So agree with the Christmas hysteria. Although I'm a sucker for Christmas lights. I've always been quite firm in not putting up the tree and decorations until a week or so before the 25th but I do feel that when times are as gloomy as they currently are, there is some small joy to be scraped from some jolly lights and baubles about the place, so I'm going to brave the loft this afternoon to dig them out. I was out for a long walk through the streets around here on Friday evening and everyone seemed to be out putting up lights and wreaths and it was quite cheery. I also like the older idea of bringing light into the darkness of December. Up here in Scotland especially, it feels quite defiant.

My Winifred Nicolson vote goes to the second picture, just because of the colour of the leaves.