Adeste fideles

I twirl the ornament on my left index finger, watching the red glitter catch the light.
If I close my eyes I can even smell Christmas- mangoes, a slight dusty smell of cardboard and tinsel and that something else- that magic something that clings to Christmas and makes you feel warm and tingly.

Or maybe that's just the oppressive heat of an Australian Summer?

Whatever it is- I adore Christmas. The decorations, the carols, the lights on houses, the shopping, the wrapping, the cards, the countdown, the brandy cream, the Christmas teevee specials, the creepy old santa dude's in shopping centres who wave and offer practiced joy and merriment. I love it all.

I like spending Christmas eve in a fit of anticipation, I like being woken at dawn to see the presents and the tree in lovely half light, I like the wrapping paper that litters the living room floor, I like christmas lunch and the too-much food, I like the feeling of being completely stuffed and sleepy, I like having the family around- messing with the gifts, laughing about nothing really.

Christmas is fast approaching and I can already tell I'm going to miss it once it's gone- but years are passing by so quickly, it'll be here again in all it's gift-wrapped, commercialised glory.

I can't wait.