Someone gave you a very nice present there, Gill. I'd second much of what terpguy mentioned, HOWEVER, you will notice that your new plant will be much happier in the summer when it is brighter and warmer. Remember that with less light and warmth, your plant will be growing slower and so will require less water. Water only when the potting medium feels dry to the touch at least an inch down or use the weight test - when it's dry, it will be much lighter. In the meantime, you could always give it a little more light, especially on those days when it's dark and gloomy out. (I'm in Canada, we know dark and gloomy winters too, though, hey, we did get about 6 sunny days in December!) I would suggest you look at obtaining a very simple lamp with a flexible arm (mine came from Ikea) and outfitting it with a compact fluorescent bulb (the twisty, "energy saving" ones). Place the bulb about 8-12 inches above the leaves and turn on the lamp when you leave in the morning if it's going to be a particularly dark day, turning it off at night when you get home. This will give it that bit more light and will warm things up very slightly as well. Hope this helps, and enjoy your present. Julie

I've whittled my list down over the years, to a smaller number for several reasons. I don't like to send cards without a personal note of some sort inside and because of my business, this is one of my busiest times of the year and there are time constraints. I don't like to put people into the position of sending cards as an obligation. It should be a joy. I feel I've likely done them a kindness by dropping them from my list. I replace a Christmas card with a note or card some other time of the year. They can respond....or not. I've lost a good many relatives and friends over the years simply through death and the list goes smaller each year. That's the hardest one. The price of postage is getting prohibitory when you can only send two cards for a dollar.....one if it is going over the pond. I do not send out cards to my customers. If they're special to me, I'll make a trip to them and give them a gift.....but I dislike getting impersonal or imprinted cards made out by somebody's secretary. It just wastes a tree. If they have a good product, a card once a year doesn't matter or make them anymore likely to get my business. That given, my list is very personal and easy to handle now. I will choose (or make) a card I think is special. I don't look at the expense, but the thought presented. I'll be more likely to pick out cards for that reason so don't look for bargains. If they're inexpensive....fine. If they're pricey.........again fine. That means cards sent to make money for charities are considered. I'd rather the profit go toward a cause I support than a stockholder.

Seriously, Christmas dinner here is the day after when my husband gets home. We eat at dinner time (5 or 6 pm). If you do show up (it is an invitation, after all), be prepared for a rude awakening as the dining room table is full of brug cuttings. You will have to sit in the living room & balance your plate on your lap. Doing this puts it at the perfect nose-height for a 150 lb Newfie (who drools & will steal shamelessly). We consider cat hair extra insulation for the winter & it is applied liberally to every available surface. You will be taking a free sample with you when you leave. Those of you who are "pee shy" had better "go" before you leave home & be prepared to hold it. We have 10 cats (I do fostering & will be encouraged to take one with you when you leave) & no one gets privacy (picture all those cats watching your every move). Also please be aware that homemade means there's hair in it (& possibly worse). In other words, you were warned. LOL Linda

Hi Sue, my 4 seedling plumies are a bit droopy at present, think they are resenting our low temps here, some of the leaves have browned and dropped, think more will follow. Daren't water much as know cold and wet is a big NO-NO. Celadine is almost leafless following a spider mite prob earlier, jusy has a few immature leaves at the top so am sure it will come through winter OK as now keeping it really dry. The bigger UK garden centres do have a reasonable, and I use that term very loosely, selection of semi-tropicals, but they have the ability to keep them at stable temps year round...it would cost me a fortune to heat the house/room or whatever all winter to that temp with our prices!! So I keep the g/h at just above 40, just enough to keep it frost free with an electric fan heater on a thermostat. Yes, we had a lovely break thanks. Not been to mainland Spain before, but done Ibiza, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. Were surrounded by lovely palms, citrus, hibiscus, cycads and all manner of exotic flora, I was green with envy! Saw hardly any packets of seeds apart from cucumbers/tomatoes/nasturtiums and a few palms that I knew were no goers here. (but we were only in the touristy places you see). Surprised at seeing just the one plumie though. Have a peek at the link below for 2 mystery plants I photographed... Gill. Here is a link that might be useful: mystery Spanish plants...pity no seed pods!!