#NationalChristmasTreeDay

Today is #NationalChristmasTreeDay! Really, it is, I double checked it was trending and everything. So in keeping with the whole Christmas theme, here's a picture of some very pretty Christmas trees. And oh look, there's some sparkley reindeer too (PLEASE Santa, PLEASE!) 

Bookshelf - All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

I really wish I was one of those people who could write amazing book reviews. You know the ones that you read in the big Sunday papers that totally inspire you to rush right out and get the book or your life will never be the same again. If I could write those type of reviews, I would do it for 'All the Light We Cannot See'. 

Sadly I'm not one of those people so instead I'll have to try to put into my simple style why you absolutely have to read this book. 

It's beautiful. Like seriously beautiful. It's not exactly the most lighthearted story and it deals with some really serious subject matters but every word, every chapter is quite simply beautiful - the writing, the descriptions, the vivid images that he draws for you to soak up and throw yourself into completely...

The characters in the book, oh, I can't even begin to describe them - I so wish I could. Can I say beautiful again? For me there wasn't one weak character, they were all just so absorbing. It's one of those books that you don't want to end because you know you're going to miss everyone in it. Days later and I still feel like that.

It catches you off guard. One minute I was reading along and then I'd turn over the page and be so totally and utterly overwhelmed that tears just sprung out of nowhere...and then something else would happen to distract you away from the tears...

I don't want to put you off. I only cried three times and it's a pretty hefty read. And ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you I'm a big cry-er when it comes to books. And films. And television. And adverts. Just sayin' 

The most satisfying thing of all is that it has a proper ending. Hallelujah! So many times lately I've committed to a book, it's had me gripped the whole way through and then the ending has been hurried and felt incomplete somehow. But not this, absolutely not this, yep I'm going to say it again - beautiful. 

I cannot urge you enough to pick this up. And if you have read it, please let me know in the comments what you thought. I want to talk about it with everyone! 

Dear Santa...

...all I want for Christmas is my own sparkley reindeer. Please. 

Yours sincerely

Claire 

You stupid boy!

You know all that busy I've been rabbiting on about? Well the results of that finally come into one glorious show tonight as my theatre group opens our December production, Dad's Army. Yep, that comedy classic! 

Even though it's been a pretty gruelling schedule, with work events and life events, it has been fun...sometimes. Rehearsals particularly have been hilarious and I can honestly tell you that most of the cast are actually morphing into the characters that they are playing - it's uncanny! 

In case you fancy it, here's a poster with all the details. I'll be there every night, dressed up like a 1940s cigarette girl with victory rolls in my hair and a bright red lip - worth it just for that then, really! See you there! 

PS. For anyone who doesn't have a clue what I'm talking about, the blog post title is a quote from the TV/play! 

My hat is better than your hat

Today has been a bit of a strange one. I was supposed to be getting up very early to get on a train and travel to Leeds to meet up with my bestie from university. We've been solid besties since 1995, when we lived on the same floor in halls. We shared houses all the time we lived in London and were pretty much inseparable until miles separated us; there was even a sea between us at one point! The miles never really make any difference though, and neither does the time apart - when we meet up we pick up exactly where we were the last time we met and generally never shut up talking and laughing! 

Sadly life got in the way for this trip and her little boy was ill so we had to cancel. Boooo! However, seldom one to let things get me down for too long I tried to find the positive in the situation. I mean first of all I didn't have to get up at 6am anymore! Instead I've embraced my first day off in two weeks in good style - a lazy morning catching up on blogs and reading a few more pages of my book, a trip to theatre (I've been there every day so far this week, might as well go today), caught up with my folks who I haven't seen in weeks due to work and life busy-ness, done the food shopping, scheduled in some social media for theatre and now I'm blogging! A quiet day somehow became the usual busy! Plans for the evening include some tasty dinner and maybe a film or some TV. Nice! 

Also, you can't be sad for too long when you find what might possibly be the BEST HAT EVER when you have to work at lots of outdoor Christmas events. Ladies and gentlemen, I invite you to admire it for yourselves:

Isn't it fabulous?!? I can't wait to wear it for The Big Sing! 

Over and out. 

Friday crush/Listen Up!

I've pretty much given up pretending that I have any street cred these days. Even though this song makes me feel like I'm 13 and watching the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party, it's kind of the most played at the moment. Okay not kind of, is. I admit it. 

Also, can we just agree that he is a teeny tiny bit eye candy...?

Oh god, I'll just get my coat...

Christmas is open for business!

Okay, it's here: Day 1 of my now annual advent where I do my best (very best!) to post something every single day in December. Feeling pretty chuffed that I actually made a solid start. I'm not going to lie, some of this stuff will be scheduled in ready to go out cos girl is busy, but you know that already. I hope you like it. Feel free to join in the comments below and post your own photos/life updates/general chit-chatty fun times - I would proper love that! 

So day 1. Let's talk Christmas jumpers. Last year I was a person who had zero Christmas jumpers, this year I am a person who has three, and a t-shirt that says 'Santa Squad'. If I recall correctly I kept my Christmas joy much better hidden last year by wearing festive socks all month, but this year I am all out - Christmas jumpers all the way! Except in the office, as frankly it's hotter than inside an oven and the idea of wearing a jumper in there is enough to make me swoon. 

This particular beauty is my newest purchase and was bought specifically to wear for the Reindeer Parade when I met Rudolph. Yes that actually happened. It is truly glorious, has a 3D bobble on that baby reindeer's hat and is fuzzy all over! 

I know, I know, it's awesome. If you want to get one yourself, and I really won't mind because who wouldn't, then it's available at your local Tesco. Or at least mine was...

I'll be cracking the Christmas socks out too, but I tend to wear skirts and dresses for work so not quite sure how that's going to work. Tights and socks, especially of the Christmas variety is a hard look to pull off when you're trying for the casual biz-ness dress look. Any suggestions on how to rock that feel free to leave them below. 

See ya tomorrow!