Happy Christmas!

I don't expect many people will read this post (well, at least not on the day it's published, anyway), but I just wanted to take the opportunity to formally wish my readers a Happy Christmas, and thank them for their support and interest in my blog this past year. So: "Thanks everyone; and I hope you are at home, happy, warm, comfortable, well-fed and surrounded by the people you love. Have a great time!"

We've had a chilly chilli few days here just recently, which is normal for us at Christmas-time.

I know you expect me to show you some pictures, even in a Christmas post, so what could be more appropriate than a few photos of our Christmas tree, which sits neatly in a corner of our Living Room:

Red and gold is evidently our chosen colour scheme this year, but take a closer look. What sort of decorations have we used? Not the traditional ones, that's for sure...

The lights are in the form of my beloved chilli peppers

Any many of the "baubles" are real chillis from my own garden

In my humble opinion, a magical combination, which imparts a real warm (hot??) glow!

Up at the top of the tree is this little "Angel" - a fluffy Teddy-bear with golden wings!

While behind him, hanging from the curtain rail, is this piece of painted glassware, featuring Poinsettias and Holly. When the sun shines through it this is really lovely. We've had it for many years, and these days it always hangs in the same place each Christmas.

Finally, here's a photo of the tree done in 1960s style...

HAPPY CHRISTMAS, Everyone!