A Twinkling Canalside Outpost of Hogwarts

Due to circumstances beyond my control I may shortly be homeless. It will break my heart to leave the canal, pushed inland by brute economics. Tears will be shed.

I could start feeling the sorrow now. It would be the perfect partner for the worry about where I will be laying my head after this year closes. Yet last night the only response that made sense was to host a party.

Adrian, the lovely Canadian man I live with, will be in the Philippines for Christmas and the New Year. This provided the perfect excuse to hold a gathering. Wine was mulled, food heaped onto tables and our home transformed by light. Every flat surface held a candle creating a pool of stuttering golden warmth. Fairylights and snowflake LEDS were tumbled across the windows. From the water it must have looked as if we become a twinkling canalside outpost of Hogwarts.

As the hours flowed, I drank Kir Royale and Canadian icewine, watching as every guest marvelled at the spills of light rippling across the black night of the canal. According to Surreal Girl, I sat cross-legged and held court like Buddha. I think this is a little unfair as I do not remember Prince Siddhārtha answering questions about the Mongolian Death Worm.