Monday, 20 December 2021

Evergreen

 I'm not big on tradition but I do stick to the one my Mum introduced, letting her December-born child enjoy her birthday before any thought was given to Xmas. Cards were left up and presents remained on display for a fortnight after the main event. Here's what remains of my 55th birthday, I've already drunk the booze, eaten all the baklava & hung a fabulous framed picture on the bathroom wall. Jon & my friends get me, there's books, vintage postcards, handmade goodies, tribal jewellery, ethically produced, plastic-free skincare, fancy organic teas, a charity cat calendar and a pair of light-up magnifying specs as I'm as blind as a bat!

Lord Jon & I acknowledge Xmas Day but don't go overboard. We exchange gifts with a handful of friends, Marcus (my brother) and each other. Last Monday I sat at the PC with a list and purchased our presents online, all from ethical businesses - either indie companies or British charities. Tony had been eyeing up Jon's Bank Robbers (explanation HERE) when we were last in 'Spoons and I'd managed to score a pair from eBay for a quarter of the retail price. Within an hour, everything was purchased. No queues, no crowds, no bother. A while ago I registered with Easy Fundraising, which donates a small percentage of your online expenditure to a charity of your choice so Stray Cats Rescue Team West Midlands got a little Xmas gift, too.


Everything had arrived by Friday so after Jon had hand-printed brown parcel paper using the dregs of the paint we'd used to decorate the lounge back in 2018 & printing blocks we'd bought in India over the years, I wrapped the presents. We never buy conventional wrapping paper or gift bags as most of them are laminated with plastic and can't be recycled, they'll be festering in landfill for years after we've departed the planet. There's no foil bows, sticky tape or synthetic ribbon either, we use garden twine which can be chucked on the compost heap to break down naturally. The gift tags were cut from a box that originally contained handmade soap. 


In recent years, on Xmas Day we'd meet the Dead Relative's Society for a lunchtime curry at our local Indian restaurant but sadly Nessa's became a victim of the pandemic so, in a moment of inebriated magnanimity last month, we invited the gang round to ours for lunch instead (the other member, an 80-something retired university lecturer, isn't pictured). With things the way they are at the moment no one's sure if Xmas is going ahead or if we'll be put into lockdown in the next few days but there's food in the freezer if it does. 


Talking of food, we don't buy anything that we don't normally eat. No tubs of chocolate, party packs of savoury snacks, mince pies, cakes, fancy biscuits or weird alcoholic drinks with cream in them. No Xmas TV either, the only festive film I've ever watched is A Christmas Carol and that's only because I studied it for O Level English Literature.


We have fairy lights up all year round and, as always, I bring some greenery in from the garden to celebrate the Winter Solstice. 



I fell in love with these paper-wrapped globe baubles, handmade in India from recycled plastic on fabulous fair trade website, Ian Snow, a few years ago but was disappointed that they'd sold out. I was thrilled to spot a box of eight listed on eBay. They arrived with their original tags attached & individually wrapped in sheets of the Hindustan newspaper. The recent storm, Arwen, had brought loads of branches down in the garden and Jon found the perfect one from which to suspend a few. 




The remaining four are adorning a few more twigs salvaged from the garden.



I wove some pentagrams from sticks lying around the garden, spraying them with a can of gold paint I found under the sink. They were used symbolically by the Ancient Greeks before you accuse me of being a witch. 


I'm under strict instructions not to hang anything on the new & recently painted front door so it's just the kitchen door adorned with greenery this year. According to European folklore, the hanging of evergreens was used as a symbol of continuity and sustained life in the bleak winter months, something we could all do with.


Phew! With all that festive stuff out of the way, it's business as usual - minus the eBay shop as we've closed it to coincide with the Royal Mail's Xmas posting deadlines. 


It was off to the clearance chazza on Sunday morning. Lord Jon's gradually working through his coats, giving each an outing. It was the turn of this 1960s windowpane check woollen overcoat, scored for £3 from a charity shop back in the Summer.


I'm certainly getting my wear out of this Dilli Grey cord maxi skirt. On Sunday I wore it with a charity-shopped Accessorize beret & leather belt, a vintage Anokhi blouse from eBay and a 1970s Kashmiri woolwork waistcoat that Cheryl gave me. Jon had to endure the weird headband for another night as I wanted more curls.


What did we find?


