Christmas Eve…

Those are magical words, aren't they? Unless you’re responsible for organising Christmas, in which case they tend to start with ‘How can it be’ and be followed by ‘I’m not ready.’ Only this is where being a compulsive organiser comes in very handy indeed. In fact, planning in minute detail is one of my favourite things. Spreadsheets are lovely things. So are orders booked well ahead, and curating the Christmas TV is always fun too. We go and visit Christmas Markets all around the world via YouTube, and after Christmas, we’ll be looking at the New Year celebrations. I have my playlists all done, and I’ve bookmarked old Perry Como, Andy Williams, Morecambe and Wise and Val Doonican Christmas specials and a couple of festive Midsomer Murders. They used to be my guilty pleasures along with ‘Beyond Paradise’ and ‘Return to Paradise’ till the rest of the family caught me and asked why they couldn’t share.

I also have some Doctor Who specials lined up and of course, the Snowman, the Snowman and the Snowdog, The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child and the Tiger who Came to Tea. Nothing new, because there’s enough stress for autistic people as it is. Combine two of those with my immune system ruling out visitors and we long ago settled into twelve days of slowing down, cooking for fun, relaxing and, in my case, planning. Luckily for me, the rest of my family aren’t natural planners but do like being able to consult the charts and know what I expect of them.

I’ve got lots of books to read, and I’ll hope to get out for walks and in the garden, so really, all I have left to plan are my thank you’s to you, my lovely, lovely readers.

Thank you for reading and telling me what you like. Thank you for letting me live my dream. Thank you for the recipes and recommendations and for being your wonderful selves. I hope you have the happiest of Christmases and the best of New Year's, with plenty of time for reading.

Some of you have asked how my year’s project to reinvent me went. So here it is. A picture of me. You can print it out and throw darts at it and laugh at the fact that I grew my hair till June, then cut it steadily shorter, then am growing it longer again as dry winter air reminds me why I need to tie it back. But I tried. That’s what I’m so pleased about. I tried different styles and colours and make-up and perfume, and I think I look better than I have for years. That’ll carry on next year too, because I know there’s an exciting world out there waiting for me, because I’ve made a list of things that’ll make it happen!

I won’t be here on Sunday, so I’ll see you again on New Years Eve and who knows what’ll have happened by then?