The wonderful thing about English winters......

I know a lot of us struggle in the wintertime over here, with the lack of sunshine, distance from family over the holidays, and general gloominess. So I thought I'd start a thread of GOOD things about the winters here - you know, all looking-on-the-bright-side and stuff.

1. When you DO get a few hours of sunshine you really, really appreciate it.
2. If you love boots, then you are in the right place - nearly year round boot love!
3. All the carol & candlelit services in ancient, beautiful churches.
4. Eating dinners by fairy light!
5. It is the opposite side of the coin for those lovely long summer nights, a decent price to pay.
6. The Christmas tree gets a lot more time to glitter up the room.
7. You can skip the sun block for a few months!
8. None of that horrible bright white snow glare while driving.
9. Warm, lovely little mince pies with gooey, sweet custard poured on top.
10. Real Christmas Carollers wandering around.
11. Nativity plays with adorable kids signing in sweet accented cuteness.


Hmmm...... anything else???

• The trains get canceled and my DH gets to sleep in a little and I can eat breakfast with him and eat lunch with him.  Unfortunately I walk to work- no snow days for me!

• Knitting big scarves and mittens in front of a holiday movie with friends while sipping hot chocolate with Baileys.

• It's DH's turn to complain about the cold (summer is my turn!)

• I don't have to shovel!!![smiley=2thumbsup.gif] Spent so many mornings shoveling the walk, in my old street in Philly, we had to shovel the street (too narrow for city plows) and as a kid, my parents had a 1/4 mile drive to shovel. SO glad I don't have to freeze my but off for an hour at 6am anymore!

• The upside to nothing in our town being open after 5:30- I can stay warm and cosy in our house all night no reason to head out into the sleet/snow/cold.

6. The Christmas tree gets a lot more time to glitter up the room.

My favorite! Great post idea Marlespo!

Oxford St Christmas lights! Those always cheer me up after a long sluggish day 

Just to nit-pick, Marlespo, I think you forgot to add Welsh, Scottish and N Irish to the title

I was just home for Thanksgiving in Minnesota and compared to the temperature there, it feels balmy here, haha! 

-I am looking forward to spending the first Christmas together with my husband.
-I am also looking forward to experiencing English Christmas traditions with my husband's family and Christmas pudding! 

I love the Chirstmas Markets; I think I'm just fascinated by all of the twinkly lights.
I love how quiet it is after it snows.
Mince pies.
Twice so far this year I've seen elaborate Victorian processions. Once was clearly a wedding (horses in gold livery and white plumage) and then once was a funeral. It was eery but amazing to see the black horses with black plumage come out of the icy fog pulling a black carriage with the coffin displayed in it. Not wonderful, but certainly not something I would ever see anywhere else, I think.
Dr. Who Christmas Special!
The Christmas lectures.

9. Warm, lovely little mince pies with gooey, sweet custard poured on top.

Brandy butter, not custard!! 

I love winters. I know some people don't enjoy the early nights, but I get a warm, cosy, snuggly feeling when we're all closed in early with the fire blazing. This time of year puts me in full-on nesting mode and I start baking and knitting like there's no tomorrow!

Clotted cream on my mince pies!  Hehe!

I forgot the German Markets!  And the gorgeous Christmas decorations.  Mulled wine in the town square, yum!

Mulled wine in the town square, yum!

And brown paper bags of roasted chestnuts!

Mulled wine in the town square, yum!

Yum indeed! 

I forgot the German Markets!  And the gorgeous Christmas decorations.  Mulled wine in the town square, yum!

Just had some Mulled wine in our town square tree lighting the other week, fun!

Oxford St Christmas lights! Those always cheer me up after a long sluggish day 

Yes! and Hyde Park Winter Wonderland!

11. Nativity plays with adorable kids signing in sweet accented cuteness.

Reminds me of the Schools Christmas concerts in Leeds Town Hall with the primary school kids singing "Glow-ria" 

I love all the Christmas specials on tv... can not wait for Dr Who!!!

Chipotla Sausages Wrapped in Bacon. Food heaven is an understatement. 

Christmas Cake!! How did I never know such a gorgeous invention existed before- fruit cake, booze, marizipan, royal icing. I think Christmas Cake is like Marmite, you either love it or hate it.

The many myriad of social events and holidays do's I have to attend this year. I feel well loved! 

The fact we put up Christmas trees in the office and everyone loves it.   

Then past the holiday season, there's Burns Night to look forward to.

Hill walking in the snow- it's gorgeous and peaceful.   

Gore-tex lined winter boots, a warm coat, waterproof trousers, and black yak clothing makes anything bareable. 

Tescos online and home delivery! Not having to face the outdoors and brave the conditions if you don't want to.

I love all the Christmas specials on tv... can not wait for Dr Who!!!

ME TOO!!!  I remember the traditional Christmas stuff on tv in America like frosty and the Peanuts Christmas show, but I don't remember new special shows or films just for Christmas.  Like here, the schedule on Christmas and Boxing day is crucial.  I don't remember it being that way in the US or at least it not being that big of a deal.  I LOVE IT!  My skyplus will be recording!

Fluffy boot slippers I can wear all day long - so comfortable

Seeing hillsides with white snow as a beautiful background and amazes me each time I go outside.

Excited to celebrate Christmas here for the first time with all the traditions
Making a snowman in the back garden

I do give thumbs up to these things