How exactly is tinsel defined?
As a fabric that is quite refined,
Silk or wool with threads of gold,
That’s what it was in days of old,

Tinsel now is a metallic sheet really fine,
That gives an effect of sparkle, a cheap, cheerful shine,
A simple way to brighten your Christmas tree,
With trails of colour that are bright and carefree,

It is defined as showy, with little real worth,
But it will raise a broad smile and cause you mirth.
So huzzah for the tinsel that is wound round my tree,
It makes me feel happy and want to make some whoopee!

It’s hard for the naked eye to see,
But a snowflake displays a symmetry,
Each one created by branch selection,
Built around one small imperfection,
That creates a singular ice physique,
And makes each snowflake quite unique. href=”https://carofieldauthor.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/macrosnow-2.jpeg”>
The life of a snowflake entails evaporation of the water vapour from seas, lakes, rivers, plants, even you, when you exhale! If you take that air and cool it down, it will eventually condense, as dew if it is near the ground, as snow, if it is way up high. Snow-forming clouds are just conglomerations of liquid water droplets, until the temperature drops to about -10º C (14º F) and then the droplets gradually start to freeze, as described above.

A snow crystal, that may be round, will attract material to it, because it is rough, but then there may also be a number of facets that are smoother and so accumulate material much more slowly. After all the rough surfaces have grown out, only the slower-growing facet surfaces remain, to create the snowflake. A snowflake is, most commonly, a hexagonal prism in shape. This, in turn can either be plate-like (or flat), or columnar, depending on which facet surfaces grow the quickest.

When snowflakes are just baby flakes, they tend to just be these hexagonal prisms, but as they mature and grow, branches grow out from the corners to create more intricate and complex shapes. This perfection, is, like so many things in this world, created from imperfection. Snowflake branching occurs because in order for water vapour to attach to the ice crystal, it has to diffuse through the air. If it finds a spot on the crystal with a tiny protuberance, it does not have to travel so far through the air to condense, so it tends to concentrate itself around and grow quicker at that particular spot…creating a branch. Then that branch in turn may have minor imperfections, so the process repeats itself. The result is an exquisite structure…unique to itself, because no 2 ice crystals will have lumps and bumps in the same spot. Cool physics, huh?

Since childhood (when I learned) I’ve loved to ski,
What a great way of getting from A to B,
You glide down the mountain so effortlessly,
And land at the bottom in a clump!

To do so you must master a simple skill,
To get you to the top of that tempting hill,
The T-bar or pommel lift – both a bit of a pill,
If you don’t, you’ll come down with a bump!

You’ll be a speed monster, or, like me a style freak,
Either way you need to concentrate quite hard on technique,
And believe me, you’ll feel the wind chill upon your cheek,
As you bravely attempt that first jump!

I am an extremely enthusiastic backer,
Of the cult of the Christmas cracker.
Trouble is they can be, quite elementary,
Or have that extra polish, finesse and lacquer!

They are always filled with this and that,
A stupid joke, a paper hat,
A cracker snap that goes off with a zap,
They simply follow the same basic format.

One year I decided to make my own,
And so I went for your basic clone,
I asked people to choose, their favourite booze,
And a small bottle * became the lodestone.**

* a miniature bottle (pop for the kids)
** an item with magnetic properties

I built a snowman yesterday,
And the kid from down the road,
Thought it rather feeble,
And started behaving like a toad.
He told me it was useless,
That it looked like Gunga Din,
And something strange then happened,
Some may feel that it’s a sin.,,
My snowman took exception,
And it may seem surreal,
But when I came back outside,
My man had had a meal,
The little lad was buried
Deep inside the snow,
His head inside the snowman’s gob,
Feet dangling down below.
It took a while to pull him out,
But finally he emerged,
I told him ’twas his rudeness,
That had got him so submerged.

Rudolph’s the most famous,

Because his nose is red,

But the other reindeer mock him,

For having no street cred.

Dasher is the lead stag,

And he’s alongside  Vixen,

Cupid’s twinned with Comet,

And Donner, obviously,

With Blitzen.

In the rear is Prancer,

Who’s alongside Dancer,

And these two are the really strong,

To really pull the sleigh along….

So if you see a flash of red,

It’s Santa flying overhead.

Have you put fairy lights on your tree,
So they can twinkle steadfastly?
Wrapped round the trunk, spread across the boughs,
To signal celebration and all that allows.
I don’t like fussy or complicated,
I like really subtle and understated.
We’ve also got some on our bay trees outside,
To welcome our guests as they arrive.

Take a good onion and stud it with clove,
Then drop into milk and put it on the stove,
Add in a bayleaf or two to give it some taste,
More than that number would just be a waste.
Simmer it gently, so the aromas infuse,
Checking it often for small residues.
Add it to breadcrumbs, preferably stale,
Make sure you stir it, or your sauce will fail,
Add in some nutmeg, some pepper and salt,
Then let all the flavours your senses assault.
A Prince of the sauce boat, well that’s what I feel,
So please serve it to me with every darned meal!

Are you, like me, an advent calendar buff*,
Who simply cannot get enough,
Of the current ones, filled with little chocs,
It’s the ultimate smorgasbord chocolate box!
The one I have now has class and panache,
Each day brings me truffles, praline or ganache!
Or how about those of the digital kind,
That bring daily delights that are hidden behind?
An Edwardian House aka Downton Abbey,
Well none of us would find that mean or shabby!
Or how about traveling around London Town?
What a splendid way to do Christmas countdown!
They come in every shape and size,
And each one carries it’s own surprise.
When I think of the ones WE had when I was a kid,
If you gave one of those now, well God forbid!
I’m waiting for Harrods to join in the fun,
And produce one with iPhones and Xbox One!

* for American readers, don’t be alarmed, a buff is a word for an expert in the UK

My love has bought some mistletoe,
Under which we shall be kissing,
Each time we go to and fro,
But there’s something that she’s missing.
I shall not resist when she kisses me,
But this she does not know,
When I hold her tenderly,
I shall not be letting go!