Verona Strauss.comjust because life is fun! …

sweet chestnut tree - can you see me in her branches?

Today has been a special Solstice Day for us. This morning we cut some branches from my magnolia tree, bought them in and decorated them for Christmas. Last year, when I was much younger, I put all the decorations on the tree and it didn’t look very good. This year, because I’m older, I decided to put on a few decorations and I’m really pleased with the way it looks. Mummy thinks I did an excellent job.

We don’t buy a tree because I don’t like the thought of trees being cut down for Christmas - I think it’s cruel and I prefer to just take as many branches as we need from our own trees.

I put our nativity scene on the nature table and decorated some of our photo frames with tinsel.

After lunch we went to see another very special tree. She lives in the field at the back of our house and is a sweet chestnut. She is the biggest tree I have ever seen. I can climb right inside her and in the summer I want to sleep inside her for the night. The last time I went to this tree I was inside Mummy’s tummy - she used to go there every day with Daddy and now I want to go there every day too; no matter how cold or rainy it is.

Tonight I’m having a sleep over at Grandma’s and tomorrow I am spending the day with one of my cousins. I’m very excited!

Decorating the Tree for Christmas

Today I went to my Grandma’s and I decorated her Christmas Tree. I put on some beads, tinsel, baubels and a fairy on the top. Granddad put on the lights before I got there.

The tree nearly reached the ceiling. I felt happy when decorating the tree; because I really love decorating it. It makes me think of Christmas Day. Christmas Day makes me think of exciting presents, yummy food and love from my Mummy and Daddy.

I wondered if anyone had seen the real Santa and thought about hiding behind the sofa in the lounge, but Daddy says he would know I was there and would wait for me to fall asleep before leaving my presents. I looked up the chimney and it looks very small; too small for Santa to get down. Mummy told me everything turns to magic on Christmas Eve and if I looked carefully on Christmas morning I might be able to see where some of the bricks had moved apart to fit Santa through into our house.

Then I thought he might get very full after everyone had left him food to eat. Mummy told me that he shared food with his reindeer and took other food to share with poor people so that they have something nice to wake up to on Christmas Day.
I’m seeing Grandma again on Wednesday and as long as it isn’t raining too hard she is going to take me ice skating again!

Santa's grotto at Clearwell caves

Today I went to visit Santa at Clearwell Caves. Every year there is an underground Christmas market and a story or poem to watch or listen to. This year it was the Twelve Days of Christmas. After seeing Santa, you’re allowed to choose a present. I choose a hula hoop as I love seeing how long I can keep the hoop up for.

After visiting Santa, we went to Beechenhurst Lodge for a Christmas lunch and then I did some ice skating. A 15 year old boy came and helped me and soon I let go of he sides and found I could skate really well! Grandma is going to take me again next week so I can practise and have some more fun.

I have lots going on between now and Christmas - parties, cards to make, presents to deliver and I’m going to Grandma’s house on Monday to decorate her tree. Every year, my cousin’s job is to go into the loft and get the tree down and mine is to make it look pretty.  Mummy made 40 biscuits last night for us to share with neighbours and friends and tomorrow I’m going to help her make another batch. I hope we get to make some chocolate ones!