Writing to Winter: December 26th

Dear Winter,

The calm after the storm. That's what you're left with on Boxing Day. You've had a busy day, a couple of family tiffs, a little bit too much to eat and a lot of fun but you're left with a mess. The living room around here still looks like a bomb has hit it and given out presents because no one wants to move their gifts; it'd make them think it's over! 

But the calm after the storm is the best bit! You get to think about all of the great things you've just done and appreciate the memories you've made; spend more time with your family and friends before normality kicks back it. Because it will, oh it will Winter. 

And you brought us our first snow today Winter. At first I thought the few flakes weren't enough to stick or have any impact but the brief twenty minutes of snow we had did manage to stick leaving us with a soft blanket of white. It created such a nice atmosphere for a while but (unfortunately) you'd pretty much taken it away by the morning.

Keep smiling,

Kathryn x

Writing to winter: December 25th

Dear Winter,

You know you're getting older when your excitement about Christmas shifts Winter. Obviously I'm still 100% excited about the thought of getting up to a room sprinkled with magic just not as excited as others. Perhaps it was a little selfish of me to try and get an extra five minutes of sleep when my brother bounced into my bedroom with excitement at 5:30am but I had worked a long day on Christmas Eve! 

Then going downstairs, I didn't want to open my presents first. I was much more excited to be giving my family their presents and even more excited to see my sister's reaction to the presents I had chosen for her. For me the magic now comes from giving to others, seeing that they have a good day, that's enjoyment. And that's what has changed. It's not the big presents that I find exciting now, it's the small ones, the ones that say 'I know you so well'. Like the giant packet of post it notes and the endless supply of nail varnish!

Christmas was good for me. Better than last years by a long shot and do you know what Winter, I'm sure you'll bring an even better one next year. But for now I'm going to enjoy the rest of this one, because it's not over yet!

Keep smiling,

Kathryn x