…and you don’t have to spend any money!
It’s still technically autumn, so here are my five top seasonal treats to get you in the mood for Winter and all the festivities involved in an English Country Christmas.
My Six Top Seasonal Treats
Here they are, in reverse order…
6: Drying Washing Out of Doors
Tumble driers cost a fortune to run. Drying washing outdoors on a line in the fresh air is free. The drawback is as the days get shorter at this time of year there’s less time for drying.
A good drying day is a rare bonus between the end of October and the beginning of March. This morning was a rarity, dawning bright and sunny. I couldn’t miss the chance of that high blue sky paired with a blustery wind. I washed all the bedding, towels, and anything else I could find then pegged it all out for a good blow in the breeze.
I love to see washing dancing on the line. It did the washing good, too. Almost everything was dry by 2:30 this afternoon. All it needed was airing. The fragrance of fresh air when the washing comes in after a sunny day on the line is lovely. The problem is, days like today are few and far between at this time of year. You have to get your fun where you can.
5: Kicking Leaves
Talking of fun, when was the last time you kicked through leaves? Why not get out and find some fresh air, exercise, and tomfoolery? If you feel self-conscious, take a dog or small child to fool around with you. I’m lucky–I live in the middle of ancient woodland. Tourists are thin on the ground at this time of year, and all the local dog walkers have already met my inner child at one time or another. I had a good old kick about in the leaves this morning while we were walking Alex. Here’s a blurry photo. You can see from the state of my boot that the trackway of logs laid across the particularly boggy stretch shown below is absolutely vital!
Here’s the point where two tracks diverge in the middle of our (currently) Yellow Wood. A steep slope runs downhill from right to left of this picture. A reasonably level one runs from top left to bottom right of the photo. After weeks of relentless rain, the point where the two paths cross became a quagmire. I nearly lost a Wellington, while Alex came home muddy up to his armpits (if dogs had armpits). Luckily the Forestry put down these spare sweet chestnut logs.
4: Warm Hands
What’s the best thing to do after a chilly leaf-kicking walk? Wrap your hands around a mug of hot chocolate! If you can gaze into the living flames of a real log fire, that’s even better. A good fire gives pleasure in so many ways: warmth, the comforting crackle, the sight of the flames, and the delicate fragrance of woodsmoke. Of course, during a power cut, you can cook on it, too!
While you’re thawing out beside a fire with your steaming drink, what’s the most natural thing in the world to reach for?
3: A Good Book
…of course! Every year at this time I read Nigel Slater’s book, The Christmas Chronicles. This is his journal for the entire holiday season, beginning 1st November and going right through until Candlemas on 2nd February. The book is crammed with Nigel Slater’s memories and observations about winter feasts, festivals, markets, and seasonal recipes from both England and across the world.
I’m a very slow reader so this year I’ve just reached the chapter in The Christmas Chronicles dated 22nd November: Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. This is a potted history of the Magi’s gifts, and how they can be used at Christmas today. The chapter I’ll be reading tonight is 25th November: The Cake. With still a month to go, I shall be making my Christmas Cake the minute I can get around to it!
2: Victor Hely-Hutchinson’s Carol Symphony
Listening to Victor Hely-Hutchinson’s Carol Symphony while enjoying the first mince pie of the season is a tradition here in Tottering Towers. This is a lovely piece of music, guaranteed to get you into the holiday mood. For best effect wait for it (and your first mince pie) until Advent Sunday, which is on December 3rd this year. You can get the best effect by listening to the Carol Symphony here, where AntPDC has paired it with his own beautiful photographs. It gives you the full experience of the English countryside in winter.
My number one seasonal treat is showing its age, but that only adds to its charm.
1: The Box of Delights
John Masefield’s The Box of Delights was first published in 1935. Despite its age, this simple exciting tale has charmed children ever since. Adults aren’t immune, either. Each year #theboxofdelights and #thewolvesarerunning are popular hashtags on X (formerly Twitter). If you’ve listened to Victor Hely-Hutchinson’s Carol Symphony, you’ll recognise the haunting treatment of The First Noel, which is used as its theme. It must be popular – my mother could remember sitting by the radio with her siblings when The Box of Delights was a Christmas treat on several occasions, both during and after the Second World War.
For best results, suspend your disbelief, forget CGI ever existed, and become a child again…
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