Two 1980s scarves, the vibrantly checked one was made in France by Francois Duchamp & the other made in West Germany and 100% cashmere, a Lunn Antiques cotton nightie (which I'll be wearing as a slip under my Indian cotton dresses, I never wear anything in bed), Duffer of St George cardi (now in Jon's wardrobe), a 1970s green glass genie bottle to add to the ever-growing collection, a Robert Harris thriller (one of our favourite writers so we're not breaking our book-buying ban!) and a rather marvellous 1970s Fat Lava West German floor vase by Scheurich  - we pushed the boat out for this one, it was part of the charity shop's Gold Ticket Line and cost £5, I've found it's twin on this website HERE for £95.



Ahhhh...Xmas Day, 2007 spent on an empty beach in Kerala. Covid restrictions permitting, we're hoping to escape England for another trip in Wales in the next day or so (not quite as exotic as India!) Hopefully, I'll be back to report back before the end of the week. 

See you soon!


PS Don't forget that English Heritage will be live streaming the Winter Solstice from Stonehenge (for free!) on You Tube on Wednesday 22nd December at 7.25 GMT. It was utterly magical last year.

48 comments:

  1. Wales sounds like a pretty magical play to me.

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    1. Wales in magical! I'm hoping they don't close the borders before we get there! xxx

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  2. Firstly - all birthday should be extended as long as possible, so congratulations. Secondly - omg I just love how you've decorated for the season and how you keep ancient british ceremonial aspects alive. Thirdly - have a wonderful and delicious Christmas if we don't see you before then. xxxxxx

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    1. Thanks so much, my friend! I hope you have a fabulous festive season, too! xxx

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  3. Wales is open! Although we did shut down borders last year. Looking forward to seeing where you visit next time. Love your decorations and gifting.I always hang greenery on the front door, been promised some mistetoe from my friends orchard this year.The few presents that I give are usually wrapped in fabric, such as teatowel/ scarf or in a cotton shopping bag ok. I hadn't heard of Ian Snow before you mentioned before. I got a double quilt , block print from eBay and am going to make a dress from it. I did have a gorgeous scrap scrap velvet jacket, but it got pinched when I was in the pub years ago!

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    1. Hooray! We'll be there tomorrow all being well!
      We were eyeing up mistletoe when we were at Erddig last week, I bet your front door greenery will look fab.
      There was a fantastic Scrap Scrap jacket on eBay last week, what a shame yours got pinched. They're things of beauty. Ian Snow has some incredible things, I could spent £1000s on there.
      I did buy a vintage Anokhi bedspread to take to India and have made into a dress (too scared to do it myself), it won't be happening this year...sob! xxx

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  4. Give me a trip to Wales anytime ... though sadly that won't be possible for us for a while yet. I'm keeping my fingers crossed you'll not be put into lockdown again. Nor we, although with Holland in lockdown half of that country seemed to be in Antwerp today :-(
    Love the globe baubles, pentagrams, twigs and greenery. I might step into the garden for some of the latter myself, as it looks so festive without it being too Christmassy.
    We've put up a tree - Jos insists! - but couldn't use our vintage baubles as a certain furry someone would certainly have destroyed them!
    Your Dilli Grey cord maxi skirt is such a delight, and it looks absolutely fantastic with your Anokhi blouse, that marvellous waistcoat and the beret! And wow, isn't that West Germany vase a stunner. Well worth splashing out for! xxx

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    1. With any luck it won't be too long before you and Jos make it to Wales!
      I was fully expecting to be put into lockdown this week, it could change at any minute. It beggars belief that the Dutch are coming over the border to do the stuff they can't do at home. This pandemic will never end with behaviour like that.
      Jos does love his tree, doesn't he? Very sinsible to keep those precious baubles away from Bess. I can't wait to see what she makes of the tree, the little minx!
      Isn't haveing a plain item of clothing a revelation? I love how mnay of my patterned tops it goes with! xxx

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  5. Tony and I absolutely adore the colour and lights of the festive season and would simply celebrate the solstice if we didn't have Christmas to jazz the house up for. I love the idea of festive greenery and I bet it smells amazing.

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    1. I thought of you and Tony today, our neighbour has gone all out with the festive lights in his front garden! The house does smell lovely, especially the freshly cut laurel, it's got such a distinctive scent. xxx

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  6. Your mum had the right idea about a December birthday. It is hard as a child with all your friends off on their Christmas holidays and having to compete with Christmas. I'm so glad you never had to have your birthday combined, that's terrible for small children.

