Dec 22, 20244 min read

Karen's Corner 22.12.24

Welcome back to Karen’s Corner! Join me here each month to catch up with what I’ve been up to both in and out of work. Can’t wait until next time? Connect with me on Instagram www.instagram.com/karen.anderson.fossoway

Karen xx

HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS

Frosted bare branches shimmer in the early morning light, the crunch of my boots on the frozen ground and the snap of twigs under them punctuate the hush of the early hours. Woodsmoke curls from chimneys carrying the sweet, earth scent of burning logs while the air itself is sharp and clean. As I turn towards the stable block, Maddox welcomes me with the first warm neigh on this cold morning, alerting the other horses, as well as their other woolly, hairy and feathery friends that it’s breakfast time and immediately they start their morning chorus of anticipation.

I love these cold wintery mornings, far preferring the bitter, icy air to the milder wet and windy days. Though I can’t pretend I’d sometimes prefer to stay in my cozy bed a little longer, there’s something extremely satisfying about getting outside, tending to the animals first thing and knowing they’re happy and have everything they need for their day.

Back inside, I let the children sleep in while I make our go-to winter warmer for John and I, a fresh ginger, honey and lemon tea and make a plan for the rest of my day.

Sounds kind of perfect right? It’s my very much romanticised version of my winter mornings, a fantasy morning if you like and I can assure you that my average morning isn’t quite so idyllic.

Despite what the pictures on the Christmas cards dropping through my letter box promise, winter is less white and sparkly, more mud and dirt. Last week, after the last cold snap, we had a burst pipe in the barn early one morning, which we could have done without … the poor animals had to wade out of their stables to their paddocks! December is BUSY for everyone with endless ‘end-of term’ events and celebrations at school as well as every after school activity and desperate mad-dashes round retail parks trying to find gifts for the long list of festive recipients. The diary can start to look a bit crammed with all the extra tasks!

It is still very much my favourite time of the year however. John and I started December off in the best way, with a quick trip to London to see A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic. We met Mum and Dad down there and they joined us for what is, simply, a magical Christmassy few hours. Afterwards, a wee wander around the beautifully lit streets of London, imagining a lottery win and which gorgeous townhouse we’d buy, left us feeling as festive as it gets. The following day, we flew back to Edinburgh and drove straight to The Usher Hall to watch The Holiday with the live orchestra. Another perfectly merry night out. We’d put up the tree and decorations before we went to London so we came home to twinkly lights and the house feeling warm, cozy and sparkly.

I really love how ‘full’ the house feels at Christmas time - not just with family and friends but with all the greenery and decorations we bring in. I like to have garlands round the windows, trees in most of the rooms, fairy lights on pretty much anything and festive smelling candles burning as soon as I’ve settled in for the night. I did a big Tesco delivery order and bought in all the festive goodies too - full cupboards add to the warmth of the season for sure.

John then went on tour with Phil Cunningham’s Christmas Songbook, which finishes this evening in Edinburgh. Myself, Mum, Dad, Callan, Cora and her friend Isla went to see it the other night in Perth then I saw it again with some friends last night. This show always delivers the Christmas feels - you can book now for next year’s tour!

It’s been a fortnight of family performances … John’s two, Molly and Jessie did a wonderful job in a run of ‘Wonka’ at The Church Hill Theatre in Edinburgh, Callan starred in the school panto ‘Cinderella Rockafella’ then we put on our own annual Christmas performance in the barn earlier this week with performances from our Kids’ Club, Playmakers and the little ones from FossoPLAY. We had a wonderful turnout and we’ll hopefully be able to do more things like this into 2025.

It’s natural at this time of the year to reflect on the year passed and assess what’s gone well and what hasn’t. There have been lots of valuable lessons learned and some truly wonderful moments, but for me, this year has been part of this bigger chapter I’m calling the “pivot” years. Standing here at the end of 2024, I’m feeling so much closer to where I’ve wanted to get to for such a long time and with a renewed sense of purpose and motivation for what lies ahead in 2025.

2025 looks like it could be rather exciting here at Fossoway Stables with plans afoot for all sorts of developments, improvements and new projects … I’m so excited to share with you what I’ve been working on in the new year but until then, I truly wish, for you to have yourself, a merry little Christmas.

Until next year ……

K xx