For quite some time, the lead up to Christmas has been a pretty lonely time for me. I didn’t bother with a Christmas tree, or any decorations for that matter, shopping was a very small list and very quickly achieved and I worked up until the last minute and then hopped a plane to Moms. Or for a few years, had to stay in Auckland and hope for sunshine so I could lie in the garden, read and drink alot.

The Christmas lights of Franklin Road and the Telecom Tree weren’t the sort of places that I’d go by myself.

If I had to go to the mall it was a get in and get out sort of scenario. I loathe a screaming kid as much as the next person but all the happy made me a bit sad too. I kind of like the idea of finding little things for people you love and its more of what you hear about. Families and groups out together. Loner people don’t generally talk about their mall experiences – you know?

I know that a lot of what I’m thinking about now is because I have someone this year – but he’s not here but in another city. And he has a family to do this stuff with. And I hear about it. But thats all part of getting used to the situation that we have going on.

This year has been a little different though.
Even though I am still going away for Christmas day, I bought a tree – and decorated it! I made Mel sit on the couch and drink cider whilst I separated branch from branch and ensured that there wasn’t too much red on one side or too many balls on the other.

I then got crazy excited about decorations and ornaments! I turn my fairy lights on every night and I bought a small Christmas decoration for the bookcase. The tree even has presents under it.

Ken and Anna and Alice and i went to the lighting of the Telecom Christmas Tree down in Victoria Park – which I loved.

And this weekend, Ken took the kids and I out to Temple View to see the lights that they put up every year for Christmas. We didn’t make it in to see the lights in the town but there’s always next year for that.

I feel more Christmassy this year. And I like it.

Next year I’m demanding that Christmas is at my house. And I’m dragging someone, anyone out shopping with me. Be warned!