarious fun!

What made this festival great for me – apart from randomly receiving hand delivered letters by the festival postman throughout the weekend, using only a brief description of what we look like and where we might be – was the chance to hang out with friends, let F explore the outdoors and for us to hold hands and listen to music.

It's the small details that make this such a great festival: from the secret gigs to the art sculptures, the piano room to the hidden showeroke – yes that is a hidden shower cubicle/karaoke booth in the woods, the hay bales and fur blankets that line the floor of the tipi to the post office. The best festival has to be End of the Road.

Early bird tickets are now on sale for 2014, make sure you don't miss out.