What’re you doing for Christmas? #044

Christmas. It can be the best time and a tricky time.

Some love it, some hate it.

Some Christmases are steeped in traditions, others less so¹.

Christmas can be fraught. So much anticipation and expectation. Such a shame when reality falls short. And such a delight when reality takes you by surprise and uplifts your day.

Neither is good or bad, it just is…Christmas.

What will you be eating and drinking?

I’ve never cooked Christmas lunch. Maybe odd for a 60 year old woman. Cooking isn’t really my thing, albeit eating a succulent roast turkey with all the trimmings sure is. Fortunately I’m handy with a peeler, the cutlery and a corkscrew so all is not lost. As for the washing up, let me at them Marigolds and Brillos.

As a kid, my mum used to let me have a Babycham or a Snowball² on Christmas Eve. These days I’m more of a fizz kinda girl. My taste buds have (thankfully) evolved over time from an Asti to this year’s chosen poison, an English Sparkling wine, with a fruity red to accompany the bird, obvs.

What activities will you get up to?

Having been brought up in North Devon, where many of my friends and family still are, I’ve been lucky to have some bracing Christmas Day beach walks (Do you remember Putsborough 2017 mum?).

Recent Dorset Christmases have involved a bracing sea dip. A real sense of community is generated amongst the Dry (be)-Robe(d) ‘dippers’ gathered to bear their blue skin. Those remembering the thermos and hotties the envy of the beach gatherers.

Games. Now there’s a thing. Charades, Monopoly, Pictionary, Swing the Carrot on a Rope? Not all of my family are gameplayers but I do recall a very funny ‘Pie Face’ escapade a few years ago and a barnacle inducing set of Sea Shanty performances with friends in Cornwall last year (ok it was New Years Eve but it’s all festive fun!).

As for TV, Julie Andrews climbing and forging is always joyful. And of course this year we have the hotly anticipated final Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special to wrap up our day.

Who will you be with ?

It’s easy to forget, when [insert relative or in law of choice] is banging on about [insert the latest polarising debate] that deep down we are all just loving, friendly, furry animals trying to get through the day in peace and harmony with a sprinkle of fun and laughter thrown in.

I’m lucky with my lot. My mum is always very relaxed about how we spend the day, as long as we have a family get together sometime around the 25^th.

What’s your favourite bit ?

I’m not bothered by presents. My favourite bit about Christmas is being with those I love, eating tasty food, drinking delicious wines, bantering, laughing and just being. Switching off and knowing how flipping fortunate I am. And, in keeping with the theme of 1000Weeks, being mindful that time is finite. Some people I will share many more Christmases with. Others, I may not.

You

How about you, how will you be spending your Christmas? Who will you be with? What are you eating and drinking? What activities are you up to? Do you look forward to it?

Mix yourself a Snowball and drop me a line, I’d love to hear from you.

One final thing, I genuinely can’t thank you, yes you, enough for subscribing, reading and responding so positively to 1000Weeks. I have plans afoot for 2025, be lovely to have you along.

Until 2025 my friends, slow down, be peaceful, smile, relax and have fun

Love

Ruth x

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1. Mine falls into the latter category.

2. Has anyone seen or tasted a Warninks Advocaat or glace cherry since the ‘70s?