quiet paws.

‘Harry, I’m gonna let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don’t plan it, don’t wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men’s store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee.’ (Agent Cooper)

In the interests of full authorial disclosure I must confess from the outset that I love Christmas. It’s not because of the dreary carols that play ad nauseam in shopping centres, it’s not about dealing with scary last minute shoppers, it’s not the incessant and guilt ridden advertising that fills our television screens and our letterboxes, it’s not about religion, and it’s not about excessive eating and indulgence. For me, Christmas means giving; the one time of year where I have an extra special licence to spoil.

Rather than lavish expensive luxuries on family and friends, I am a firm believer and applier of the rule that it’s ‘the thought that counts’. This could be something as simple as baking a batch of cookies for someone, gifting something interesting or simply taking the time to show and say that you care.

Sometimes when giving gifts we either place too much pressure on ourselves so that we lose all enjoyment associated with the process of giving, or we don’t place enough pressure on ourselves to actually find a gift that ‘works’ for that particular person. Finding the right balance and holding onto some semblance of joy can be hard, especially with the general madness of the season swirling around us.

This year my motto for gift giving is to be FEARLESS! This means that I’m hoping for all my gifts to be handmade; or created by a local or independent artist; or something non-traditional, surprising or bordering on ridiculous; or just something random that I think the recipient may simply enjoy.  Instead of being preoccupied with finding the mythical ‘perfect’ gift, I want to gift something reckless, or something crazy, or something unexpected and try to avoid at all costs the dreary, the mundane and the pedestrian.

Given the season, some Christmas shots of the two furry boys seem in order.

Firstly Baxter who was not the happiest dog to have his antlers put on. I’m pretty sure he thought we were trying to strangle him…He was happy enough in the end though as you can see.

And of course, then Memphis who was much more obliging with his antlers. I’m pretty sure he would have been happy to wear them around all day.