On The First Day Of Advent

We’re now in that phase people call ‘the Countdown to Christmas’ so here’s how it started at Chateau Midden over the first three years of Facebook archives ...

1 December 2009 at 10:40 

We have received the first Christmas card of the year - so now I'm going to have to start The Letter.

Dawn 3 December 2010

1 December 2010 at 10:11

I’m being nagged to "Go to Chopwell Woods for the Christmas tree on Sunday".

Pink Kitchen  If you can get to Chopwell... it's not the greatest, and not sure what the road up to the woods will be like!

DM  Laidlers on Double Row between Seaton Delaval and New Hartley do great trees and very reasonable and also accessible

Paganess  14"-16" snow, havn't been to the car park lately so don't know if you can get in. Huge amounts of snow in the sky at present, but will see when I walk the dog tomorrow if I can get that far.

Bentonbag  It's just what we've always done and, being autistic, we have to follow tradition.  Worse than that - as soon as the tree is sorted I have to "tinsel up the ceiling" due to a sentimental decision having acquired all the old family decorations when home was sold (in 2003).  Up and down the step stool with string and blutac.  Mind you the lampshades get dusted in the meantime.

1 December 2011 at 11:38

First Christmas card and letter has arrived:  DrE on the Isle of Wight

Mr Mull  We got ours from them yesterday - DrE and spouse are so organised!

Bentonbag  If I don't get Fester down to Comet soon we shall have no printer for my round robin!

LHS  This time of year always reminds me of 2 dear friends now passed on who were always first with their Christmas card - just thought of them this week.

Bentonbag  At Christmas lunch at home my Dad always gave the toast "Absent friends".  The older I get the more poignant it seems as Mum and Dad met in the RAF during WW2, so many of their friends were absent in more ways than geography.