wagwaan?: 1st Sunday of Advent

I can't quite believe it's nearly Christmas. I'm sure I'm not the only blogger going "where HAS the time gone?" but I didn't promise you originality now, did I?

Life has so many twists and turns. I was feeling pretty rough back in June when I saw the rheumatologist and it was quite a tough few months after that. Luckily, I have been much better lately. I've been working on "Number One" as they say, and what with Tai Chi and other things I'm doing, I'm feeling more like me again. I have to say, I am truly blessed with the people and love I'm surrounded by. We've been back in the UK 15 years, and all of that time in the same area, even though we've moved a couple of times. When I walk around the hospital where I work, or around town, it's lovely to bump into people I know and have a quick chat. This is the longest stretch of time I've ever stayed in one place. Amazing, I know!

The photoshoots are going well, lots of lovely babies to ooh and ah over (and then hand back to their parents). Saving up for a new camera too, although at the moment I can only dream of a 5D... I can't quite believe it's a year since I took the newborn pictures of this little guy

I took the first birthday party pictures of him last week - he's still as gorgeous, with huuuuge blue eyes and nearly-there blond hair. As far as I can tell, he's always smiling too.

So Christmas is in the air. I do like whipping out my iPhone and snapping away when I'm out and about, and although I don't spend much, I enjoy window shopping, checking out the ornaments and twinkle lights, which make everything so pretty:

(John Lewis)

(Liberty of London)

Talking of Liberty's, when I was there they were apparently filming. The show starts tomorrow, so keep a look out, you never know... you might see a middle-aged lady in a green coat looking hot and bothered. Yes, that would be me. Haha we shall see!

As for our cosy little home sweet home, Claire was really keen to get the decorations up early, and I admit I was feeling the urge too - so we got out the boxes of decorations and set the tree up. I decided to make a table display of some of the Santas we seem to have acquired, and took a quick snap

You can't see them all, but there are all sorts, including two different Pez dispensers, arranged around the middle Santa who was purchased recently from a Next discount shop, and whose reeds soak up and release the Christmassy perfume from the bottle below. Last night, as I turned round at the bottom of the stairs, I realised I'd left the lights on...