Night Walk

Every year I deliver the last batch of local Christmas Cards in an evening, on foot.  There is something magical about putting on my boots, scarf and bobble hat and wandering through the quiet village streets alone, with all the lights sparkling.  I call it my Christmas night walk and it helps get me into the Christmassy mood.  It is always such a frenetic build up to the Big Event but now that most of the preparations are finished now I can sigh with a deep sense of relief (I got there!) and start to enjoy the festive period.

I love the Christmas lights and decorations and people take such trouble over their creations nowadays.  (I admit to coveting some of them which is not seasonally generous but at least I am honest!)  Usually I am taking a quick glance at the lights as I drive past in the car but tonight I had the time to stroll, close up, and it was amazing to see all the detail.

There is a lot of what I call traditional lighting where jewel coloured bulbs are strung in rows on spruce trees, positioned by the front door.  White lights that twinkle or blink intermittently are popular too and I saw some that are what I can only describe as ‘running’ lights, where one pulse of light appears to travel round and round until it reaches the top of the tree.  It is great fun.

I saw endless variations on the Christmas wreath, read signs asking Santa to call and that the chimney is This Way.  There are Santa gnomes and an elf sitting on a rock by a gate.  And of course there are snowmen (not real ones yet!) with knitted scarves and cuddly polar bears that nod and wave a paw.

My favourite decoration is the tall branch of silver birch with branches sprayed white and silver.  It is strewn with the tiniest of fairy lights which shimmer in a sequence of waves, first white, then red and finally blue.  It is very contemporary but seems to capture that magical feeling of Christmas, in a simple and stunning way.

I enjoyed my walk and posted my good wishes to our friends and neighbours.  I wish everyone a happy Christmas and healthy and happy 2012.  I don’t know about you but what I need now is a nice glass of mulled wine and a mince pie. 

And next year, I will be a little more daring with Springfield's Christmas decorations!