Post Christmas

Post Christmas or should that be Christmas post?

It is 9 days since my last post, I’m getting withdrawal symptoms!

The reason, I took on knitting a hat, scarf and mitten set for my dear Grandson.
The weather had suddenly turned cold and his Mum found it difficult to get something to fit well that was also warm. It seems there were plenty knitted ones for babies and then others for older toddlers but nothing suitable to fit Oliver
So Grandma stepped in to knit a good warm set

Even though I was not posting I did keep up with all my blogging friends
reading and commenting and enjoyed the decorations and good wishes

Now I am curious to know how other people spent the Christmas season

I felt that my Christmas began when I sat down in the evening, a few days before Christmas to watch a couple of my favourite Christmas D.V.D.’s
The Snowman and The Sound of Music

On Saturday we went out Carol Singing in our neighbourhood with a group from church
We got a very mixed reception
I remember in years gone by where almost everyone would come to their door
And ‘join the party’ as it were
However I believe it is still worth doing as a reminder of what Christmas is really about

Sunday we enjoyed a Carol Service and children’s Nativity play
followed by Mince Pies and Mulled Wine

Monday the usual enjoyable carols from Kings College, Cambridge

Christmas Day dawned with torrential rain that lasted

most of the day

and it was one of those days when it hardly gets properly light all day

I much prefer cold and crisp

Our son came over for the day
We have our present opening over morning coffee
Our Christmas dinner begins at 1.30pm
and we finish in time for the Queen’s Christmas broadcast on TV at 3.0pm
with our coffee and mints
(for anyone interested in other countries one can now watch the Queen’s speech on You Tube under “The Royal Channel”)

The rest of the afternoon was taken up watching

The Wizard of Oz on TV
and then a bracing walk after dark in order to have some appetite for evening tea

After tea my usual ritual of playing Scrabble with my son
We usually are a pretty good match for each other but this year he won by 80 points

Then on Boxing Day we did the whole thing again as Jane came over with her husband Chris and baby Oliver with our son joining us again
Our activities were slightly different though
with a 16 month old joining in

While Alan stayed behind in the afternoon and cleared the dishes and Jane went for a rest
I was to be found on the children’s swings in the park with my Grandson and son, and son-in-law and yes, I did go on the swings

Just one other thing happened in the run up to Christmas
Have you ever caught your ear in the car door?
Believe me it hurts indescribably
I need to slow down, I am known to slam the door shut before I have actually got into the car

So, this was pretty much Christmas in our household this year
Do tell me about yours

Oliver's Hat Scarf and Mittens

The reason I have not posted recently

Now I know that my Ralph Lauren plates do not go with my Christmas table cloth

but these are 12 inch plates

I just cannot fit Christmas

dinner onto my normal 10 inch dinner plates

The main course consists of Roast Turkey,

Sausage with Cranberry and Pork stuffing

wrapped in Bacon

Sage and Onion Stuffing

Bread Sauce

Honey Roast Parsnips and Carrots with Rosemary

Savoy Cabbage sauteed in butter with Cummin seeds

Roast potatoes with Rosemary and Lemon Zest

A brown pouring Gravy made with Turkey stock

A very light starter that does not fill one up

Pink Grapefruit grilled with wine, butter and brown sugar

For dessert, Christmas Pudding with Custard, Ice-cream and Brandy Butter

Mince Pies for those with room left

Coffee and Mints