Whatever the finer details of your Christmas may be, I hope they bring some joy, smiles, laughter and a little hope for further adventures.

As the 25th approaches, perhaps its worth just checking with neighbours, friends or relatives that we haven't spoken to for a while.

Today sees the last candle on the advent wreath being lit, just as we have slipped past the Winter Solstice...

Looking back to my experiences of Christmas as a child, there are things we still do today and others that got lost along the way...

In my youth, going to the sweet shop to buy a bar of chocolate or to select a bag of pick n mix sweets was much more of an event.

Today's window takes party hats as its subject, to be more precise it references all the different hats that we find ourselves wearing.

'Tis the season for games and merriment - isn't that right? I wonder how many of you look forward to playing games with the family...

I've chosen to share a poem close to my heart that reflects the joy of a child at play... the poem is called 'Maisie Jane.'

The lights, the music, the colours all combine to create a special atmosphere that I think feels a bit like being wrapped in a warm hug.

With the clock ticking down the number of shopping days left, it would be useful to be able to freeze time for a bit...

The poem that I'm sharing for this post is called 'Starlight'

It seems that along with our cheery elves, chubby Santa stories and children playing in the snow, we also like to feel a little scared.

Looking through my window at the world outside, valuing how we all need connections.

There are several 'family recipes' that I would like to have, if only we had asked these relatives to write them down at the time.

Along with grief and loss we also celebrate our memories and the images that come to mind when we see an empty chair at our Christmas table.

What Christmas tracks are your favourites? Music always has the ability to inspire, to connect, to bring joy and emotion.

I like to be sat with a frothy cupful of caffeine, people-watching and allowing my thoughts and writing ideas to percolate onto my notebook.

This is a snapshot of a Christmas from my past... a simpler time perhaps but still valuing the same as today - family, fun and togetherness.

Cheryl weaves the history, legend and myth of the forest into much of her writing.

Putting my thoughts on paper opened a door... I began to use my blogging to help me to make sense of certain anxieties & confidence issues.