50+ things to make me smile in Birmingham at Christmas
• Seeing young children buying Christmas presents for their parents• Shops and offices that KEEP CHRISTMAS IN DECEMBER (Still searching for that one)• Twinkling lights on cranes and tall buildings• Festive decorations on big trucks• Christmas lights switch on nights• Watching the delight on kids faces at lights switch on nights• Hearing my favourite Christmas tunes on the radio for the first time this year• Spending December seeing as many friends and family around the country as possible (this year from Chester to Devon and lots in between)• Finding out about nice people giving to the less fortunate• Finding out about the less fortunate giving to the less fortunate• Hearing about people having good news in time for Christmas (new job, new house, new baby, new book deal)• The sight of pure, virgin snow in the grounds of a quiet church• Deciding on my Christmas theme (this year; silver representing a sparkling future)• Turning on the lights on my Christmas tree after its newly decorated• Tweaking the decorations on the tree for several days afterwards until it’s perfect• Coming home and remembering the tree is up!• Writing my Christmas cards, with the tree lights twinkling whilst watching an old Christmas film• An excuse to look into people’s houses who have Christmas trees• Hearing a choir singing carols in the distance• Eggnog (or gingerbread) latte. The only time I drink that milky stuff all year.• Having an evening devoted just to wrap presents• Christmas loo rolls• Watching someone open a present I know they’ll love• The best excuse to light candles (other than a power cut)• A genuine looking Santa• A black Father Christmas (only in New York)• Christmas coffee although no idea what makes it festive• The Christmas spirit; people being extra nice to each other and strangers exchanging smiles• Indulging in having Christmas films on the idiot lantern despite having seen them dozens of times already – this year• Birmingham Handmade markets• Birmingham German Markets• Going past the best decorated house in the street• Breaking into song when I’m with my (20 something) niece when we hear ‘Mistletoe & Wine’ as per our years-old tradition• Christmas Top of the Pops• Watching repeats of vintage Christmas TV specials• Every time I hear the Waitresses ‘Christmas Wrapping’, my all time favourite Christmas tune• Receiving cards and emails from people I had long forgotten• Watching men buying Christmas presents in the 36 hours before the big day because 52 weeks’ notice wasn’t quite enough• A log fire• A log cabin• Taxis with a miniature Christmas tree on the dashboard• Buying a ‘for a baby’s first Christmas’ card• Buying random cards just for fun, mainly in America i.e. ‘to my hairdresser’ (yes really)• Stocking up on M&S festive goodies to take to all the welcoming homes I visit over the season• Any excuse to eat more food (via @ellastella )• Not working as hard as I do for the other eleven months of the year• Starting afresh in cold, harsh, January, in gorgeous anticipation of what the next year will bring• The smell of Christmas• The Urban Christmas party (although that’s not until Dec 17th) (Note to Simon: you’re not 49 on the list, it’s random)• Hearing that my flight is ready to depart to somewhere cold on Christmas Eve for a well earned breakNow it’s your turn; what’s guaranteed to make you smile at Christmas? I’d love to add your ideas to the list so please add to the comments below.
Additions:From Paul Hanna:
No 51 Christmas fragranced bleachIs there anything that can’t be made better by having a christmassy makeover?
From Mary: