A hive of activity

It's amazing what you can get done when there's a party in the offing.

We're holding our annual mulled wine evening tonight, so we've been busy since about 8am this morning:

• putting the finishing touches to the tree (i.e. hanging the red and gold beads, setting the timer, and fixing the skirt)
• erecting the small sparkly fibre-optic tree in the lounge
• boiling the eggs for sandwiches
• vacuuming absolutely everywhere
• opening up the conservatory, turning up its radiators and removing the dead flies
  
• preparing the mulling equipment
• cleaning absolutely everywhere that hasn't been vacuumed
• hanging the last few decorations
• fetching an uplighter so those in the conservatory can see each other
• fixing a hook for the towel in the downstairs cloakroom
• hanging the windchime (that's been sitting in a bag in the front porch for two years)
• putting up the Christmas cards (two so far)
• refilling all the tea-light holders
• plumping cushions
• generally tidying up and putting away of boxes
  

Four-and-a-half hours later and there's almost nothing left to do. Except have a shower.

And make the sandwiches.

And mull the wine (but that comes later).