Writing to winter: December 3rd

Dears Winter, 

You gave us our first proper frosty morning today. I was absolutely shocked to see the beautiful white layer of fairy dust or icing sugar all around as I left for college wrapped up nice and cosy by my coat, scarf and gloves. Obviously you managed to bring out my childish side; who can resit a smooth mirror of icy? I can't! So I guess I'm sorry to all of the children who walked up after me and missed out on smashing the ice. I'm sure you'll treat them to some more won't you Winter? After all, you've really only just begun! 

Is it exciting to start afresh every year, to have control of the world for just over three months? I bet it is! Or maybe a little tormenting. I guess you never really get to see the sun, or the bees buzzing through the trees. And you miss out on the long days and ice cream. But I think you get the most time to think. To work out who plays what role in the world and where some things are going wrong. Do you get jealous of the other seasons? Maybe you just appreciate what you have whilst you've got it. 

Keep smiling,

Kathryn x

Writing to winter: December 2nd

Dear Winter, 

It still feels a little bit early for this but I've got my Christmas decorations up! The Christmas tree fairy came to do it in the night as usual (yes, I am 17!) and I have to admit it's making me feel a little bit more festive. I've opened the first two doors on my advent calendar but there's 22 more to open, and that's a lot. It's a long time left in I think the next 22 days are going to be the busiest 22 days of my life so far. And I know it's not going to stop for good then but I should have a little bit of a break before I have to work my absolute hardest again in January.

I've got so many important (and a couple of exciting) things that I've got coming up but a lot of them are just scary things that I don't want to do but have to. I guess that's growing up for you! Isn't it funny that it's supposed to be the most relaxing time of the year yet I've got so much going on. No rest for the wicked, that's what they say! And even more ironically I set myself a little bit of a project to write to you every day this month. How am I going to manage that Winter? Oh I'll find a way, you can be very sure of that! 

I don't usually get too excited for Christmas and I don't think this year will be extremely different, and I'm not in any way wishing my time away, but it's quite nice to have something to look forward to at the end of it all. An opportunity to have a little break from reality for a while. But you don't get that do you Winter? You're here now, snook up on as and you're here for good. At least three months, and you don't get a break. But no ones chasing you away, it's nice that you come back every year full of new opportunities!

Keep smiling,

Kathryn x