I can't find the Christmas Decorations!

It's been over 2wks and they still haven't turned up.

You know when you go to the place you remember leaving something and it's not there

and instead of panicking and tearing the place asunder

you take a deep breathe, walk away & then casually & calmly go about your business,

with one eye trained for the slightest (in my case) shimmer or glimpse of red.

(a Regina Dudek Beaded Wire Star gifted 10yrs ago which lives in that antique bottle on the kitchen sill - the fimo Koala was found around the same time in an Oppy)

I also seem to be in festive denial.

I'm blaming it on the new Christmas Tree - old decorations hate new trees

and Dan not being here on the day - old habits die hard

and the girls getting older -

did you know it's way harder to buy for 19 & 11yrs olds than

it was when they were 1 & 9, that and it's more expensive.

Mangoes are cheap.

Most days you'll find me sitting in the garden eating them,
thinking I should be out there pushing a trolley round some shopping centre.

While enjoying my Mangoes & bemoaning the cost of Christmas
I've come up with a new present giving idea to add to the regimen -

starting this year we'll each give each other the gift of time.

First comment out of both girls mouths was, "but what about Santa" -

my kids would quite happily forgo baked ham, pavlova & presents
if they could still get their Santa Sacks
at the end of their beds.

Anyway the idea is that you choose 3 things
you would like to do with the other person,
not have them do for you
because as I've said in the past there's no slaves in this house!
The reason for 3 things is because you only get one gift of time

so some negotiating will need to occur

and as I'm writing the word 'negotiating' I'm thinking this wont work...

anyway

I started the ball rolling with Stella by painting her bedroom door with Chalkboard paint.

Eliza has requested I go shopping with her - purely in a consultative capacity

and I'm pretty sure Dan will be wanting the same 3 things.

Have a very Merry Christmas

and if you can find the time

eat a Mango in the garden.