I can't bear Christmas......

.....which statement, judging by the seasonal posts of previous years, is clearly a bare(bear?)-faced lie!   But when I was searching for a title for Part III of the Bear Trilogy, following Bear with Me and Bear Necessities, Butterfly's suggestion was irresistible....

Actually I love Christmas and want nothing more of the Twelve Days than to sit by candlelight, admire our shining tree, listen to all kinds of Christmas music from medieval to White Christmas, taking in Ryba's Czech Christmas Mass on the way, and eat delicious food.  Family and a few select friends are allowed in but parties and social gatherings are out! 

Whether the Small Worlds' bears share my feelings is unclear to me, but they are clearly throwing themselves into the necessary preparations with gusto.

But before we take a look behind the scenes at their activities, let's see what else is going on in Small Worlds at this season of goodwill.

Since friends kindly open the museum for me during the one day Christmas market held in the adjacent building, it is worth my setting up a few Christmas treats for visitors....

On the table near the entrance there is a town scene, complete with train, tree, Christmas creche, villagers and lights.... 

As every year, Christmas is happening in the Walmer Victorian dolls house and because they enjoyed last year's house concert so much, they repeated it this year, once again with the visiting harpist from the Dutch house next door....

The carol singers are also in full voice - though the group seems to have lost some members since 2015!



The hot chestnut seller is doing well......

....and the post box is probably bursting at the seams.




So what are those bears up to then?   All over the house there is feverish activity preparing for the festivities, from the ground floor to the roof itself.

Come and join them....

What goes on in the kitchen is regarded by many bears as the foundation for the success of the celebrations....

Pudding and gingerbread bears done!

....but before we can enjoy our Christmas dinner, there are the cards to be sent out....

...the door wreath to be puzzled over....

  ...the tree to be wrestled with.....

...and the carol accompaniments to be rehearsed...

Who can blame those bears who retreat to a quieter place ...

...or decide to spend time in the comfort of the bedroom decking themselves, rather than the tree?

Oscar Wilde Bear has decided to flaunt his dressing gown on the balcony...

and Santa Claws (!) has arrived just where one would expect him to be....

Given the importance of music at this time of year,  the bears and I would like to leave you with some musical wishes for a joyous festive season - see you in the New Year!

But just a minute before you go - Santa Claws naturally has to have the very last word - he has wrested the signs from Oscar (I bet he's wild(e) about that)!