Here's a picture to cheer you up. It's of some sprigs of Christmas box - Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna - from my gardening club friend Celia's garden. She also brought along this fabulous Arum italicum leaf.
Most people I know grow Sarcococca confusa, which makes a more compact and graceful arching shrub with pure white flowers. But they both have the same wonderful scent.
