The fairy on the tree

Uproar from the children. 'You can't throw away our Christmas sacks!' Never mind that they've not been used for twenty years.

Yesterday I did my baking for Zac's homeless lunches. Looking for another recipe I came across one for chocolate orange cake and thought, as that sounded seasonal, I'd give it a go.

And, yes, Nigella's was sunk in the middle too. Although perhaps not quite so far. Or so black and crispy around the edges.

My unbaked chocolate raisin slice is always reliable though.

What else? Oh yes, remember the hall decorating saga? I wanted to get a man in; Husband wanted to do it himself (February 2020). I gave in; Husband began (late October).

The hall today. Chances of it being finished for Christmas?

Odds reduced because of two factors:

1) 'No-one's coming round so it doesn't matter,' Husband says;

2) His new computer arrives tomorrow.

I'm not actually bothered about it being finished for Christmas but I am bothered about it being finished. At least Christmas is a deadline, something to aim for. Without that, well, could be writing the same thing next Christmas.

If you look carefully you can see the painted-over holly leaves from 2007 when a similar situation happened.

But at least we have a decorated and lit-up Christmas tree.

When I was growing up we never had lights on the tree but it was always real. Now having a tree without lights seems like a disaster! I have been spoiled. But see my fairy? She's the same one I had as a child. As you might guess if you looked closely.