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A very low key Christmas. For us.
Home for Christmas this year. The grand plan was to keep things a little more quiet and laid back this year. I do miss Christmas with my family (because everyone is a lot of fun. We laugh, we yell, and eat, and hang about and it is quite free-form.) but it is also nice to wake up in a not so jet-lagged state of mind. We were also aiming to avoid the Christmas of two years ago when we were home, and everyone was in a state of some kind of sickness or another AND we were to host people for Christmas day. The day then started with Mr. Jenner fainting in the bathroom. (and he wasn't responsive for less than a minute as his brain was rebooting itself.) He was fine, but he wasn't very well, we carried on and tried to have a Merry Christmas but I could feel myself slowly coming down with something. That tiny tickle of the throat that can't be cleared, one's face feeling like it was too close to a fire, even when in a cold room, and the slight but growing ache of the joints. And so on.
And some other years Christmas has been a case of over-stimulation with a million god damn relations, enforced jolliness, with a million games, and a less than delicious ham. Those who have been witness to my Christmas stories can well remember the years of 24 assorted relations (yes, 24) at dinner, a million fucking games, and me running off to hide so I don't completely lose it. (my husband's family is large, and filled with very nice people who like to play games. A LOT.)
Our goal was to do a bit better than that this year and I think we succeeded.
There were full stockings for the kids, cinnamon rolls for breakfast, and we had a nice (if bleary-eyed) chat with my Mom via skype. (She had finished midnight mass and was finishing up things. (because my Mom is always finishing up things on Christmas Eve.)
The kids really loved all of their presents, and then we tidied up that first round of wrapping paper to host my husband's parents, and his Nan for a late morning visit. They brought loads of gifts (which the kids enjoyed.) including robots for each of the kids. And yet the things that the kids really took to, were the globe for Senor Onion, and the portable/roll-up chalkboard for Miss Biscuit. They are fairly modern children with a great love for minecraft, computers, and electronic games, but they also embraced lego, and pipe cleaner crafts. And of course all their books. It was a delightful visit. Mr. Jenner's Nan (better known as Nanny D) always gets me the best gifts. (usually books.) This year she gave me a DVD copy of, "39 Steps" (the Hitchock version, and one of my favorite movies) and a novel by Elizabeth Bowen. (which I read in the bath that night.) I don't have any Grandmas about anymore so it is fun to have that relationship a bit with her. She is this little old lady from south London who likes to do crafty things, is a deeply faithful C of E church-goer, a former guide-leader, and very very funny at times. She always smells of soft powdery perfume, and while she is going to be 87 next year, and can be anxious at times, she still goes on holiday with her cousin Dot to interesting places. She also has great stories about being evacuated as a kid during the war. Today at Boxing Day lunch, she was telling us about her mother who was great at always having loads of tea on hand despite rationing, and how she could make stuffed lamb's heart that was quite good. She calls you lovey and tells you how great it is to see you. Seriously we could all use a Nanny D.
After their visit, (they were on their way to have Christmas lunch with my middle brother in law and his family.) we cleared up yet more wrapping paper, and let people do their own thing for awhile. I put together the rest of our smorgasbord. (which didn't take very long, and was rather relaxing.) We had assorted cured meats, wild boar pate, some warm roasted duck breast, roasted potatoes, sausages wrapped in bacon, pickled herring, beet root and apple salad, fruit, crudite, Danish remoulade, hummus, cheeses, crackers, bread, butter, assorted condiments, gravy, and a few other things which I likely forgot. No one goes hungry if I am in charge. We ate and ate and ate. Then we returned to lazing about and enjoying the calm.
I attempted to tidy the kitchen, and win at fridge tetris.
Much of the day it was foggy and rainy, so not a lot of opportunity to go out for a walk. We noticed the occasional neighbor out, but it was mostly to walk dogs, or to visit family/friends along the lane.
Then there was the pudding which I had spent the morning steaming. (second one.) We managed to pour brandy on it and have it catch on fire, but then the pan in which the warmed brandy was in, ALSO caught fire. It was an amusing moment. "Oh... well.. let's put this fire away for a bit."
The rest of the day was devoted to a bit of tv, more lego, talking to two of my siblings via skype, (which was so good. I miss them and haven't seen them in a year. 2016 was like that. So many possible plans that never happened.) listening to stories and music, lightly dozing, and petting the cat. We had agreed to let the children stay up as late as they wanted but thought they might give in.
But come one, these people are related to me. I come from a long line of night owls on both sides. Their genes are STRONG for staying up late. I was so worn out that I gave in before they did. "fine. FINE. YOU WIN!" I told Mr. Jenner, "you are on your own, I need a bath and bed."
