So,
4. Mince pies have to make an appearance and if you took time to do homemade mincemeat in the autumn, all the tastier. (Home made also means you can leave out the suet (so low fat) and adjust the sugar (so lower calorie.)
5. Some years ago I stumbled on a recipe for anchovy butter (sometimes known as Gentleman's Relish) so, as my brother is a fan, I made some and gave him a pot along with some of the commercial product.
Taste the difference, I said.
Both good, was the verdict.
Now the recipe is an essential on the festive to do list.
Also Cranberry sauce here, with a jar of (unsuccessful) sweet chestnuts.
6. However kitsch it may be, this time of year cries out for some green, red and white, even if it is only the red of embarrassment, the green face of the morning-after-the-night-before and the glass of something fizzy and white to settle the excesses.
But isn't this is prettier?
7. And a roaring log fire. (An open one is best, but that takes photographic skill...)
8. A bonus is the unexpected gift of colour in the garden. Usually it is a rose in bud, Brother Cadfael being the most dependable, but this year it was a nasal memory kick with unexpected purple hyacinths.
Happy birthday, Dad.
