Interpreting the animal!

It's that time of the week again and we have Inspiration Monday with Megan and Nora, Two Birds and Sienna Miller this week!

I like lots of patterns and clothing items, however, for some reason, I find it hard to like animal print (not animals print, because I love a good bit of #wardrobe zoo) unless it's in reallly small doses but I figured I could get away with interpretting Sienna's dress as 'Autum leaf' pattern! I'm not really sure that this grey fur jacket goes with it (ok, I'm certain ofthis fact) but I thought I'd give it a go.

I've given a nod to the animal print with this mock snake-skin binocular bag! Does anyone remember how the Famous Five called Binoculars 'Field glasses' that always perplexed me as a child!

The BEDN topic for today is Christmas countdown:

Only 1 month until Christmas. Favourite Christmas traditions? Or favourite Christmas presents? Favourite Christmas songs? The best bit of Christmas is? What are you planning this year?

We're off north to Northumberland this year which I am really looking forward to as we've not spent long there this year. As always, I am hoping for some board games action (I love Boardgames but get little opportunity to play. CBC is not keen, especially Scrabble as he leads all the way and then I steal victory from him just as he's celebrating! I know I should let him win sometime, just so he'll play with me but if there's a good word option, I just HAVE to play it!

I also hope to visit my various family and invite my parents -both sides- over for dinner. We always go to them and it would be nice, now we have a larger home and one we share, to invite them over. Hmmm, should get around to doing that!

There'll be plenty of singing and music. Carol services at Church here and in Northumberland. In my specific profession, there's no getting away from it- Christmas songs galore. Tomorrow, I have to spend the afternoon teaching Year their solos for the Christmas production! The build up at church is exciting, lighting the advent wreath, thinking of Jesus...

Favourite Christmas songs?

I love O Holy night probably more than any other song. There is something beautiful about the soaring lines of this one. I have sung it at midnight services and carol services and there is something quite magical about singing it lit by candles! I always love Ding dong merrily on high (doing it at school this year) and all the traditional ones. I adore Bethlehem Down. Not that bothered by all the poppy Christmas songs though I love classics like 'Let it snow', 'Have yourself a merry little Christmas', 'WHite Christmas' and 'The Christmas song' ("Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...". My favourite Christmas Music: The Hely Hutchinson Carol symphony is SO beautiful. If you can, listen to it- it's basically orchestra variations on well known Christmas carols. Anyone of my age or older might remember 'The Box of Delights' TV OR radio-serial- one of the movements from the Symphony formed the theme tune.

There's nothing I am particularly longing to receive for Christmas and though I love presents (Ok, I really love presents!!!!!), it's not the main reason for Christmas for me- it's that baby boy that was born!. I am aware of how much I have and am conscious of this fact plus it's been an expensive year though I always love a good hat (cloches,berets, sheepskin products!). I'd love a sheepskin gilet, though they are very expensive so it's unlikely I'd buy one or expect to receive one, but it's nice to dream! I always love getting a pair of pajamas- Primark will do but has to be cotton!! Pretty 50's style things are always something I like and a proper raincoat! But, this year, I have more than I could need in a lifetime so I'm not going to be issuing any wishlist!

What about you?