From elections to climate summits, there are many interesting things to come before the mulled wine

Wait a minute Christmas, there's other stuff to do first

Wait a minute Christmas, there's other stuff to do first

The first batch of mince pies arrived in my supermarket in August. In September, my family started swapping present lists. I saw my first Christmas tree of the year a few weeks ago, before Halloween. And now it’s mid-November, well, it’s wall-to-wall ads on telly, and festive lights on every high street.

Of course, it’s cliched to be cynical at Christmas. So instead of moaning about how the festive season gets longer every year, let’s celebrate all the great things that are still to come before we even get to the mulled wine.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest This year the buildup to Christmas comes with a bonus general election on 12 December. Photograph: Xinhua/Barcroft Media

There are elections in half a dozen countries, including Dominica, Namibia and Uzbekistan. More people have voted in elections this year than ever before. And that’s before we get to Britain’s very own thrilling, if possibly inconclusive, general election on 12 December (full results available on Friday the 13th).

There’s a vital global climate summit in Spain (after Chile had to pull out): another chance to correct our over-carbonated course. We get a new European commission at the start of December, and Scotland is scheduled to hold a citizens assembly on its future.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Ready saltired Photograph: Duncan Bryceland/REX/Shutterstock

Pope Francis is in Thailand and Japan, while Nobel prize winners receive their awards in Stockholm and Oslo. In sport, there’s the culmination of the F1 season, the Davis Cup, and, yes, the beach soccer world cup in Paraguay (a land-locked country not necessarily noted for its beaches).

In more eclectic matters, it’s national tree week in the UK next week, along with Thanksgiving and Black Friday (otherwise known as Buy Nothing day) and then a big moment for facial hair everywhere on 1 December, as Movember morphs into Decembeard.

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It is only when all this is said and done that it will be time for all that goodwill towards men stuff.

Of course, there will be a steady pulse of Upside journalism between now and then too. This week, in no particular order, we proudly present:

… Probably the best children’s home in the world. Three-minute read

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Danish children’s homes are places of stability, comfort and support. Now the model is coming to the UK. Photograph: Ole Jensen/Getty Images for The Guardian

The man who planted 2m trees. Reforesting the UK

A slate of emojis to change perceptions of Africa 📰📰📰

The new way of turning sunlight into a power source. Two-minute read

How to be an optimist. Glass half-full

Britain’s flood rescue hero. 90 second read

Lucky numbers

I had a good rummage down the back of the internet, but couldn’t find much to shout about this week. What’s going up? Getting better? Send us all your best examples to theupside@theguardian.com.

What we liked

We very much admired this piece in Quartz from South Korea on how to fail, and wondered if there were similar schemes in Britain or the US – do let us know if you come across any.

We also liked this piece which starts simply:

Once every week or two, I take the hour-long trip from my home in San Diego to Tijuana, Mexico to bring donations, food, and music to refugees … read on

Finally this is a sweet tale about weaning kids off smartphones, from the news agency Agence France Presse

What we heard

Andy O’Grady wrote in from Sweden, following last week’s call for more optimistic stories about immigration:

I work part-time in Tidaholm, Sweden, as a doctor. I have two friends from Syrian Kurdistan, brothers, who arrived after crossing to Greece in rubber dinghies and have made new lives. They already own a house and a car and are pursuing a good education while doing several part-time jobs to realise their dreams and help their family in Syria. I know several other very positive stories in our little community such as wonderful nurses at our medical centre from Syria and Iran and young men from Afghanistan who contribute positively to the community.

In response to our pieces about the rise and rise of sail, Grey Filastine got in touch:

I’ve noticed that y’all are covering Greta’s journeys by sail. Just saw another article about a new wave of sail-hitching and I thought you might be interested to know about our project, Arka Kinari. We’ve transformed a old ship into a floating stage, to tour an intermedia performance to ports and coastal villages in Indonesia (and other territories en route there).

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Sails force Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters

And finally Shelly Nicholson sent us a note from Stroud, western England:

Skills exchanges are a wonderful way to save money, learn something new and make friends. Made so much easier with WhatsApp. My local neighbourhood one in Stroud is amazing … we also lend each other baking and gardening equipment.

Where was the Upside?

The Roast Dinner Day movement, an initiative to bring people together over a meal, cooked up a treat in hundreds of communities up and down the UK. Find out how you could start one in your neighbourhood.

Separately, the Supercity Art House was launched in London – an initiative to exhibit and sell the artwork of young, formerly homeless people.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Home is where the art is Photograph: THE GUARDIAN

Thanks for reading. Coming soon: our alternative 2019 knighthood awards. Who would you nominate for a gong? Let us know at theupside@theguardian.com