The promise came in the autumn post with the Cadbury's Christmas Catalogue, the merest smell of chocolate somehow faintly redolent in the pages. The pictures of sweet treasures to drool over, chocolate neapolitans, whipped cream walnuts, chocolate-covered nuts, chocolate Santa Clauses, boxes of chocolate biscuits, an endless tempting variety. Then, saving the pennies and the ha-pennies each week, seeing them written down on the Christmas club cards. The slowly-changing shop windows in the village. Raffles of wines and baskets of groceries being offered at every pub in aid of many good causes. Sometimes, the joy in the family for a winning ticket.

Carol-singing from house to house with the church choir. Contributions of hot drinks and money, gladly rewarded with an extra carol or two. Children's party at the Liberal Club. Streamers, crackers and paper hats, cakes, blancmange and jelly, packets of sweets, and finally, the wonderful baffling tricks of the Magician.

The air of expectancy lying like the frozen mist over the grey stubble fields. Ice on the edges of puddles and ponds. The village bustling with people. Garlands of evergreens round the store windows. A tinsel-decorated window at Barton's the butcher, among the meats the centerpiece, a fearsome boar's head with an orange in its mouth. Feathered poultry hanging from hooks; pheasants, hens, geese and turkeys. Baskets of fruit, boxes of silver-wrapped tangerines and mandarins, sacks and baskets of nuts of every kind at my uncle Jack Coxon's, the Greengrocer.

Sims' Radio shop window transformed by large toys and parlour games among the gramophone sets. Calley's Hardware window enticing me with yet more toys, and even the smaller ones that I could afford with my pennies. Goodwin's the Chemist with perfume sets and leather gifts intruding on the usual pills and potions. Skinner's, another butcher window with pork pies of several sizes,plus veal and ham pies sliced across to show the bright yellow and white of hard-boiled eggs, and the various meat pasties. Even crusty Snelson Barton, another remembered butcher, with the inevitable half-burnt cigarette dangling from his lips, cracking a rare smile amid the holly sprigs and hanging halves of beef and pork. And best of all, Elson's Confectionery window with chocolate selection boxes, white hard-sugar pigs with pink noses, and trinket-filled net stockings laying amid the bright boxes of Christmas Crackers.

At home, paper concertina garlands strung across the living room to the fireplace. Colourful cards on the mantelpiece. The folding Xmas tree in a white pot brought down again from the high cupboard and set up on the sewing machine. Sparkling glass balls and ornaments amid the bright tinsel. The clip-on candleholders with real candles. The appearance of a bottle of ruby port wine, and sherry on the sideboard for casual visitors. A smaller bottle of brandy in the cupboard to flavour the Christmas pudding, always made heavy and black with fruit. Cold, cold nights, and heated iron shelves from the fireside oven, wrapped in paper, to warm the icy sheets. Dad leaning over the fire and calling up the chimney "Are you there, Santa?" and the not-quite-believable muffled reply, "Yes, I'm here!". Early to bed, pillowcases and stockings hung on the bed rails, waiting like wraiths in the dim moon light for the nuts, oranges, apples, bright new pennies and toys to magically appear.

Half-heard sounds of church bells for the midnight carol service. Strangely-deadened footfalls outside in the snow. Tense excitement waking us early in the darkness. Flashlights, candles and flickering gaslights to reveal the treasures.

Hot, sweet, steaming tea and a slice of pork pie for Christmas breakfast. Toy train sets running on the fireplace rug. Mam busy in the kitchen. Roast pork in the oven, surrounded by roasting potatoes, and sage and onion stuffing, tantalising smells, taking forever to cook. The crowded table ready at last! The first cut into steaming meat and crackling pork rind, hot sweet Brussels sprouts, savoury stuffing and gravy. Iced, marzipan-covered, Christmas fruitcake with a bright coloured paper collar. Crumbly warm mincepies. Small, quick hands reaching. Ah, sweet bliss of tantalising promises fulfilled!

Snowflakes outside; wonderment, happiness and contentment inside.