‘Open it then,’ she encouraged.

Inside was an advent calendar.

Oh, Dolly!’ I gasped. ‘It’s lovely.’

‘You can’t start December without a calendar,’ she said. ‘And I thought the picture on that one was rather pretty.’

The intricately painted houses had a dusting of snow on their roofs and glitter-covered trees in the windows. Santa, resplendent in his shiny red sleigh, was flying across the star-studded sky behind his eight purposeful reindeer, a packed sack of toys at his side.

‘Where on earth did you find it?’ I asked, examining the old-fashioned details.

It was years since I’d had an advent calendar and I hadn’t even realised they made ones like this anymore. Some of the girls I had worked with at the hotel had gone in for the expensive beauty variety last year and when I was growing up, I had always had a Cadbury chocolate one, but this vintage-looking treasure was a first of its kind for me.

‘In town,’ said Dolly. ‘A couple of the shops still stock this sort so I picked up one for you and one for Beamish.’

I was sure he would be every bit as thrilled as I was, more so probably, given his apparent love of the season. His face as the lights came on in the market square the night before had been a picture. That was something else I had thought about before I went to sleep but I had no idea why.

‘Well thank you,’ I said, leaning over and giving Dolly a kiss on the cheek. ‘I know my Christmas spirit has done a bunk, but I still love it. Have you got one?’

‘Of course,’ she said, pointing to the shelf above the sink. ‘It’s a bit battered, but then it would be. I’ve been opening and closing it for the last twenty odd years.’

Dolly’s calendar was the same sort as mine only hers featured a nativity scene, complete with manger, lowing cattle and one very bright star.

‘Let’s open them together,’ I said, jumping up and handing Dolly hers.

‘I know what I’ve got,’ she laughed. ‘I know them all off by heart now.’

‘Don’t spoil it,’ I told her, as I carefully lifted the corner of the little window marked one. Once I’d peeled a bit back, I slid a teaspoon underneath to help with the rest.

‘You could just tear it off,’ Dolly remarked as she revealed an angel behind her door. ‘I think mine needs a little more Sellotape,’ she added, getting up.

‘But then I wouldn’t be able to use it again next year,’ I said, thinking it might be nice if I could keep my calendar for as long as Dolly had had hers.

‘I suppose you could take it with you.’