    I buy second hand rolls of paper as there's so much of it around and it is almost free. I will go to the Hallmark shop and buy a card, but only so I can help support the designers that work there. I'd guess you don't have Hallmark over there yet?

    I hope you have a nice day off anyway. Even if you don't get carried away it is nice to see people-I hope you are able to this year.
    I never used to like booze with cream in it but now that I'm getting old and my stomach a bit more temperamental a pina coloda wouldn't offend.
    Your greenery looks beautiful-just perfect.

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    1. Danny's a December baby, I love how you always make an effort to keep his birthday special, too. I hated it as a child when I'd get combined presents, it made me want an unofficial birthday in the Summer, a bit like the Queen!
      Buying second hand paper's good. My Mum made us open our Xmas presents really carefully, she'd remove the sellotape, iron the paper and reuse it again the following year! We don't have a Hallmark here, mind you Walsall has very little in the way of shops these days, just a huge Primark which I've never set foot inside!
      If we're allowed to have household mixing I'm sure we'll have a lovely day. Jon's a bit worried that we've only got a table big enough for four, looks like I'll be up the corner on a stool eating off the draining board!
      xxx

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  7. I love all your handmade Christmas decs, especially the pentangles (the band 'Pentangle' popped into my head when I read about yours, didn't they sing a theme tune to some tv programme back in the day?) I went down the 'no plastic' route too with the xmas wrapping paper, cutting potatoes in half and dipping them into different shapes and paint colours to stamp mine with and I even crocheted some tags too! I hope you can safely have your Christmas Day lunch. How lovely of you and M'Lud to invite everyone round. Have a cool Yule! xxx

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    1. 'Take Three Girls' is the theme tune which I think Pentangle sang. Well before your time though. x

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    2. Take Three Girls rings a bell with me, I've just Googled it and it looks like something my Mum would have watched - I'm going to see if Jon can download it, it looks fab!
      What a great idea to crochet the gift tags. When I'm finally able to get back to India I shall get you a printing block then save your spuds for dinner! xxx

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    3. Oh my, I've always wanted an Indian printing block! Thank you.x

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  8. How I would love to be on that empty Kerala beach too I have the most fabulous memories of 2019 Kerala and will have to treasure them until this pandemic is over :) I love those globe baubles, tried to get some off Ian Snow too and sold out aren't they fun! We like the pagan aspects of Christmas (my mothers influence) and dressing the house up with greenery is the biggie for me - your door looks beautiful with foliage. I like your way of decorating and wrappping presents too - and appreciated that my book came in brown paper and string, which I will re-use. I hope you have lots of fun at Christmas and make it to Wales for a lovely break Vix and wish you lots of love, blessings for 2022 and good health for you and Jon xxx

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    1. That beach is the one where I think they built that amazing hotel you stayed at! It was a bit like the Xmas story, Jon and I got off a boat at 7pm on Christmas Eve but there was no room at any of the lodging houses in Alleppey. The taxi driver made a phone call and we ended up staying with a top Mumbai DJ in his ancestral home along with Oprah Winfrey's personal assistant. The accomodation was amazing but the food was dreadful, everything was deep-fried in coconut oil!
      Sending much love to you, Betty! xxx

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    2. Wow that is a weird and wonderful Christmas Eve your taxi driver fixer found for you in Kerala but I hope they knew who they were all rubbing shoulders with (social media and vintage fashion queen and vintage popstar partner no less!) we stayed at CGH Earth Marari Beach (It was Steve's 60th so no expense spared) if we can't go there yet we will have to make do with reminiscing ... and planning the next trip :)

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  9. I hope that you make it to Wales. Enjoyed your trip to Erdigg that you madexx Arilx

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    1. Well so far so good, BoJo's made no announcements so I think we'll pop over the border tomorrow before anything changes.
      Erddig was spectacular, I'm hoping the next National Trust property will be as gorgeous! xxx

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  10. We all know that Christmas Day was just selected arbitrarily at some point in history, so why so many of us (myself included) go with the notion that it needs weeks and now it seems months to prepare for. I think for me, it is from the time the clocks are turned back until the end of February when we finally start feeling like we are getting more minutes of day light moodiness sets in, as I crave light. Putting effort into the glitz and color and lights of Christmas and in normal years, being out and about with friends and families, makes this long cold stretch more bearable. Now, travelling elsewhere would make it more bearable as well, so I hope you get your trip. I too have orders nothing on our new front door, so my pine wreath is tied to a porch railing. I love the greenery on your black window frames.

