Although I've been in the UK for some time now, I still have a distinctly Australian approach to the weather. I get SO excited when it snows. And boy did it snow this year!
The week before Christmas it quite literally didn't stop. Of course this threw England into chaos as the councils ran out of salt and grit, buses were cancelled and roads became icy. But my little English street looked like something out of Harry Potter. I even made a snow angel, which I most certainly wasn't wearing the right kind of coat to do and resulted in a tide of ice funnelling down my neck.
But it was worth it.
It melted away by Christmas, but that didn't stop the magic. BW and I spent our first Christmas all by ourselves like grown-ups. We have an open fire so the scene was like something out of a postcard on Christmas morning.
I insisted that we have stockings hung by the fire for Santa, and our (real) Christmas tree was twinkling with lights as I came out in the morning.
So...what's in a burlesque dancers stocking?
I was completely spoilt. A beautiful book called 'Pretty Things' about the last generation of American Burlesque queens. I'm in costume design heaven. A camera, as my last one died and I want to get some backstage piccies this year!
Also a hula hoop, just like I wanted. I'm going to have a very active year as not only did I get the hula hoop but I got juggling balls. Hmmm, let's see how that all goes together.
The week before Christmas it quite literally didn't stop. Of course this threw England into chaos as the councils ran out of salt and grit, buses were cancelled and roads became icy. But my little English street looked like something out of Harry Potter. I even made a snow angel, which I most certainly wasn't wearing the right kind of coat to do and resulted in a tide of ice funnelling down my neck.
But it was worth it.
It melted away by Christmas, but that didn't stop the magic. BW and I spent our first Christmas all by ourselves like grown-ups. We have an open fire so the scene was like something out of a postcard on Christmas morning.
I insisted that we have stockings hung by the fire for Santa, and our (real) Christmas tree was twinkling with lights as I came out in the morning.
So...what's in a burlesque dancers stocking?
I was completely spoilt. A beautiful book called 'Pretty Things' about the last generation of American Burlesque queens. I'm in costume design heaven. A camera, as my last one died and I want to get some backstage piccies this year!
Also a hula hoop, just like I wanted. I'm going to have a very active year as not only did I get the hula hoop but I got juggling balls. Hmmm, let's see how that all goes together.
My other precious little presents were 2 beautiful pairs of gloves and the slinkiest nightgown you've ever seen. Lucky me!
The black lace gloves will be going with my 1920's flapper outfit and the gold ones with the beautiful champagne dress I was telling you about in my Frock Me blog entry. Perfect.
Naturally I also had a lovely long conversation with my mum, dad and brothers which I looked forward to even more than the gifts.
I did of course also make enough food to feed a feed us for a week, which was handy as we had no plans to leave the house in the freezing weather. I love Christmas dinner and I allow myself to enjoy it unashamedly and without restriction. Which does mean I have an awful lot of hula hooping and dancing to do now but I have no issue with that.
Naturally I also had a lovely long conversation with my mum, dad and brothers which I looked forward to even more than the gifts.
I did of course also make enough food to feed a feed us for a week, which was handy as we had no plans to leave the house in the freezing weather. I love Christmas dinner and I allow myself to enjoy it unashamedly and without restriction. Which does mean I have an awful lot of hula hooping and dancing to do now but I have no issue with that.
Now I know that present giving can often be excessive and over the top around Christmas, but I love the feeling of joy that I get in giving gifts. The excitement of cluing onto something and realising it's absolutely perfect for that person. Spotting something lovely in a window or making something just for a loved one. Keeping it a secret for weeks even though you're dying to tell them and wrapping it all up and putting it under a sparkling Christmas tree.
It's so important to enjoy these moments of happiness as life is fleeting and joy is precious.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to do a little hula hooping in my living room!
Next stop: New Years Eve...
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