Another thing that takes a bit of getting used to is how the two holidays at the start of December – Constitution day and the day of the immaculate conception – result in shops being shut so close to Christmas. This year, falling as they have, the shops will have been shut for three days because shops are shut on Sunday anyway. Of course, with the main present giving time not being until January 6th, the build up to the festivities is still someway off.
The weather has got colder over the last couple of days, with a frost appearing on the roof of the barn. We haven’t lit a fire yet as the house isn’t too cold yet (but we have put the curtains up over the doors again which help to keep the house warm), but I guess it won’t be too far away now. Hopefully the fire will start up again without too much smoke!