I believe.

Are you ever tempted just to believe in something, go along with it and see where the moment takes you. I am. I was almost stopped dead in the shop the other day after a mother revealed what she called 'the truth about Christmas' to her son. Well, actually, she told her version of the truth, probably told to her by an ill spirited relative on her eighth birthday. The still devastated child didn't seem to appreciate the re-telling of this "I told him", moment and they both left- one delighting in the new found Scrooge appeal (that parents buy gifts and money doesn't grow on trees), the other a little teary.

My Nana, as she always does, pitched right in with a "What do you mean?". Complete with her strong Yorkshire spirit (with which she knocked on my girlfriend's Dad's door yesterday and asked to use the car park- they've never even met before- I wasn't in) and determined to sprinkle festive fairy dust she appeased the lad somewhat. Over egged the pudding on the Santa front a little maybe. I can't help wondering if, either way, the kid will ever be the same again.

When thinking about the theme for this week I completely ignored the 'On this Day' fact. The Order of the Dragon was conjoured up by the seemingly blood thirsty King of Hungary. From a quick Wiki check he seemed a bit of a dragon himself- the kind of endeering rogue that for all his faults, got a fair bit done. But, as I said, I've ignored that titbit from 1408 and think really, as it is becoming increasingly festive around here, it is time to start thinking Santa. Well, believing in things at least.

We've had some new bookshelves in the flat and as such, I can now see a load of books. Flicking through this collection I came across the eponymous poem Dragons. Matthew Francis takes his reader on a journey through the imagination of his narrator in this poem. He dissects each dragony detail and builds a great picture, if nothing else, of childhood and belief. The poem goes much further and deeper than that, as you may expect from an opening poem but I'll leave you to discover that on your own. It comes recommended.

Believing though, is a very big thing at this time of the year. Imaginations are captured and in many ways it is the only time of the year when you can reasonably be as excited as a child. We suspend normality, find our television sets peppered by wand waving schoolkids, longboats and mythical creatures- legends retold and retold and retold. We lap it up. We will all eagerly await the showing of Miracle on 34th Street and all tire of it by the New Year but, as with all popular Christmas stories, you just have to go with the flow sometimes.

I like the thought that something magical could happen. I like the idea that someone could do something for someone else just once and, on top of that, I quite like all the smiling that goes on. Of course, there are those that don't believe in Christmas, there are those that get swept under by the throbbing high street and there are those that just can't cope. But, with so many things coming to mind just by thinking about Dragons, it really is the season to believe- at least in your own ideas. There is plenty of inspiration about- I suggest we all make a little time in our lives to get some thoughts on paper.

Keep on writing, S