Brass monkeys!

Festive and down with it

For the 2nd of December, today was pretty Christmassy: waking up to the white streets of London, going to my nephew's nativity play, ending up at the garden centre. So the last bit doesn’t sound specifically festive, but trust me – if half way into December you’re not feeling the spirit, head down to Clifton Nurseries. Ever since I worked in one, I’ve found independent garden centres seriously atmospheric places at Christmas. Short of selling turkeys, they are pretty much one-stop shops for getting Christmas under way. As I remember it, an awful lot of fur and highlights would sweep in to pick up their 15ft trees for what could only have been unfeasibly large London houses. But for me, it was about working outside in the freezing cold, longing for tea breaks, and until they came, dreaming of a perfect Christmas.