I still approach Christmas
Eve with a sense of excitement, though not quite at the levels of frenzy that
my two granddaughters displayed when we were with them on Monday. I am excited
at the thought of the family gathering in the days after Christmas, there will
be much reminiscing and particularly leg-pulling as, you know who I am talking
about, nobody taking themselves too seriously. The only difference is that in
previous years Christmas Eve has marked the transition between work and the
holidays. Will the sound of the first verse of Once in Royal David’s City have
the same resonance for me this year?
This is the start of
Christmas when I am up to my elbows making stuffing, a glass of wine at my side
and the magnificent choir of Kings College playing on the radio in the
background. There is also of course the good natured need to make sure that
Marion is progressing successfully with preparations for Christmas dinner, my favourite
meal of the year. It is a great feeling as darkness takes hold and the
Christmas lights twinkle on the tree.
This year our Christmas
Eve will not follow its traditional course; we have been invited to friends who
eat their Christmas dinner early on Christmas Eve. I am really looking forward
to this break from tradition, and in particular that we will be eating goose,
which even at my advanced age will be a new experience. Never to young to
change eh…..
Postscript – One of the disadvantages of writing this slightly in advance is that
it doesn’t anticipate one of your hosts being unwell. My goose is cooked!!!!!
It will also be the day to
remember Christmases past, when the children were younger and excited shouts
filled the house, when my parents were alive and Christmas started earlier when
frequently we drove to collect everybody.
While not wishing to make
Marion too big headed, she does cook a magnificent Christmas Dinner. This year
we are sharing with friends, mmm… I can smell that turkey already, and taste
the special bottle of Gigondas that was purchased in its own village last
summer for this very purpose.
Most of all I would like
to wish you all a great Christmas that fulfils all your dreams; I am off to
make the stuffing.
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