Gary Andrews

The Christmas tree blends pagan winter solstice traditions with German Christian customs from the 16th century; notably Martin Luther adding candles, which spread via German royalty (like Queen Charlotte & Prince Albert) to become the worldwide phenomenon it is today. #hotsanta

Welcoming your wife home from her work Christmas party… #doodleaday

Before the mistletoe there was the kissing ball: made from pine, evergreen and mistletoe, wound through a wooden frame. Georgian Christmas was all about gathering with loved ones & celebrating. Kissing balls were hung in entrances & doorways to the home. #hotsanta #doodleaday

The earliest documented references to Yule logs date back to the Tudor period. It would be brought into the home on Christmas Eve, placed on the fire and expected to burn from Christmas Eve until Christmas night – so it had to be big! #hotsanta #doodleaday #christmastraditions

Yup. It’s so annoying that as you get older, healing takes sooooo much longer and is so easy to set back as well. Hey ho… back to the recovery exercises I guess… #doodleaday

Early days of a long and illustrious career! #doodleaday #hotsanta #christmascoutdown #xmastraditions

Actually really good fun - and the audience reaction reinforced my belief in the essential good nature of the majority of today’s teenagers. #doodleaday

Christmas was officially recognised in 336CE, and into the early Middle Ages was a continuation of existing midwinter celebrations. #hotsanta #christmascountdown #doodleaday

Been a busy few months but hopefully we’ll get a few more of these when things quieten down a bit in the new year! #doodleaday

And we’re off! I’m looking forward to sharing some fascinating old traditions and stories… #doodleaday #hotsanta

Sometimes it’s worth remembering how things used to be, to appreciate what we have… #doodleaday #hotsanta

…although I quite like the grey (and to be honest, it takes less ‘help’ than last year!) #doodleaday

It’s such a delight - the little faces as they walk in. It warms the heart… #doodleaday

They are so funny. Hope the kids all love it. Shame I’m stuck in my grotto so won’t get to see it in front of an audience. Anyway, let’s bring on the fun - “It’s Chriiiiiiiiistmaaaaaaaaas!” #doodleady

I do love a bit of a mash-up. Let’s see where this goes!!! #doodleaday #hotsanta #christmascountdown

The power of art! Even the most cynical end up having fun!!! #doodleaday #artfun

He’s bringing in an expert… #hotsanta #doodleaday #christmascountdown

Oops. Busy day yesterday so 2 of these incoming today… #doodleaday #hotsanta

So many of the exact toys I played with, magazines I read, objects from around the houses of my childhood - all now items of historic interest! Yes, I made me feel old but also it was pretty cool too! #doodleaday

I feel so unfit at the moment… just the thought of starting to turn that around is exhausting and terrifying! But hey, I do like a challenge… #doodleaday #fitnessfailure

Oh those lists… #hotsanta #doodleaday #christmascountdown

It’s the only way I can explain how it always seems to be so late when I go to bed… #doodeaday

It’s December again, so that can only mean one thing… he’s back!!! #doodleaday #hotsanta #christmascountdown

Joy used to be in charge of decorating. After she died, Lily took over. Now, it’s a team effort, with some new decorations added, mixed with the old. It grows, it changes, it evolves, it blends. Christmas decorating as a metaphor for life. X #doodleaday #widowerlife #loveafterloss #blendedfamily

Remind me never to go pot-holing… or indeed, if I do, then don’t follow me!!! #doodleaday

Must be third time since dinner… #doodleaday

New baubles. Looking forward to seeing them up on the tree… decorating Sunday! #doodleaday

And it’s worse when it’s cold!!! #doodleaday

It was totally worth it… although I may need to be rolled into work tomorrow… #doodleaday

Currently devouring Mick Herron’s Slow House series (source for the tv series Slow Horses), brilliantly read by Sean Barrett. #doodleaday