Well, I can’t believe it’s Christmas Eve already – wherever did this year melt away to? – all the years for that matter? With two adult sons – my ‘Mother Christmas’ duties are long melted away too – like the trails of size 8 snowy footprints that magically used to appear on our landing at about three o’clock in the morning! I remember the tiredness too. 

The reason I find myself reminiscing about Christmases Past is the reappearance of an old friend, a much-loved cuddly that I made for my youngest son when he was nearly one. ‘Mr Snowman’ was made-to-measure to fit his small hand, to the ‘pattern’ of the original ‘Snowman’ by Raymond Briggs. 

He’s a bit flat now due to having spent a good seven or eight years squashed beneath my son when he was sleeping. Considering ‘Snowman’ is eighteen years old to the day – and never been washed for fear of washing all that love out – he is still quite white although a few sticky ‘unsavouries’ were pulled from his fur I recall! 

It’s funny all these years on, how the hours I spent carefully piecing ‘Mr Snowman’ together and embroidering his cheery face on – come smiling back at me now. 

(o;

Love this version of ‘Walking In The Air’ by former Keane frontman, Tom Chaplin…