Walking in a winter wonderland

The A • Hume Family reflect on the past year and how we can still capture the true meaning of Christmas.

Here we are again. That time of year when we feel the warm glow of softly lit homes, the nip of frost on our faces as we brave the outdoors, and the anticipation of the exciting things to come as winter approaches.

At this time of year, we would normally start looking forward to our seasonal favourites; the smell of log burning fires, the crowded city centres filled with shoppers (that we secretly love), the festive menu at the coffee shop, skating on outdoor ice rinks, wandering around Santa’s Grotto sourcing the latest addition to our decoration repertoire, the German market, the bratwurst and of course the mulled wine. Now, more than ever, we long for these things after the events of this year.

While we do recognise that some of our most loved and cherished wintertide rituals will not be as we had so desperately hoped this season, we must make an effort to make this year really count. Creating moments full of magic, though perhaps in a different way, is so important. Here at A Hume Country Clothing we have been putting our heads together to reinvent our favourite things about this time of year, and as always, we’re keeping it country.

You will be glad to know that we do not intend to freeze a paddling pool of water and construct some homemade ice skates. (While we are eager to bring winter wonderland to everyone, we can’t afford to lose our fingers with so many packages to wrap and dispatch). Instead we envisage crisp, fresh walks, foraging for twigs and sprigs of holly to make our homemade wreaths, and painting pinecones to hang on our trees, giving new meaning to ‘shabby chic’.

We are looking forward to more reckless attempts at homemade mulled wine. Making up for a lack of Halloween guising and bonfire night gatherings with a bubbling concoction of every booze we can think of, with some token orange slices and cinnamon sticks thrown in. As the old wife’s tale goes, you do not need to use good wine to make good mulled wine, but it sure helps with the headache.

Blowing the cobwebs off the next again day by getting out into that sharp winter air, when we will decorate our houses the best they have ever been. Hosting our own Christmas light countdowns, with our neighbours and holding competitions for the ‘best dressed’ house. We can see it now, panic buys of twinkly lights and rationing of extension cords. But all jokes aside, at least we can still look forward to the glittering of homes that, from a distance, give us the perfect view that resembles a scene from a Christmas card.

There is something quite humble and country about the winter season that awaits us. We are not rushing around this Christmas, spending our precious time in crammed shopping centres, or fighting over the last pair of socks with a stranger. Instead we have time to reflect on what really matters. Not holding out for shiny and new, but making the most of what we have, taking a step back, slowing down, and appreciating everything we are so fortunate to have. We are holding our families close and cherishing them for being safe and sound with us this winter season.Maybe, just maybe, this will be the best winter wonderland yet.