19Jan2011
Christmas Joy!
A belated Happy New Year to all. It’s mid-Jan and my Christmas post fell by the wayside as we all caught the flu one by one, and have literally only just recovered! So even though it seems like months ago I’ll post this anyway, in the hope that it brings a smile or two this week – which BTW is apparently the most depressing week of the year. It’s also a reminder for me to get ready earlier next year and remember in amongst the pre-Xmas chaos what’s truly important: our health and happiness.
Good tidings to those mums and dads out there who worked really hard and possibly stressed a bit to make the Christmas magic happen! I am sure it was appreciated – even though Father Christmas got most of the credit.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the thought of Christmas and it’s true meaning of ‘goodwill to all mankind’ but am I turning into a grumpy old woman or just growing up when I realise that Christmas for me these days is massively hard work and there is a real pressure to create the ‘perfect day’? I met a friend recently who gushed with the joy of the season and told us all how much she adores Christmas, turns out her mum pays for them to go to a massive cottage with a games room, lots of nice family and access to caterers. Mmm…
Back in my world, firstly there’s the cards to write. My husband loves receiving them and putting them up but hasn’t actually written one for the last 15 years – precisely when we met – not a coincidence! Then there’s the presents; I’m always slightly spurred on by my very ‘Christmassy’ alpha-mum, organised friends, who have Christmas bought and wrapped by October.
This year there was a bit less money in the pot and my thoughtful yet imaginative on-line shopping was a tad last minute, only to find that snow meant that most of it wouldn’t arrive anyway. I made a frantic dash to town on an icy road, my two-year old climbed out of her fully secured car seat (see previous post) and into the boot (first time she’s made it that far) en route. The shops were packed with frenzied, pushing, shoving parents all with that panicked glint in their eyes. I fed my daughter two packs of gold chocolate coins and another of caramel Santas just to keep her in the buggy for 45 mins!
I was tempted to blow the budget and buy everyone an iSomething as the only reasonably civilized store was Apple. However, back in the real world, I realised that the chances of winning the Xmas rollover were minimal, so ditched that idea in favour of circling ‘Hawkins Bazaar’ about a thousand times and then had a mind blowing migraine in the hideous car park with a thousand levels, before setting off home.
Eventually, having read through the Christmas lists again – 56 items on one (10 yrs) and over 30 on the other (7 yrs) and a 2-year old obsessed with Peppa Pig and Hello Kitty, I felt I’d done OK to avoid any major sulks and see their lovely little faces light up, besides the disappointing absence of a real live puppy in a basket!
Then there was the food shopping. I was ultra organised with this but unfortunately my second fridge (it’s an old rusty – previously faithful – stand by) which was full with fine Xmas fayre decided to pack up two days before I noticed and the turkey and all the trimmings had to be chucked out and replaced. Aggghhhh! That’s just after the washing machine went on strike, no doubt due to over-use. It was the dishwasher last year when I had 20 for Xmas lunch. Even my white goods are rebelling under the extra strain!
Having done the school plays, created the gold, frankincense and myrrh for the church nativity forced/ bribed my daughter to be Angel Gabriel under much duress, fed my son 4-hourly Calpol on Christmas Eve as he shuddered and sneezed in front of the telly, amazingly, we woke up to have a lovely Christmas Day. Had friends over for lunch, which was done and dusted in time for heckling the queen’s speech, I glowed with pride at my super domestic goddess abilities.
That was until the 2-year old started vomiting at 2:00am Boxing Day for 24 hrs straight, mostly on our sofa – nice. Anyway, cut to the 27th and it’s all over and although it wasn’t perfect we came through it with only a few minor squabbles and some precious, tenderly recorded moments.
Next year I’ll try again to make it all a bit more ‘Delia/ Nigella’, obviously allowing for kids bugs. I might even make time to do something nice for myself in the new year and utilise some of those Boots 3-for-2 gift packs.
Gratefully received, of course!
