Welcome to my perfumed garden

...at eight in the morning to beat the insanity of the last-Saturday-before Crimbo, which we did, but only just (we only wanted a few last minutey things like the rum I forgot for the truffles, yum. :o), parsnips and extra mince pies (you can never have too many). When we left at 8.30, the car park was full and the shop was getting that aura of barely-restrained panic, of incipient violence, like it's all on a hair-trigger and could all kick off at any second - a bit like the Paul O'Grady show (I swear they ply those old biddies with drink)

Yea Gods, people, it's like - two days, you know?!

But it's done. It's all done. I'm on my sofa with a buttered potato cake and a mug of strong coffee, preparing myself for the rigours of the day ahead, prepping my novel, writing fic, eating gingerbread and drinking port.

I hope everyone is in fine fettle. Have a mince pie and a glass of sherry, I'm sure you deserve one.