I like the season of Advent.

It's like a candle lit in the darkness. A reminder that there's still light, love, hope.

It's this feeling you've got while anticipating something good and beautiful. It isn't there yet, it hasn't come - but you already know it's there. And you know it will eventually come. And it does not matter anymore when or how. It will come.

It's about everything you ever wanted to know.




Our first Sunday of Advent was spent in Stockholm this year. We took Annelie home and visited Lars-Göran's son and fiancé in their new apartment in the northern suburbs. It's a lovely, spacious ground floor flat with an outside patio area, ideal for their dear little Jack Russel, Milou. Emilie had decorated for Advent, with paper stars, advent candles, which created a beautiful, restful, homelike feeling. She had also made Lars-Göran's favourite frozen cheesecake, which brought a big smile to his face.

We then went to my mother-in-law's apartment to help her set up her advent decorations, which took nearly the entire evening as she has a lot of different bits and pieces to put up - electrical lights, stars, Advent plants, ornaments, curtains, candles, doilies and table linen. Naturally FOUR of the advent lights (similar to this) didn't work, so we'll pop out and get replacements for her in the morning.

When it was all done, we toasted the Advent with hot mulled wine and slices of panettone before falling gratefully into bed.

Now the real countdown to Christmas can begin in earnest!