XLI.

There's nothing quite like wintertime in New London. And with this early snow, it's simply beautiful. I feel as though I live inside one of those crystals with the wintry scenes: everytime I go outside, great lavish flakes begin to fall and flurry.

There's such a lot going on, too! Parties and openings, shows and festivities.

Patil, I'm sending you some pictures a friend of mine took of the crowds the night of your mother's runway show. It was such an event, and even though the Abbey's a huge space, they'd limited invitations so there was quite fierce competition to be on the list. And it was spectacular. I wish you and your sister could have been there; you'd have loved it.

I was invited along with my family, of course, but we went separately. I went with some friends who'd also got invitations. You'll have seen the picture of Sarah Yaxley and her new spark! I do think they're very well-suited for one another.

Tuesday night Whitacre threw a party at the Rookery, which was gorgeous--all decked in pine garland and wreaths, with fires roaring on the hearth in each of the rooms. Pennifold asked me as his plus-one, and it was quite the spread. Apparently Whitacre's done well for himself! We took a sleigh from the Ministry, all along the Strand and up through Westminster and the parks. So beautiful with all the lamps lit. We were lucky, of course, that the snow wasn't so heavy while we were out in it as it was over night and most of yesterday.

Wednesday I was on duty late with Singh and Montague, but we caught the last set at the Hedgepig afterwards, which was all right. Last night I could have gone for cocktails at Gladwell's studio, or I could have gone along with Mama to hear Mr Sanditon talk about the Opera he's been writing, but I stayed in because I really wanted to get some reading done for our next unit before the holidays snowball and all the time disappears in the whirl. (Don't even say it, Catchlove. You can pretend you aren't fussed about starting in on surveillance, but I know you're already reading the assignments like all the rest of us.)

So that was last night--Mama said the weather was terrible going and coming, by the way, and she'd had to be out in it, since the lecture was in the Philharmonic Hall where they won't allow Apparition lest it muck about with the acoustical charms woven into the fabric of the building. Surely they'd have had it in the Opera House, which is ancient and doesn't have such mad rules against Apparition, if it weren't for the fact that Die Fledermaus is in rehearsals.

Tonight's the tree lighting with Our Lord's speech. And I hear there's something exciting and very much top secret being planned for it. Security is going to be top notch, of course, but that's true whenever Our Lord appears.

Vani, have you got out for a sleigh ride yet? It will be even better now there's so much more snow. Will you be at Buckingham tonight? Or do you have to mind the children again so the Rowles can come out for it? It was a shame about Friday; you'd have had a laugh at some of those who came to gawk at us as we made our way inside. Actually, some of the most appalling ones were people we know. I hadn't seen Dunstan since the DoP luncheon last June, but she's gone and blown up like a whale. I heard she's working in a chocolate shop in Regent Street. Sampling a bit too much of the merchandise, I'd say!

Anywiz, if you're able to make it for the lighting tonight, look us out. We think we'll do dinner after. A whole crowd of us, probably. So do say you'll come!