Winter has come early to Tynemouth this year. Here's the view from YC's back window taken on Thursday morning. The odds of a White Christmas must be shortening rapidly. But on that note, YC would like to remind readers that it's not Christmas yet. Despite the shops offering unalloyed festive materialism, Classic FM unleashing the carols, and office parties getting underway, readers should note that tomorrow is only the second Sunday of Advent. As YC's nephew Matthew pointed out last week, Advent means getting ready for the birth of Jesus.
Here's an Advent hymn to get you in the mood. Keen theological scholars (of which BN's readership has many) will no doubt point out that this hymn looks forward to the second coming of Christ - another of the themes of Advent.