A Warm Moment

by Tom Hepburn

I've now had nearly thirty Christmas's and I don't think I've ever spent any of them doing the same thing. Not for my family is the traditional "presents, turkey and stuffing, Monopoly and then argue until bedtime" type of day.

Last year was the first time actually spent in Brighton, despite having been in and around it for my whole life. For some reason we decided it would be fun to go for a walk along the seafront. Obviously, it was wetter, colder, windier, and more bleak than you could possibly imagine. After a ten minute walk we made our way to the nearest shelter. Fortunately, we were close to the bookshop my sister-in-law works in and they have a café upstairs.

I never thought I could enjoy a moment as then - a warm mug of hot chocolate steaming up the windows, laughing and joking with family, surrounded by the warm colours of the wooden shelves and piles of books into which we could dip. Although just one small thought: how do you spell the plural of Christmas? Thank goodness for Hanukah!