Christmas Eve Greetings!

No doubt you have been busy-busy over the past couple of weeks too?  Thankfully, the schools broke up for the holidays a week ago (16th).  This is unheard of – usually it is just a day or so before Christmas.  However, I know I have needed those extra days beforehand!  Did I say, I am now officially the School Office Manager (but without the financial aspect) and during the ‘cover’ period I worked an additional 170 hours… a tad more than my contracted seven hours per week?*! So, that’s why I desperately needed this week to semi chill-out and do the “nice” things for Christmas…. and we’ve gotten there!

​Naturally  much of the preparation seems to be about trying to get things right – there seems to be so much pressure from the life-style mob to have a “perfect” Christmas, it takes all the focus away from it really should be about.  Either which way, my free week has been a combination of the practical and prosaic with odd flurries of creative abandon!  Yesterday I put up the decorations – on the window sills as usual because the house is too small for anything else. Even now I have opted for the less is more approach – mainly because I was getting irritated with stringing up baubles and wayward angels / fairies.  

Paul has the next four days off work!  This is practically unheard of too – what with the normal Panto runs.  He has not been at the theatre this year but instead has been running the illuminated trail at the Cotswold Farm Park. 

However, it hasn’t been such an enjoyable experience this year – what with the minus 10, snow and severe frost weather conditions, followed by a jump in temperature (by 15 - 20 degrees), the snow melting plus days and days of heavy rain.  Not a good combination when dealing with outdoor electrics!  

Back at home, every winter certain rooms in the cottage (well, there are only four / five rooms as it is) develop an irritating blush of mould on the corner walls and the stone lintels. This is the result of a combination of the cold temperatures outside, central heating inside and condensation. So, we will move some furniture and treat the walls and then wander into town for a coffee, because the treatment smells absolutely noxious and is best to be avoided.  So a very glamorous Christmas Eve morning – not!

However, on the flip side the late afternoon plans are much more indulgent.  I treated myself to a new pair of PJs and the most recent Robert Galbraith novel so will settle down to read that, accompanied by a glass or two of mulled-wine (home crafted, so Artisan!) and a few vaguely healthy snacks (Ha! Ha!).  I read a recent recipe which includes blue cheese, figs and honey and am looking forward to that!  As Paul and I are spending Christmas Day at my nieces’ house and Boxing Day at my sister’s, there has been no need for the ‘traditional’ food shopping, and instead the larder and fridge are resplendent with cold meats, cheeses, salads, fruit, nuts, crackers and (for me) smoked salmon.  Nice!​  

Despite being fairly prudent why is it that all the basic goods run out at the same time?   So, stocking up with sauces, condiments, oils and baking ingredients was added to the mix, but I’m hoping that a “big shop” won’t be necessary for a number of weeks!  I hate shopping.

Well, the kettle’s on for another cuppa before the onslaught of practical activity...

Righty-Oh-Ho-Ho…. I will finish off by wishing you a fabulous Christmas and even better 2023!