Today I took a friend of mine to the garden centre at Ditchling for a wander round and a coffee. I said “do we need all this stuff?". An elderly couple heard

me and they said “no, we don’t".

The lady said "I am 78 and still get out the fairy my mum bought when I was two."

I know I am in my senior years now, but I do enjoy Christmas with the tree and decorations. I really enjoy getting out my collection of decorations, as a lot of them are decades old.

The tree fairy is the one my mother bought in Woolworths over 70 years ago. There are a few staples holding her together now (the fairy, not my mother).

I have a second fairy which I bought when I left home in 1972 and I think she came from Woolworths too.

I also have some of the coloured paper bells, lanterns and balls that folded out to form what ever. I have a box of very fragile glass tree balls which I bought in John Beals along East Street, for Christmas 1960.

I have of course added to the collection over the decades, all of which are good quality.

For the past two years we have returned to having a real tree. The artificial ones are life like but they don’t have the smell of the real thing.

Although I enjoy seeing the decorations and cards, I always remember the true meaning of the festive season and offer thanks for the many blessings I have.

Christine Luffman

Rotherfield Crescent

Hollingbury

Brighton