The nights have comprehensively drawn in now, the Winter Solstice is behind us and Christmas is very nearly upon us. At this time of year there are very few sites still open, but even parked up on our drive the Road Snail continues to be a useful member of the family.
We're entertaining Mrs Snail's family over the holiday season, and so it's very handy to have an extra en-suite double bedroom sitting outside to provide extra accomodation. There is always room at Chez Snail...
It's not just the extra sleeping space that is useful either. Come Christmas day there's always something that either won't squeeze into the oven or needs cooking at a radically different temperature to everything else. In such circumstances all we need to do is nip out onto the drive and crank up the oven in the caravan. True, you do look a little odd walking up the drive carrying a steaming dish of Yorkshire Puddnings, but since most of our neighbours think we're a little strange anyway we really don't have a lot to lose...
So, when friends have asked us if we're going away from Cristmas our reply has been "No, we'll be on the drive". In truth I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be.
Not that we haven't gone roaming with the 'van during the holidays. Not at Christmas, but at New Year. We celebrated New Year 2008 at a Camping and Caravan Club site in the north Lake District. There's a lot to be said for it. The hours of daylight were short and the weather was grey and rainy. The atmosphere however was wonderful.
Every caravan sported a colourful display of coloured lights - something that is much easier to do on a caravan since the advent of effective solar and battery powered sets - there were signs reminding Santa to stop by (which given that it was New Year was perhaps a little redundant, but let's not be Grinches) - there was tinsel, there were Christmas Trees. It was like being in a little festive village.
Because it's easy to stay at home for the holidays. I think that when the nights are long and the weather is cold, there is a tendency to snuggle up on your sofa and do the things you do every year. But getting out, going to places you wouldnt normally be, that can be a real experience. Seeing what unfamiliar towns - or even places you know well at other times of year - are like at Christmas is fascinating. Think about what the town where you live is like at Christmas. It's different, isn't it? So give those places you know in the summer a bit of a winter visit. You'll be surprised. And probably entertained.
Where ever you'll all be spending the festive season, and whoever you're spending it with, everyone here at Snail Towers would like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas. I'll be back in the cold dark days between Christmas and New Year with tales of castles, food and frolics in the North of Scotland. I hope I'll see you all then.
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