Hello booklovers,
Two more sleeps to go… Our Christmas Eve Eve post comes courtesy of Hannah who wrote a lovely piece about ‘Silent Night’ a few weeks ago. Today she shares with us a festive classic, evoking memories of journeys and homecomings. We present to you ‘Driving Home for Christmas’.
Hannah writes…
‘Carol services have been attended, the presents are wrapped (hopefully) and fridges are filled to the brim. Christmas is almost here. For many this means packing up the car and braving the inevitable queues to make it back to the family home for the festive period. Today’s song therefore has to be Chris Rea’s 1988 classic ‘Driving Home For Christmas’.
My appreciation for this song has, unsurprisingly, grown since moving away from Felixstowe. Its merry introduction never fails to give me that warm, fuzzy, anticipatory feeling inside. If I’m nearing the end of the A14 and Chris Rhea’s dulcet tones serendipitously start oozing from my car radio then I cannot help but belt it out, tapping the rhythm on my steering wheel, a large grin on my face. On these journeys there is something heartening about glimpsing the ‘driver next me’ being ‘just the same’. All of us together hurrying to make it home to celebrate with family and friends, to have a rest from work and to find joy in deepest darkest winter.
Of course the fact that my end destination is Felixstowe makes all the difference. As all you festival-lovers know, this is a community with heart. All I have to do is wander into a few shops in town and I am sure to bump into someone I know and have a lovely little chat. And then there’s the sea. Can you beat a crisp, bracing walk along the prom in that soft winter sunshine? Though not technically my home any more, Felixstowe will always be where a little bit of my heart resides. ‘
I don’t know about you, but I may have shed a festive tear…
All the very Christmassy best, until tomorrow x
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