The holly and the ivy

15 & 16 December 2014

Being ill and housebound for almost a week has meant not only a lack of walking miles for December but a decided lack of photos or things to write about. There was a fair bit of looking out of the window from the sofa when I was awake but the energy to pick up the phone and take any pictures of what I saw out there was decidedly lacking. On Monday Commando drove me into town for a little more Christmas present buying but, still feeling a little wobbly, the only picture I took was of one of the cheery decorations on a stall in the German Market. Some presents were bought though so I’d call that progress.

Christmas food was on my mind on Tuesday morning. In particular the absolute lack of any thought put into it so far on my part. For the first year ever I hadn’t ordered my meat from the butcher or made any kind of plans as to what we would actually be eating on December 25. This led to a wander up the Big Hill in panic buying mode.

It was one of those misty mornings where everything seems to be dripping. The holly in my garden sported Christmas decorations courtesy of a garden spider and Mother Nature, reminding me that this was something else I’d neglected to even think about. Given my general bah humbug attitude to Christmas it seemed to be the least of my worries. As I turned the corner the song The Holly and the Ivy began to play in my head and followed me up the hill like a bunch of unwelcome carol singers. Why is it the songs that get into your head on a loop are always irritating ones?

Whilst I was at home ill someone appears to have made the Big Hill steeper. A stop half way up to look at the dripping snowberries and, a little further on, another symphoricarpos smothered with bright pink berries was more than welcome. By the time I reached the brow of the hill any half baked plans I’d had to walk a little further in search of houses with interesting Christmas lights had evaporated along with my energy.

At the butchers I was told I looked terrible, which didn’t exactly make me feel any better. Still, I left with enough meat to keep the freezer stocked throughout the festive period so I could tick that off my list at least. In Sainsburys I added Christmas pudding, mince pies and a Christmas Day breakfast Panettone to my bag. Along with a four pint carton of milk it was about as much as I could carry.

Outside the school I stopped to shift the weight of the bags. Right in front of my eyes the curious red ivy that grows there set the carol singers in my head off again. This wasn’t helped by bunches of dripping ivy berries by the pedestrian crossing and the song followed me back down the hill.

The next time I stopped to shift the weight of my shopping bags was on the corner of the Little Hill. Here there were buds on the hypericum and flowers on the viburnam. Both were sparkling, dusted by the misty weather. Soon enough I was home again in the warm and dry. It may have been a very short walk accompanied by unwanted internal music but it made me realised the decorations can wait. After all, gaudy Christmas lights could never compete with the beauty outside my own front door.