My Christmas - Present & a Past One!

After days & I do mean, days of oppressive leaden grey skies; for a brief hour or so this morning the clouds dispersed & there was bright Winter sunshine.

I quickly seized the opportunity for a brief Christmas morning walk, reminiscent of the ones I use to take with Hero.

Everywhere was very quiet.

All, my neighbours are away.

I'm surrounded by seven, dark empty houses.

Even my stroll, brought me in contact with only one solitary male, hurrying along with his bag of gifts.

But, @ least we exchanged seasonal greetings - on any other day, he'd have walked on by, with out giving me so much as a second glance!

Here he is heading along the lake walkway towards my park...

I've returned home, by which time, the skies are once again overcast.

So, I've opened my festive bubbly, squeezed my satsumas & had my own little toast...

Today, like most days, I'm on my own.

I strangely like it that way, because there's no lonelier place on earth @ this time of year, than being with a group of people who you don't belong with.

Unlike last Christmas when to make a point, I did the whole Turkey & trimmings thing - I'd turned invitations down & was accused of wanting to be miserable; this year, I'm keeping it simple.

Shortly, I'm going to roast a small joint of 'well hung' beef till it's just succulently pink; do lots of roast root veggies, Brussels & baby Carrots, get out the Horseradish sauce and feast till I'm full.

I'm going to leave you with a email I wrote a couple of years ago to my Canadian family, about a Christmas visit.

It's long, but all who have read it said it was worth the time!

"Hi there, Headmistress & Sir!

Yes, I'm back from my Christmas Festivities - not, that, that is really an apt word!
If you're both sitting comfortably I'll begin with my tale.................
To me Christmas is, Christmas trees festooned with lights & decorations, with parcels underneath & sharing the pleasure of opening them.

Christmas flowers, especially red poinsettias, [the only kind you see in the UK], a Christmas wreath on the door, festive decorations around, Christmas cards up, Christmas music playing, special Chocolates even though we all know what happens when I indulge too much!!!

Lots of lovely special food, plus the traditional roast turkey with all the trimmings, Christmas pudding, mince pies, trifle and then there's the wine, liqueurs & bubbly ect, etc.

Okay - It's a time for indulgence!

Christmas should be filled with shared laughter, good company & quiet happy moments.

All this & more, you did so well last year. [2005]

Just for me, alone I've decorated my house & treated myself to a few extra's.

And Mother & I always managed to eat, drink & be merry when there was just the two of us, so I was totally unprepared for the bleak, sober Christmas awaiting me @ Wheatley this year [ 2006]
Now having set the scene I'll begin.

I drove over mid afternoon on Xmas Eve.

Skyebird had finally put up her tree, but only half of it!!!!

I should have read that as a SIGN.

There were a few parcels dumped in a corner like a sack of potatoes & their Christmas cards were lying in a heap on a table like a pile of discarded bills.

No other signs of Christmas were visible.

I presented my hosts with a box of Foreer Rocher choc's & a couple of bottles of good red wine & one of sparkling white wine, to be greeted with...

''I haven't bought any chocolates, some always turn up. And we're not drinking "

I jokingly responded '' the more the merrier for At Joan & me'' - they were not amused!
Now, Skyebird when cooking can't cope with any distractions & WONT accept any help, so my presence in the kitchen trying to talk to her is always fraught.

Sometimes, I just can't resist doing it for a human response!

At Joan [my late Mother's old school friend - hence my Christmas presence] produced a bottle of Sherry, I went to get out the small wine glasses I use when it's just the two of us, to be quickly reigned in, to 'thumbnail' sized ones.

Refills weren't offered but I did sneak one!

At this point, Skyebird announced, instead of the usual practice of having meals on trays on our laps, we'd lay the dinning table, as she was getting out her 'special' table-mats & Christmas clothe.

The excitment was tangible!

She then added, I wasn't to worry about making marks as she'd bleach it afterwards!

All this consisted of was a plain white clothe & Cats mats, nothing festive - there was no table decorations, no Christmas crackers or napkins, let alone fancy ones.

The small wine glasses I wanted to use earlier for Sherry, were finally allowed out, instead of the wine goblets I'd have used!

The meal, a luxury Fish Pie, was very tasty.

But, you & I would have have thrown it together whilst talking & laughing together companionably.

And, we'd have prepared more than 3 florets of broccoli each, to accompany it!

A little red wine flowed.

At Joan's second glass was frowned upon.

I guzzled & ignored the glouring looks!

My hostess in due course, said she'd made mince pies & they were warming for desert.

A plate with just 4 bit-sized pies was duly presented.

Tea followed & 6 hours of TV.
I retired early with a stress headache!!!

Christmas Day...
Not sleeping well due to an over heated bedroom & solid foam pillows, heard someone down stairs early Christmas morning.

I presumed it would be At Joan letting the families 2 cats out, only to be confronted with Skyebird.

No 'Merry Christmas' greeting, just 'What are you doing up @ this hour?'
I quickly, retreated back to my bedroom sanctuary .
Some time later I ventured down again, to find this time, At Joan there & she greeted me affectionately.

Mine hosts eventually surfaced & we all had cereal for breakfast.

It was then announced Christmas dinner would be at Noon precisely!

If I had anything to do, I was told to make sure I was back in time!

I've never had Christmas that early in my life before...

I offered to help but it was rebuffed as usual.

So, At Joan & I drove home for me to fulfil my cat minding duties.

When we returned to Wheatley, we found At Joan's dearly beloved son & daughter-in-law had thoughtlessly in my eyes, open all their presents in our absence!

I sat with At Joan while she unwrapped hers, while her son was allowed to prepare the Brussels Sprouts, counting out exactly, 6 each.

At precisely Noon, Christmas lunch was served, the table was made festive by the addition of a cracker each & I was reminded not to worry about red wine stains on the table clothe.

There was no Turkey, just a small Chicken, no Stuffing, no Trimmings, 2 Roast Potatoes each, 1 of Roast Parsnip, the previously mentioned no. of Brussels, plus the small helping of Carrots & Peas.

I did retrieve an old opened jar of Cranberry Sauce from the fridge.

Pre-lunch Sherries & dinner wine followed the same routine as Xmas Eve.
Desert was an individual portion of Caramel Mouse.

It was all over in 30 mins.

10 hours of TV followed.

I did suggest a walk, only to find it was bucketing down with rain.
The most excitement & rewarding event - watching from my bedroom, wild Badgers feeding in the garden in the moonlight on Christmas Day night.
On Boxing Day I made a hasty retreat.

Thank-Heavens, Little Buddy flew into LHR that evening!

Missed you all terribly.

Love,

Headgirl [ Blue]"