Build up to Christmas

Happy New Year to all my readers,

Hope you had a wonderful relaxing Christmas & great New Year celebrations. During the Christmas card post read of two people we knew who were not close friends but had spoken to at times had past away. Over Christmas Ros said not heard from her old friend who she used to go around with when in her teens, over the years they had gone their separate ways but still kept in touch with Christmas cards & phone calls anyway Ros rung her to find out from her brother she had passed away at 58 in October 2012 yet no one had told us. So I had a very upset lady in the house over the Christmas period.
The reindeer's are in Killerton near Exeter a National Trust owned house. The house & grounds were dressed for Christmas & this year they pulled out all the stops & made it a wonderful build up to the special day. The reindeer are made from willow & they were also lit up . We live near to about five different NT houses so we like to visit them all. We love the build up to Christmas more than the day really.