A Taste Of Christmas

It's the last day of November already, which means that we have three and a bit weeks left to finish present shopping, organising a trip to Northampton to see friends and family (it's not easy as KT can't get into anyone's homes because of steps, so it's kind of a rush job), decorating at the house - the girls have decorated KT's and all those little bits and bobs that crop up along the way.

Because the shops start Christmas off in August now, we refuse to go down the seasonal aisles, preferring to wait until this time of year before we gaze upon the things that make Christmas, Christmas, No baby Jesus in this bit, it's all about the foods and sweets.

Sugared almonds, figs, plastic pill shaped boxes with clumps of dates and plastic sticks for wheedling them out... Shortbread, stem ginger, mint flavoured candy canes, tins of Quality Street and Roses... Pear shaped tins of ham, Matchmakers, brandy snaps, boxes of stuffing with such exotic flavours as Chestnut and Cranberry or Apricot and Walnut...  Elizabeth Shaw Mint Crisps, jelly orange and lemon slices made to look like real orange and lemon slices, brandy butter, packs of sausagemeat... Turkish Delight, chocolate shapes for your tree, freezers full of frozen turkeys, chipolata sausages making a big comeback and then, there are the satsumas. I adore satsumas. The one thing I could be guaranteed in the pillow case left out for Father Christmas was a couple of satsumas. 

When all these things, and more, can be espied in a British supermarket, you know Christmas is on the way.