I've moved...

Yes, finally...

All the action's over at http://www.aforkfulofspaghetti.blogspot.com/ now. See you there!

all good things must come to an end... and a new beginning

Well, it's been fun. A short-lived blog this may have been, but it's served it's purpose for me over the past few months.

In fact, it's helped me realise that many of my 'small pleasures' are to do with food, and for that reason, I've come to realise that I should really 'go with it' and start a food blog soon. Part memories, part inspiration, part recipes, part reviews - it'll be a mixed bag of all the aspects of food that most make me smile.

So, I'll be along here just once more to post up the details, but then all my energies will be transferred to the new blog. It'd be great to see you there...

the magic of Christmas

Ah, Christmas... There really is nothing quite like it, is there?

As much as I'm no fan of the commercialisation of the festivities, I can't deny that I still find it a special time. I love planning the Christmas dinner, I revel in wrapping others' presents and imagining their delight on opening them, and receiving cards from family and friends old and new is always a particular pleasure.

But for so long as I can remember, the most magical moment for me is when the Christmas tree is dressed, the lights are switched on for the first time, and a subtle hint of pine fills the house.

That's when my Christmas starts - and it doesn't end until twelfth night, when the tree is the last thing to be taken down.

This year, I was unwell for the entire Christmas period, right through to New Year. Did it diminish my enjoyment? Well, possibly a little. It would have been nice to have some Christmas dinner, to play some silly games, and to be rather more jolly and festive than I actually managed to be.

But the tree was perhaps the best, most pretty, sparkling tree I've ever had. It was magnificent. It made me smile every time I entered the living room. And that, quite simply, meant that everything was just fine.