In my mind advent cannot be divorced from the scent of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cardamom and orange peel that seems to seep from each of the city’s countless Christmas markets. The season’s five-spice blend seems to permeate everything from the omnipresent glühwein, to candles, to shower gel and even jogurt. Last night I attended my first Christmas soiree and as I stood in the supermarket mulling over spekulaas, lebkuchen and an array of other festive options I could not help but think about how our attitude releases a flavour that autographs our actions. Another way to put it would be that everything we do – indeed who we are – flows from our heart and ultimately the state of our heart will determine the nature of the mark we leave on the world.
I left the supermarket with a lot more than the packet of chocolate coated spekulaas that I had in my hands. The evening continue on this wonderful way: filled with christmas classics by Billy Idol, some Charlie Brown wisdom, the Downton Abbey Christmas Special, handmade paper stars and stockings full of surprises.