I have a cold, and it leaves me wrecked at times. It is this chest cold that sometimes likes to hang out elsewhere, so my tonsils swell up and hurt but it isn't serious because I lack a fever, and my tonsils aren't looking gross. It is just... a half-assed cold that lingers.
It makes sleep... interesting.
But yet, Christmas was lovely.
And some other years Christmas has been a case of over-stimulation with a million god damn relations, enforced jolliness, with a million games, and a less than delicious ham. Those who have been witness to my Christmas stories can well remember the years of 24 assorted relations (yes, 24) at dinner, a million fucking games, and me running off to hide so I don't completely lose it. (my husband's family is large, and filled with very nice people who like to play games. A LOT.)
Our goal was to do a bit better than that this year and I think we succeeded.
There were full stockings for the kids, cinnamon rolls for breakfast, and we had a nice (if bleary-eyed) chat with my Mom via skype. (She had finished midnight mass and was finishing up things. (because my Mom is always finishing up things on Christmas Eve.)
The kids really loved all of their presents, and then we tidied up that first round of wrapping paper to host my husband's parents, and his Nan for a late morning visit. They brought loads of gifts (which the kids enjoyed.) including robots for each of the kids. And yet the things that the kids really took to, were the globe for Senor Onion, and the portable/roll-up chalkboard for Miss Biscuit. They are fairly modern children with a great love for minecraft, computers, and electronic games, but they also embraced lego, and pipe cleaner crafts. And of course all their books. It was a delightful visit. Mr. Jenner's Nan (better known as Nanny D) always gets me the best gifts. (usually books.) This year she gave me a DVD copy of, "39 Steps" (the Hitchock version, and one of my favorite movies) and a novel by Elizabeth Bowen. (which I read in the bath that night.) I don't have any Grandmas about anymore so it is fun to have that relationship a bit with her. She is this little old lady from south London who likes to do crafty things, is a deeply faithful C of E church-goer, a former guide-leader, and very very funny at times. She always smells of soft powdery perfume, and while she is going to be 87 next year, and can be anxious at times, she still goes on holiday with her cousin Dot to interesting places. She also has great stories about being evacuated as a kid during the war. Today at Boxing Day lunch, she was telling us about her mother who was great at always having loads of tea on hand despite rationing, and how she could make stuffed lamb's heart that was quite good. She calls you lovey and tells you how great it is to see you. Seriously we could all use a Nanny D.
After their visit, (they were on their way to have Christmas lunch with my middle brother in law and his family.) we cleared up yet more wrapping paper, and let people do their own thing for awhile. I put together the rest of our smorgasbord. (which didn't take very long, and was rather relaxing.) We had assorted cured meats, wild boar pate, some warm roasted duck breast, roasted potatoes, sausages wrapped in bacon, pickled herring, beet root and apple salad, fruit, crudite, Danish remoulade, hummus, cheeses, crackers, bread, butter, assorted condiments, gravy, and a few other things which I likely forgot. No one goes hungry if I am in charge. We ate and ate and ate. Then we returned to lazing about and enjoying the calm.
I attempted to tidy the kitchen, and win at fridge tetris.
Much of the day it was foggy and rainy, so not a lot of opportunity to go out for a walk. We noticed the occasional neighbor out, but it was mostly to walk dogs, or to visit family/friends along the lane.
Then there was the pudding which I had spent the morning steaming. (second one.) We managed to pour brandy on it and have it catch on fire, but then the pan in which the warmed brandy was in, ALSO caught fire. It was an amusing moment. "Oh... well.. let's put this fire away for a bit."
The rest of the day was devoted to a bit of tv, more lego, talking to two of my siblings via skype, (which was so good. I miss them and haven't seen them in a year. 2016 was like that. So many possible plans that never happened.) listening to stories and music, lightly dozing, and petting the cat. We had agreed to let the children stay up as late as they wanted but thought they might give in.
But come one, these people are related to me. I come from a long line of night owls on both sides. Their genes are STRONG for staying up late. I was so worn out that I gave in before they did. "fine. FINE. YOU WIN!" I told Mr. Jenner, "you are on your own, I need a bath and bed."
I have a cold, and it leaves me wrecked at times. It is this chest cold that sometimes likes to hang out elsewhere, so my tonsils swell up and hurt but it isn't serious because I lack a fever, and my tonsils aren't looking gross. It is just... a half-assed cold that lingers.
It makes sleep... interesting.
But yet, Christmas was lovely.