Not long to wait now...

Almost there - Wilson's stocking is hung, the glass of Ant Wine and the mince pie for Father Xmas and seven carrots for the reindeer are all laid out by the hearth; it remains only to persuade an thoroughly over-excited ant-eater to retire to bed... and then to go to sleep.

Happy Xmas, everyone! Photos of Wilson opening his presents on the 26th, I hope!

Waiting impatiently for Xmas...

Receive a Receipt from iTunes for the complete Adam Ant opus. Must change my iTunes passw… oh, whats the point?! 

Still, listening to AA passes the time for W while he impatiently waits for Xmas, and it might give him something new to play on his mouth organ - I don't think I can face his back-to-back playing of 'We Three Kings' and 'Frosty the Snowman' all next year!

"It was a different age..."

Wilson, entrepreneur, philosopher and celebrity cook, although precocious and sophisticated, is in many ways still a child. For instance, he now likes to be read nursery-rhymes and fairy tales in bed as he falls asleep. Most evenings I can be found sitting in the utility room next to the tumble-dryer reading to him. 

Or, his latest enthusiasm, being sung to. He favours the songs of Peter Dawson; The Floral Dance* and Devon Glorious Devon are two of his favourites.

In the photo you can see W with two of his most treasured possessions: a Peter Dawson album and an original Peter Dawson 78 he bought off eBay. Unfortunately we can't play the 78, but W just sits and holds it, occasionally closing his eyes and sniffing it. 'It was a different age', he tells me, nostalgically, 'an age we can only dream about…'

* The Floral Dance was written by Kate Moss. No, not the superstar fashion model. Not the author either. Who says this stuff isn't educational?! 

'Hurrah! For the Cornish Floral Dance'

Preparing for an important visitor!

Xmas Eve may not be quite here yet, but Wilson doesn't want to take any chances with being too late, so last night he went out into the garden to erect his "Santa Please Land Here" sign. 

I've assured him that, although helicopters usually need a giant 'H' on the ground for landing he doesn't need to paint a huge 'S' (for sleigh) (or, I suppose, for Santa) on our lawn. I hope he believes me about this...

Just a little treat for Wilson...

I hope I'm not spoiling Wilson, but I do find it very difficult to say No… particularly when he sees something which I know he'll love and it doesn't cost very much...

Visited by Lions!

Wilson finally admitted defeat and opened one of his toys from Father Xmas. It was a mouth organ! He is delighted with it; I a little less so. He's learning some tunes, mostly Xmas carols, but when he makes a mistake, he makes the same mistake every time he plays it. But he's putting his heart and soul into it, and it does sound quite Xmassy… and there's nothing about it that paracetamol can't fix!

Last night the Uckfield Lions came round collecting for charity with their Xmas Float! Wilson was very impressed, not least because Father Xmas waved and appeared to remember him… and the money collectors gave him two lollipops!

Let It Snow...

Just to get everyone in the Xmas mood, Wilson has produced this special one-off Xmas Weather Forecast for the coming week. Hope the on-line shopping gets through from Waitrose! 

Incidentally, have you Googled Let It Snow today? Wilson thinks it's hilarious!

Wrap up warm, everyone!

Last-minute shopping

Back to our local garden centre for something we'd forgotten, and Wilson couldn't resist visiting their Santa's Workshop. He was a bit cross that their Father Xmas didn't remember him from the last time he saw him (at a different Santa's Workshop, at a different Garden Centre. I can't remember how I dealt with this with my own kids  - they probably didn't get to visit more than once!) but he was very pleased with his gift which, again, he's saving until Xmas morning.

The Xmas Tree is done and dusted!

Wilson has decorated the Xmas Tree pretty much unaided - I think he's done a really nice job, although he did have to climb up the curtains to adjust the star!

Wilson starts decorating the tree

Wilson has declared our Xmas Tree to be the Best Xmas Tree Ever and (although he has never seen a real Xmas tree before this year, so his judgement is based on little comparative evidence) I'm inclined to believe he might be right!

We got a bit carried away with the Mulled Ant Wine and mince pies yesterday, so we'll decorate the tree later today, which should be fun! W is currently testing the Fairy Lights. 

"Ha ha! Currently" – did you see what I did there? Electric curre… oh, never mind!

Wilson makes a decision!

At last I've heard the words I feared I might never hear: "This one! Let's get this one!"

I paid the man and between us Wilson and I carried the tree back to the car and set off for home. 

The car smells deliciously of pine… not in a Pine Toilet Duck way but like a wonderful Scandinavian Pine Forest in Winter. 

As soon as we get home we're going to have some Mulled Ant Wine and a mince pie before we start decorating the tree :-)

Still searching...

Hope Wilson will approve a Xmas Tree soon - there's some minor detail wrong with every one, and he demands perfection! I'm afraid we might still be looking for the perfect tree in the new year - but at least they might be reduced by then  :o)

The constant trekking from Garden Centre to Xmas Tree Plantation to yet another Garden Centre is making me feel like a Nomad, but Wilson's enthusiasm never flags!

Stare-down

Wilson tried to stare-down this reindeer. He lost, but it took a long time for him to finally accept defeat.

A small gift

Wilson visits Father Xmas' Workshop. I could hear much excitement from inside, and W eventually emerged bearing a small gift and a large smile.

Choosing our tree...

It's much harder to choose an Xmas tree when one is accompanied by an anteater with such high standards. Our tree has to be perfect: it has to look perfect, smell perfect, be the perfect shape and size etc. I feel a bit Scrooge-like wishing it were the perfect price!


I had to put my foot down about cutting a hole in the ceiling to accommodate an extra-tall tree even though, as Wilson pointed out, 'it would decorate two rooms at once!'


Naturally, each tree-choosing trip includes lengthy a refreshments break. 

Xmas cards start to arrive

Wilson has received loads of Xmas cards from his family - his mum, Mrs Vermilingua and all his various half- and step-brothers and -sisters… even a couple from those stepfathers who have met him. 

All the cards are very similar (I don't suppose there's a lot of choice at the Drusillas Souvenir Shop) but I think W was touched to be remembered by them all.

Wilson posts his letter

Wilson's just been out to post his letter to Father Xmas…

He has received an email informing him that he has been unsuccessful in his application to carry the Olympic Torch. I expected him to be disappointed, but he's so caught up in preparations for Xmas he hardly paid it any attention; in fact I've half a suspicion he'd forgotten he even applied!

Wilson writes a Very Important Letter...

Wilson has written his letter to Father Xmas…

Keep Calm...

Home again, and Wilson realises that as well as receiving gifts he must give some too… so he's published this new Motivational Poster to raise some cash for his Xmas Present fund. Why not print it out and stick it up… somewhere?

Tea at the Apple Market

While we were at the Apple Market we had tea, and Wilson was delighted to see that the café stocked Ant Juice! (I can't imagine where they got that from, must be left-over stock at some food warehouse.) 

So, 'Xmas Bananas' washed down with Ant Juice - what could possible be better? Roll on Xmas!

Click on this or any other picture in the blog to see it full-size!