Things ain't what they used to be

It's getting darker.  Well, only in the evenings, you understand, but it is getting darker.  Oh, and in the mornings. In fact, the days are getting shorter.  There was a time when the advent of the darker nights was welcome - a harbinger, if you like, of all things warm and cosy when we all got tucked up by the fire, ate hot buttered slices of toast and listened to the weather doing its bleakest behind thickly curtained windows, while the fire crackled merrily in the grate and our thoughts turned to Christmas.  In those days, we didn't have concerns about real fires being major health hazards, whether the hour should go forward or back, or - indeed - whether we should even celebrate Christmas.  We just accepted the fact that December meant cold nights, short days, warm fires, lots of carols and presents, eventually, round a real tree, sometimes - even now, amazingly - with real candles. Children waited with breathless and impatient anticipation for the great day and adults loved every minute of the build up, with predictable carol services on the radio and telly, festive sights in the shops and a wonderful feeling of nascent catharsis.

The first Santa in Llandudno was sighted last Thursday which, even by the standards of a confirmed festivophile was a tad early, if not downright unseasonal. There's an order to Autumn.  It goes Halloween, bonfire night, Christmas and it's downright unseemly to rush these things.  We need time to make the most of each event, like little beacons in a darkening journey, and we should take things slowly.

As a child, autumn was the most magical of times. Back to school signalled the imminent arrival of Halloween some weeks later, half term and then the wonders of bonfire night, the demise of which led beautifully into Christmas.  A seven week course of carol singing, nativity rehearsals and parties, terminating in Christmas Day - the only time of the year the fire was lit in the front room.  Of course, despite the Dickensian perception, snow was usually absent, but that was probably because they moved Christmas back three weeks in the 17th century. But snow or not, it was a great time.  In a society which promotes instant gratification, it's perhaps best to take it slowly.