How to....start christmas too early

I know there is a rumour that if you start Christmas too early Elves strangle baby reindeers or angels wing drop off but hopefully that's all rubbish as sadly I think that Christmas may have just about started and it's only halfway through November!!! I am trying to get into the festive spirit and believe me I'm doing better then Dr Fred!!!

Today the glorious scent of Christmas filled the house as having soaked the dried fruit for a week in a lethal cocktail of rum, brandy, port and more... I made my Christmas cakes using the time tested and honoured Delia Creole cake recipe.  I've tried various different fruit cake recipes over the years but nothing comes close to the Creole one. Its only drawback is as Delia states, is it's too rich to be iced and requires a glazed fruit and nut topping which personally I prefer but Dr Fred misses the marzipan and icing so I'll prob do Delias simpler ordinary cake as well.

But, what really made it feel like Christmas was imminent - as well as baking crimble cakes - was the annual Christmas lantern parade in Amble and as we have a friend visiting us from Australia what better entertainment could we offer!!!! (we really know how to look after our guests).

Wrapping up well we headed downtown - I have never seen so many people in Amble before - and stood amongst the crowds as the parade meandered down Queen Street.  I thought it was fab. Four years ago we attended a similar event somewhere deep in the middle of nowhere in the Murray Valley, South Australia and it was a weird experience, snowmen, santa clauses, elves and reindeer against a backdrop of palm trees, blue skies and 35 degree heat!  This year was very similar, except the palm trees, blue skies and temperature were not as evident - and somehow it felt a bit more real... the giant Puffin added a touch of surrealism and if it was anywhere but Amble it might have looked ridiculous (ha ha ) -
the christmas theme was Alice in Wonderland and the stilt walkers were dressed accordingly.  I love the effort everyone had put into the different floats and costumes and there was a definite party atmosphere so I reckon like it or not Christmas is on us!

I really liked the lanterns, the big Alice ones were really good but I also liked the various little ones and will defo look at how to make one for my window this year.

Oh and we got our first lovely sparkly christmas card yesterday as well so that kinda seals the deal!

I don't usually start christmas until the week before the actual day as it does seem to be a tad over done.  I'm not sure I can sustain a festive momentum for five weeks, but in these days of Brexit, Trumpton and controversial X factor contestants we need to enjoy comfort, solace, entertainment where we can so I may dig out the tinsel a little earlier than normal - although the cake still needs a month to mature!