Tuesday 21 December 2010

In the spirit ...


I must confess that this year it has taken me a long time to warm up to the idea of Christmas, feeling somewhat tepid about the whole occasion, until yesterday, when finally a bit of the old Christmas spirit kicked in with the arrival of the Christmas tree. The annual trip to the attic to search for the boxes of baubles and all things sparkly, was just what I needed to thaw out the humbug I was in danger of becoming.

At the beginning of the month I had attended the beautiful carol concert at my son's end of term service in Bath Abbey. This did stir some of the sense of occasion.. especially when the magnificent school Chamber Choir.. sang from Handel's Messiah.Guaranteed to bring a tear to my eye and more so when sung by bright shiny cheeked young lads and lasses with heavenly voices... Then there was the arrival of the snow..

It certainly makes the world seem a better place .. in many subtle ways. For all the folk that managed to slip and slide into town last Saturday, there was sense of camaraderie amongst some of the shoppers (not sadly .. the tight lipped, gritted teeth of the trolley pushers in Waitrose) but certainly the folk we met in Patisserie Valerie for our traditional Saturday coffee and Almond croissant. Striking up some bonhomie with strangers always warms my heart. Town looked particularly beautiful on this morning.. before the Christmas frenzy of shoppers arrived .. we soaked up the silvery light and snowy landscapes of the parks and Pulteney Weir...

This angel looked as though she was ready to join in the snowball fun in the park..


I had to admire this artist for his heroic efforts to paint in sub zero temperatures .. His poor digits looked frozen ..

Local transport had ground to a halt..

Since the weekend we have had another blanket of snow placed on top of the landscape making it impossibly beautiful.. and as today is the Winter Solstice.. it seemed fitting to go for a walk and embrace the occasion.. however chilly the prospect.
We managed to drive up onto the northern hills of Bath to our favourite walk.. the beginning of the Cotswold Way path...


Here we had the world to ourselves.. acres of white pristine snow and silence.. that beautiful muffled silence that snow brings...


Feet scrunched and crunched the virgin snow..

Hips and berries shone like jewels ...


This gateway reminded me so much of Winnie the Pooh .. where he walks through the snow with Piglet..


Despite a frozen face.. I even managed to crack a smile...


The prospect of a warm welcoming inn was enough to spur me on ...

Festive decor and a roaring fire greeted us within ...

Here I really got into the Christmas spirit with a half pint of favoured tipple ..

So I raise my glass to the Christmas season and all of you good people and friends..
Happy Winter Solstice!

20 comments:

BusyLizzie said...

Lovely piccies! (especially the angel playing snowballs!) You were VERY brave to venture out for a walk today. I just stayed home (day 4 of being snowed in) while Mr W slipped and slid to the station to collect one boy from the station! Have a super Christmas!! Lizzie xx

salty pebble said...

wow!! such a beautiful festive posting- your tree is a real delight!!!! ;0)
loved your walk around in the snow!
i could see piglet and pooh by that gate...awww lovely!

happy solstice to you too x

KC'sCourt! said...

........And I thought it was just me who wasn't quite into the Christmas spirit yet!
Lovely pics.
Julie xxxxxx

Amy (Blighty Boutique) said...

your Christmas tree looks great x

Hen said...

Lovely photos, Michele. A very Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Hen xxx

Jennifer MacNeill said...

What beautiful photos! Send some of that white stuff over here, it makes everything look so pretty. I really can't belive you saw a man painting, now that's dedication!

Andi's English Attic said...

And a cool yule to you.
Glad to read you finally got the Christmas spirit - it seems outside influences were trying very hard to help you.
Beautiful tree and lovely photos. xx

Country Cottage Chic said...

I'm glad the festive spirit has finally arrived at Custard HQ! Your tree looks enchanting & your snowy walk is just so pretty.
Maybe the angel can fly your post up the hill to you?

Jayne
x

Vintage Tea Time said...

Gorgeous photos - love the snowballing angel! Your tree looks lovely :) Have a Merry Christmas!

June said...

What lovely photos. I like the angel with the snowball and the pooh and piglet gate! Just wonderful.
June.

Robin said...

Fabulous photos!! Have a wonderful Christmas

Deravelled Gem said...

Happy Yule to you! It looks like you had an infinitely preferrable day to me today!! What I would have given to be out trudging in the snow, rather than eyeball deep in paperwork!!

Loved the photos. :)

Gemma x x

Joshy and belle said...

lovely pics and tree, i hope you have a lovely christmas, ive got no chance of being a humbug with a very excited five year old! your sons carols sounded lovely! fliss xxx

June said...

Thanks for the tip! I read somewhere on the net that hanuka honey is the one to go for - will go to Holland and Barrett and seek it out!
Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!
June.

Karen said...

Lovely pictures, Michelle. Snow all gone here in Sussex by the Sea but so cold. Would like it to snow very heavily again after I have picked up my turkey tomorrow! I am sure everyone else would disagree apart from my children. Have a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful and creative 2011. Karen X

Elizabeth said...

Thank you for the lovely snowy tour of Bath. It was great fun to see some of the spots we had visited in the summer, now covered in snow. Beautiful!!!

Candy Pop said...

I have just found your cute blog!
Merry Christmas!

OhSoVintage said...

What a great post Michelle; loved reading it and looking at all your photos. Merry ~Christmas & Happy New Year.
Ruth x

THISNTHAT said...

Hi, Happy New Year to you and yours! Great snow pics. especially the angel!
Lesley X

Teena Vallerine said...

tiddley-pom to that! lovely post. sorry I missed it xxx