I don't know if everyone feels like this, but I am always tempted by Christmas cookery programmes, and I am lulled into some strange belief that I

 

a) have the talent and

 

b) have the time

 

to make my own canapes, my own biscuits even my own drinks when for the rest of the year without any tinge of conscience I am happy to buy all these products ready made. Each year I attempt it, in spite of my husband;s good advice and now round about this time , I realise that I am not Delia , but that I am pretty tired and fed up, I realise once again that my time would have been better spent taking time to be still and peaceful , to pray more, to listen more.

 

I read a quote this week from ironically Delia Smith in her advent readings which encourages us to "be prepared to fail, to be humble enough to opt out of what this world makes of Christmas, to make a radical pruning of our Christmas activities" in order to make time to reflect on what really happened when Christ became flesh and dwelt among us.

 

Time well spent I think