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    1. You're spot on there, Sam. Going all out for Xmas must be a great distraction from these long dark nights and gloomy, cold days. My focus was always on planning for our big India trip, it's been very strange not being able to shorten the winter and escape for a few weeks, learning to embrace the entire season, investing in thermals and living in the here and now.
      I'm glad you found a way to display your wreath without damaging the new door! xxx

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  11. I love the low-key yule decorations, including all the boughs and branches, Vix. I think if I had not spent 11 years of my working life in a year-round Xmas store I would probably not decorate to the extent I do! In the years between Vizzini joining us (2010) and 2020, I did not put up anything at all, so I am with you on minimalist décor - decorating is again new for me, though, at least for now.

    Love your pretty outfit! and very much enjoyed seeing your finds. What a great deal on the vase - don't you love it when you find something and discover a comparable X 20!?

    If I forget, all the best to you, Jon, Stephen and Jacob for a very happy holiday season. Sending you good vibes, happy thoughts and best wishes. Here's to another year - may it be better than the last!

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    1. I don't blame you for going mad with the Xmas decor, you've got such an incredible collection it would be a crime not to display and enjoy it!
      I knew those West German vases were having a moment but that much of a moment! Charity shops, the gift that keeps on giving.
      Sending you loads and loads of festive joy back at yourself, L, Vizzini and your Mum! xxxx

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  12. Our decorations are mostly greenery and lights and we have even less this year - but we have not skimped on the lights - although we do have them up all year round, it seems during the darker months we need them more. Not long to the Winter Solstice.
    Your beachy waves are looking really good! What ever that strange band is/does - it does it well 😁

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    1. You can never have enough lights, can you?
      We're into the longest night now, I shall be in front of the PC at 7.20am tomorrow, mug of tea in hand watching the sun rise over Stongehenge and looking forward to longer, lighter days! xxx

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  13. Hi Vix, I love how you've decorated your home. You don't have to go overboard with Christmas, if that's your style. Stay safe, I hope you get your trip to Wales. Xxx

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    1. Thanks so much, Jess! Wales was wonderful. What better way to celebrate the Solstice than a trip to a Medieval castle? xxx

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  14. I'm lost in your beach photograph. What I wouldn't give to be there right now.
    And I love your understated festive celebrations. I don't go overboard myself, but I'll still raise a glass of Baileys to you ;)

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    1. It really was paradise, I'd give anything to be there right now!
      I'm riasing my glass of Mateus Rose to you right now - classy woman that I am! xxx

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  15. love your giftwrapping and the natural decorations!
    and your and jon´s outfits of cause!
    we will light a little fire n the summersalon this evening - me drinking red wine & mumbling some spells ;-D
    wish you and the dead relative´s society a fun and warm celebration at you home - wish we could come too..... would bring one of my hearthy vegetarian stews - soljanka perhaps for some eastern european vibe.......
    xxxxx

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    1. We shall be raising a glass to you in your summersalon later! I hope the spells work, we could do with some magic.
      I 've just looked up soljanka and it looks and sounds delicious - olives and dill pickles? Yes, please! I know what I'll be making very soon! xxx

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  16. Your house is looking lovely and festive and it will be lovely to have your friends over Christmas Day.
    I cook a nice meal Christmas eve,Christmas Day and Boxing Day and that's my lot. The girls love party food and a cheeseboard for lunches over the festive period so plenty of that in the freezer.
    I am out of isolation tomorrow and I just can't wait to get out for a walk and some fresh air!

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    1. I'm so glad you get out of isolation tomorrow, freedom will taste so sweet!
      That's great that you get a holiday from cooking over Xmas, have a lovely one. xxx

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  17. I vaguely remember Take Three girls, (yes, I'm THAT old!) The theme tune is called Light Flight, as you rightly say by Pentangle. I loved that song and still do. My Mum used to do the opposite for my January birthday - make sure all the xmas cards had been taken down, so only my birthday cards were up! Enjoy wales Vix xxx

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    1. Hello Jayne! I'm going to track down Take Three Girls and give it a watch, it sounds right up my street!
      Wasn't your Mum lovely for doing that anmd making your January birthday special? xxx

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  18. What, you don't need 48 ferrero rochers Vix!?!?! Your mum sounds really fab, not allowing Christmas to encroach on your December birthday. I remember your rather fine indian block printed paper from last year. Don't you look like a cute foraging pixie in the garden with your basket :) Give us some of 'em curls please xXx

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    1. Noooo! Ferrero Rocher and Baileys should be consigned to the depths of hell, the very smell of them is downright evil!
      I'll lend you my headband and you too can look as demented as I do! xxx

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  19. Happy Winter Solstice, Vix!

