The world from my window

Caruso says a few words to declare The Enchanted Village christmas tree lights well and truly on. A switch is thrown and there is applause as the lights illuminate the village green. Applause because no-one really thought they would come on at all. Down the road, a tree lights up above Mr and Mrs Champage-Charlie's front door, over the church shop, at Mrs Bancroft's and, last but not least, the Grigg abode. It is a relief because a few hours earlier, Mr Grigg had a plaintive phone call from Mrs Bancroft who wailed: 'My lights have come on and it's only half past three.' So the timers were all adjusted and we just hoped for the best. We had no idea if anyone would turn up for this step into Christmas but well-wrapped-up figures come from here there and everywhere to join in the ceremony. It isn't quite Oxford Street but it's ours, and it's going well. There is mulled wine and cider, mince pies and carols around the tree led by Tuppence. I trill li...

This was going to be a short and sweet blog, just before Christmas. It went something like this: All is calm in The Enchanted Village and - at last - bright. The Christmas trees have finally gone up above the houses in the square. The lights are on and everyone’s at home. It may well stay that way if any more snow comes our way. Cut off from everyone, except ourselves. A very merry Christmas to you, wherever you are. That's about it. Love Maddie x ...However , I get home in the dark from a hard day's work. The tree above the Grigg hovel is flashing like something from New York's Times Square. 'We've had complaints,' says my neighbour Mrs Bancroft, the owner of a beautifully arranged Christmas tree on the corner of her house. The tree is a wonderful shape and the lights are perfect. Just like her. As I stand gawping in the square, Mr Grigg pulls up from five hours of shopping in my kind of town and a swift pint in the only free house for miles around. 'What...