I have been working on my second novel and shall continue working at until the end of January, so I have done far less than I should in the garden. Although the weather has been mild for most of the month it has not been all that pleasant, overcast and very wet. From the 15th the Christmas lights went up. I (or rather Chris) put them on the conifer in the back garden that looks as if it has been pruned into shape and I hung some on the eucalyptus as well. Looking out from the conservatory, it was very effective, The front looked good too, with the porch fairy lights, an lights looking like bunches of grapes. Fairy lights in the windows led the eye to the fairy lights and Christmas tree in the conservatory to give a three D effect. Many marginally hardy plants that don't usually survive East Midlands winters are still alive The agrimanthemums have lasted throughout the month. The viburnum by the porch is flowering well