Well here it is, that special time of year again… The Night Before Christmas.

Today, I am spending the day with my wife… We are going to the Christmas market in the square in town to have a mug of Gluwein, listen to the music, eat roasted chestnuts before a stroll along the beach, late lunch and snuggling in front of the fireplace together… Then we have some days with friends and family and I cannot wait. We’ll eat too much, drink too much, laugh loudly, play games and have a ball.

That is all I am going to write today, I’ll be back after Christmas with some build up to the New Year and then that’ll be upon us too… I wish you a Christmas  filled with good friends, much merriment, hearty laughter, joy shared with loved ones, well-being, and stimulating conversations.

I hope you see the beauty in others, let go of unwanted and detrimental feelings, maybe by waving a white flag and agreeing to play football with the other guys in the trenches, I hope Nottingham Forest win on Boxing Day, can’t wait to see my wife’s face when she opens her presents from me on Christmas morning, can’t wait to hand out those flutes of Champagne to our friends and family on Christmas Day, can’t wait for al those cooking smells to fill the house, can’t wait to pull those crackers and wear my Christmas hat… so much excitement!

Here is wishing you a very Merry Christmas!
(and God Jul to all my family in Norway)

Christmas

I can think of no better way to share my excitement of this day with you all than to finish with the words of  Clement Moore:

Twas the Night before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”

Have a good one… My party hat is about to go on… 🙂