This year I’m taking back Christmas.  I’ve spent too long being made cynical by the avalanche of glittery glitzy comercialisation which starts it’s inexorable rumble around the middle of October. I’m left  feeling overwhelmed and inadequate by Christmas Eve because I’m not hosting my own little festive drinks party, handing round my Marks and Spencers nibbles wearing the little black dress I have successfully slimmed into over the preceding weeks, my face dewy from the Clarins facial I fitted in earlier on in the day while having a pedicure.    I only recover my equilibrium on Christmas morning when, wrapped in an apron, I potter round the kitchen with the sprouts and  the turkey with carols on the radio, talking to family and getting back to what Christmas is really all about.

I’ve already experienced the familiar panicky feeling in the supermarket when confronted by pyramids of Quality Street and Roses tins, I just want to run away and hide till it’s all over. Last year I got in such a flap because nobody sold Christmas cards I could bear to write my name in, I didn’t send any at all! 

So …NO MORE…

This year it WILL be different.

Last night I sat tucked up on the sofa with Delia and Nigella and  the Christmas issues of Country Living,

Country Homes and Interiors …

and the Sainsbury Magazine …

and got in the mood.  I’m all geared up to make a Christmas cake for the first time in years,  (I probably won’t be doing anything very ambitious with the icing after the Fairy Cake debacle!) AND  a pudding, AND mincemeat.  I will share with you the frangipane mince pie recipe I discovered last year which turned me from ‘take it or leave it’ on the mince pie front to a ‘sneak into the pantry last thing at night’ greedy pig.

And I shall make more decorations and share those with you too. 

This isn’t a spur of the moment decision either.  If you’ve been visiting Planet Penny for a while you may remember this post from way back.  I didn’t mention it again because it seemed to frighten you all!

There are 39 days to go. Maybe this year I will be organised?  Are you going to join in?