I AM sitting on my (false and fashionable) sheepskin rug in front of the fire. The Christmas tree lights are on and the spicy fragrance from the Yuletide potpourri is filling the room with seasonal cheer.

This is my first Christmas in my new house, and it's the first time that I have had to do all the decorating by myself, but it also means that I can have the tree that I want, and dress it as I like. Similarly, I have been able to design and create my back garden to my own personal specifications.

I have just about been able to incorporate all my favourite elements. I removed the gravel chippings that covered the whole area and inserted a wide curving pathway, which I lined with slate paddles. The billowing borders on either side were filled with colour and scent this summer, and the lawn at the end of the path grew lush and green (despite growing in rubble filled shallow soil).

I built a small patio out of left-over slabs and bricks, and have begun a raised patio near the back fence I built in autumn. It has proved to be a very practical and pretty garden - good for barbecues and sunbathing. I am sure that I will find loads to keep me occupied from next spring.

Buying my sweet little cottage was the first of many changes this year. The biggest must have been leaving Nature's World in Middlesbrough and moving up the A19 to work for Easington Primary Care Trust. It wasn't just a change of location, but a big shift in the focus of work.

I changed from being heavily involved with the hands-on creation of habitats with a team of volunteers who needed close direction, to trying to change the dietary habits of the people of North-East Durham by encouraging them to grow and eat their own fruit and vegetables. I have had to change out of my big steel toe-capped boots and donkey jacket to blouses and briefcases. I do still get my fingers in the soil on occasions, but not quite as frequently as I used to.

I have also had to swap my secateurs for e-mail and update my knowledge and usage of modern technology. Rumours are that the Health for All team (of which I am one) will soon be given 'blackberries' so that we can keep in constant communication with each other. It might be cutting edge software, but at least it has a horticultural name.

I have been out and about a lot more this year. I made the trip down to RHS headquarters in London to preview some of the garden plans for Chelsea 2004. I met a host of famous designers and television personalities. The best part, though, was listening to the gardeners tell of the theory behind their designs, and then actually seeing them come to life later in the year at the big show itself.

Nearer to home I visited Harrogate, twice. Firstly in spring and then again in autumn. For me it remains one of the most exciting flowers shows in our area. Tatton, near Manchester is our nearest big show, and I went across on a beautiful sunny day. It was Press day, so the big hordes weren't there, and it was easy to wander around the hundreds of show gardens and talk to the designers and builders.

The highlight of the day had to be the two gold-sprayed gentlemen bearing expensive Swiss chocolates. They belonged to the 'women's garden', which revolved around the pampering of women while they rest and relax in the garden. Unfortunately, it was made more memorable because the searing heat had caused the gold lacquer to dribble and the chocolate to melt.

Sunny days were few and far between, though, this summer. Throughout the year I have managed to collect the full set of rainwear, from leggings to shower jacket to full-on impenetrable coat. I even splashed out on fully waterproof Gore-Tex boots (and I have always been a worshipper of traditional leather), but had to send them back to the manufacturers when the left one leaked.

The consistent wetness brought blight to potatoes and tomatoes. It encouraged mildew in the borders, and it sparked a bloom of fungi in lawns.

The magnificent display of flowers in May led to an abundance of hawthorn, sorbus, sloe and hips. This, in turn, has brought in the winter visiting birds like the fieldfare, the redwing, and most flamboyantly of all, the waxwing. Old folklore indicates that such a large show of berries is a warning of a cold winter ahead. The patterns may follow in such a manner, but the only scientific fact is that they were brought about because there were loads of flowers earlier in the year. The best thing about all of this is that it has left us with lots of holly berries that can be used for festive decorations. I have polished up my secateurs and have wrapped up warmly to make my foray out into the woods to collect some to add the final touches to my festive display.

* Brigid presents Ask About Gardening every Sunday from 12-2pm on BBC Radio Cleveland 95FM.