Wonderful Wednesday 27

Now if you weren't already feeling the Christmas spirit, I have no doubt that that image will ensure that you will be ready to deck the halls, partake of several yule logs and carol like nobody has ever carolled before....or perhaps not. Isn't it terrifyingly great thought? The Victorians certainly knew how to send great tidings of great joy.

You find me in a very chipper mood today, my lovelies, as I'm now off work for a few days (the rest of the week in fact) - back on Monday but only for a short week then too! Here are some of my highlights since my last Wonderful Wednesday (last week's was missed after I hilariously stressed my way to a pulled neck muscle, you heard it here first folks. Stress is not good). On to the joy!

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♥ Christmas carols... My brother sings in a choir and the Saturday before last, they were performing at the Victoria & Albert museum, a favourite place anyway but even more so accompanied by a selection of my favourite carols. We stayed for the whole set, which they reprised twice and which meant I could hear In the Bleak Midwinter twice which is my favourite of all carols ever!

♥ First mulled wine of the season... How can you possibly top listening to Christmas carols in the V&A? By following it up with some mulled wine, of course. I can't believe I'd left it so long this year but it was worth the wait. Sweet, with a hint of spice and so warming on a really cold day. It was worth the wait.

♥ Cosy podcasts...I've been going through a phase on my commutes home and downloading some cosy podcasts for the journey - starting with Nigella's Christmassy Sound Bites, before progressing on to the Desert Island Discs back catalogue. It's amazing how many there are available to download and enjoy, and how much has happened since they were recorded (JK Rowling's, for example, was just after the release of the 4th book in the Harry Potter series). I've listened to PD James and am desperate to read some of her novels now, and have Daphne du Maurier, who I already adore, queued up for tomorrow (after I finish with Lord Denning's episode from 1980 - legal high fives all round, he's fantastic!) Just listening to the opening music makes me feel instantly calmer - very necessary over the last few weeks!

♥ Getting organised...I've written all my Christmas cards, done most of my Christmas shopping and have reams of lists for the smaller details. For perhaps the first time ever, I feel on top of things - famous last words?!

♥ Short weeks...Ahhh I've been looking forward to this week for so long now - I'm off now until next Monday (and next week is another short one!) I don't have anything wildly exciting to do, more along  the lines of the getting my hair cut and picking up some last few bits types of tasks, but it's so very wonderful to have the luxury of some annual leave to spare at the end of the year to help me relax into Christmas. I'm hoping to do a little baking too...and and (and!) we're getting our Christmas tree at the weekend, so actually, scratch that line above - I have lots of wildly exciting things to do!

♥ Homemade Cottage Pie... I worked really late on Tuesday making sure I'd completed everything I needed to before setting my out of office message. It was cold and drizzly on the way home, and I had to wait a little longer than usual for my bus but opening the door when I got home, I was greeted by the delicious aroma of hot cottage pie. 10,000 top husband points to my mister - I don't know if I'd have done the same if he was about to have a 5 day weekend! ;D

And on that note, I hope you all have wonderful rest-of-your-weeks!

♥ Do let me know what's made your week a little rosier by leaving me a comment below (I do love comments!) or dropping me a tweet (I'm @happygoluckycat) or better yet, why not join the fabulous bunch of #WonderfulWednesday bloggers? Pop over to their blogs for a dose of mid-week happiness - Sally, Michelle, Helen, Kate, Jo, Emma, Samantha, Kerri, Laura, Sarah, Peta, El, Laura, Sarah, Mimmi, Jasmin, Martina and Lynsey - and then join me in counting down the days until the weekend. It's in sight! ♥