Wednesday: Advent day one

 Good morning, everyone!  December at last, Happy Advent (sort of)

After a pretty dull day yesterday, there was a lovely sunset so I rushed out to snap it.  We haven't had so many colourful sunsets recently so this was worth catching.

It felt considerably milder, thank goodness, but I worked out why I've been feeling colder than I should feel - one of the big radiators in the living room area was turned right down and, as they all have individual thermostats, it just wasn't warming up.  Doh!

I felt I got loads done.  Lots of bits and pieces, odds and ends, some clearing, some tidying, some garden stuff, plus some of the planned Goldster classes.

The minarette pear arrived and is now planted out.  I rather wished I had something in the nature of a partridge to put on it!  I sorted out the other two mini trees too so they should now be OK, fingers crossed.  It'll be interesting to see how they do next summer/autumn.

My Christmas build up has now started.  

The bedding is now in use and I think it looks lovely.

I will light the advent candle this evening.  Remember that candle holder, made in pottery a couple of years ago, pre pandemic?  Happy days!

Here's one of my Advent Calendars - did I mention I like candles?

And the other - the Jacquie Lawson online calendar for this year - I took a screen shot yesterday which is why the sky isn't right.  Now it is dark with twinkling stars.

I'll open day one when I've finished this.

Apart from all that self indulgence, I have started using my Christmas china with my first coffee of the day.  I was sorely tempted yesterday but behaved myself!

One more photo . . . 

Would you  believe tomatoes in December?  They may taste horrible, of course, we haven't had much sun to sweeten them.   I'm picking what I can today and the remaining plants go in the bin as there's a brown bin collection tomorrow.

The only other definite thing today is online personal; training with Lindsey.  I'm looking forward to that.

And finally - Advent music:

As I have done for a couple of years, I will be posting a link to some of my favourite Christmas music each day, usually via a YouTube link.
Most of them will be the same (although I'm not looking back) because a favourite carol or arrangement remains a favourite carol or arrangement.  
And I will apologise now for the adverts that you are almost certain to get at the start of each clip.  I can't do anything about them and even if I did pay for an advert free service (which I don't), there's no guarantee that they would link to advert free for you.  So - really sorry, just fast forward.

Today's is here because it just HAS to be.  The greatest Advent hymn I know - O come, O come Emmanuel.

This version is a most beautiful arrangement for piano and cello.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

I also found this, a much more energetic, rocky, Celtic type rendition which I also absolutely loved.  It segues into something else half way through, just after the audience is invited to join in with the chorus.  I didn't watch beyond that so don't know if it goes back to 'O come' at the end; it might do

Two for the price of one.  :-)
(There's some lovely traditional versions on YouTube too, if you look)