I’m a girl who loves the sunshine, there’s no doubt about that. I languish in the African heat and can spend endless hours writing in a sun dappled garden or lounging on our endless powder white beaches. However, I must admit, the one time I do miss Europe so so very much is Christmas. I spent so many years of my youth watching the weather morph from the pastel of early spring to the brightness of the heat waves of summer, but what will always remain rather special was the approach of Winter. In my mind’s eye, I see the trees silently shed their burnished orange gold finery painted delicately, beautifully, for the autumn and the daylight hours suddenly became less and less…it’s as if the sun starts to curl into itself to prepare for a long hibernation. And so as the days darkened earlier, homes across England, grand mansions with sweeping driveways to the sweetest and simplest of terraced streets, start to come alive with the twinkling and flickering of Christmas lights. The immaculate garden paths have fairy lights strung across tidy little hedges and little cheery dwarfs appear to greet you in your friends porches. The landscape, although swathed in darkness, brings a peculiar feeling of cheer and celebration and for a moment as you walk past a candlelit window display, you can feel the warmth of a family get together.

As the land transforms into an icy, sparkling wonderland, I would also start my own holiday rituals. Oh, how I love the crackle of a log fire and the citrusy sweet and spicy scents from the orange and clove bundles I would place on the mantlepiece. Our Christmas tree would stand proud and decadent, draped in sparkling garlands of gold sprayed chestnuts and I would light the candles every evening, as if in some way this would bring some Christmas magic into our home. The cold would somehow just bring the whole effect together as our coats and bright knitted scarves hung in warm, bright bundles by the front door. So, as you stepped in from a chilly night, stomping and shaking the snow from your boots, what could be better to warm up the soul from the biting cold…. My Christmas Special Spiced Mulled Wine prepared ritually every year was my admission to the love of Winter and the official start of my Christmas holidays. It became our winter staple and not only for the bone melting heat delivered from a few sips, but just for the aroma of cinnamon, fresh ginger and the sensous lingering scent of lemongrass with a hint of star anise through the house was just glorious.

And so, in celebrating Christmas, from my home to yours, I bring you a heartwarming yuletide drink to usher in all the magic of this time of year, wherever in the world you may be… a very very Merry Christmas from me…

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