    The skirt was a fabulous find and I loved it worn with the waistcoat.

    I loved your Xmas decorations especially the Ian Snow baubles. I foraged ivy from the Sheltered Accommodation over the road and have it draped over the mantel piece; it looks very festive. Most of the decorations were found in the chazzas. I thought when my children grew up we wouldn't bother so much with Xmas; then the grandchildren came along and would you believe it the children (in their 40s) still want the usual decorations, food and extras so we still oblige!

    Hope you have a lovely festive day whether you have guests or not...
    xxx

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    1. Thanks, Vronni! Here's to the days getting longer and the nights shorter, a cause for celebration indeed!
      That skirt was worth every penny, it seems to breath new life into everything I wear it with.
      That's really sweet that the family get such a nostalgia trip from all the old Xmas decs.
      Have a brilliant day! xxx

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  20. That Kashmiri waistcoat pairs with the corduroy skirt as if made-to-order, and the beret is the perfect seasonal topper. Brilliant blues suit your complexion and hair -- and the holiday greens you and Jon have so cleverly harvested from your garden. I confess I've adapted the twig with twinkles and ornaments to a dark corner of my study: driftwood simply wedged against the wall, a scrap of ribbon and a globe. Voila!

    I, too, have a tradition of watching a Christmas Carol film. My favorite version is the 1935 "Scrooge" starring Sir Seymour Hicks. It's dark and dirty and reeks of a lack of mod cons. Best of all, actor Donald Calthrop is a living image of the original illustrations of Bob Cratchit. * Which version do you and Jon favor, may one ask?

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    1. Thanks, Beth! My love pulling that skirt from the wardrobe, holding it against my tops and seeing what pops out. It seems to go with everything.
      I'm a big fan of driftwood (and globes!)
      I haven't seen that Christmas Carol, I enjoyed the Alastair Sim one but my (and Jon's) favourite was the BBC adaptation by Stephen Knight (the genius behind Peaky Blinders) seriously dark! Track it down if you can! xxx

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  21. Lovely that you celebrate Christmas your own way (as everybody should do, in my opinion), totally in love with your decoration, the greenery from the garden, the pretty globe baubles!, and also in love with your own tradition of picking your presents from businesses you love and support, and wrapping them so beautifully!.
    Love your gardening attire, the fab dress and cute cardi and hat!, and also love your cord skirt!, so fantastic piece, it looks fab with the blues of the waistcoat and beret, delightfully chic!
    We're just starting the celebrations here in Spain, as they last until the 6th of January. Actually, I actively ignore most of the compulsory stuff, but I've put our cardboard tree and listened to 'Merry Christmas' by The Ramones.
    besos

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  22. Solstice Blessings Vix and belated happy birthday - really enjoyed your trip around Christmas in your house. Lovely.

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  23. I'm standing up for Ferrer Rocher here and Elizabeth Shaw Mint Crisps and After Eight mints here as I adore them but I don't generally buy them for myself but get given them. I must start dropping the "I love dark mint chocolate hint" to my school kids so I don't have to deal with endless boxes of Quality Street or worse- Dairy Box. I'd prefer them not to waste their precious money on gifts for me but if they must, they can help my mint choc addiction!!
    I love your needlecord skirt- it really is marvellous! I must try adding foliage to my front of my house like you do- May be it would work round our door number?
    My Mum always celebrates the Pagan festivals and there's nought wrong with a pentagram. They are v attractive and my favourite thing to doodle.

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  24. Helllooo lovely Vix, glad to see you, its been a long while, been thinking of you lately I am so glad you're OK and am enjoying reading your lovely blog. Have a great (rest of the) festive season, sending love and hugs
    Joolz xxx

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  25. Sorry, far too late to be relevant but just wanted to say how perfect your 'seasonal' preparations are. There would be so much less post-Christmas debt & diabetes if everyone did things this way 😎😜. xx

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Lots of love, Vix