As you get older, Christmas can lose a little of its gleam. The excitement you once felt when young is gradually replaced during your teenage years with a ‘can’t be bothered’ attitude – after all spending time with your family at that age isn’t considered particularly ‘cool’ and the essence of Father Christmas has long since disappeared. When you hit your late teens and twenties, Christmas day becomes more of a struggle to ‘get through’ and keep your dinner down without vomming as Christmas eve becomes the social, boozy day of the festive calendar – celebrating with friends, down the pub, with lots of drinks. Christmas is hangover time.
But when you have children, Christmas suddenly becomes magical again. It takes you back to memories of your youth and the excitement you once felt. Father Christmas almost becomes tangible again, nativity plays are a delight to watch while decorating the tree, buying, wrapping presents and filling stockings all take on a renewed gleam as you share the excitement your children exude and you are dedicated to making the day as special as possible.
Last Christmas Mrs T was just four months old, this year she was 16 months and and almost able to appreciate what it has to offer. At nursery she made several pieces of skilled festive art while Father Christmas came to visit and even though she wasn’t in, because he is such a nice man, he left her a present anyway.|As for us, we got her a wooden kitchen (from the Great Little Trading Company). Several days of badgering my husband to open up the box and put it together fell on deaf ears. It was eventually left to me – at 9pm on Christmas eve when in days gone by I would of been down the pub. Instead of a glass in hand, I have a screwdriver, uncomfortably sat on the floor of my living room, staring at an array of nails and bits of wood. A tiny kitchen, yes, but with A LOT of pieces. It quickly became clear this was not going to be a half hour job! My husband, quite rightly, pointed out I was ‘better at stuff like this” (his DIY skills are sadly lacking) but, blurry eyed from what felt like weeks of Christmas preparations, it was perhaps not required. I saw Christmas in, watching Midnight mass on tele, sleepily screwing in the final piece – three hours after I started. Ignoring the bag of screws left, I trudged up to bed. Thankfully, it works and, of course, it was ALL worth it!
Her little face when she saw it and the hours of fun she has had since makes it a priceless purchase. Her favourite thing to do is hide in the cupboard then open the door and shout ‘HIYA’. So, so cute.
She obviously had to wear a festive outfit for the occasion (got to subject them to a bit of fancy dress before they can speak to complain about it)!
She loved the whole day, seeing her cousins (they are five, seven and 18 months) who kept her entertained a lot of the time. She happily ripped open her presents and loved playing with her new toys and then ate up her Christmas dinner with delight. But, I won’t lie, hosting our first Christmas at our house was exhausting! Eight adults and four children spanning four generations crammed into our small terrace house – aged from 16 months to 97 – now, that’s what Christmas is all about, ay!
It was a joint effort. Undeterred by Nigella’s recent court confessions, my husband and I followed most of her recipes. It took days of prepping and organising, much sweat, a bit of shouting and a very busy and steamy kitchen. But, it appeared to be a roaring success. PHEW! We made as much as we could the day before, but I am not lying, it was full on! I think we are done with Christmas hosting for at least a couple of years!Here is what we did…
Starters
Sushi – salmon and tuna nigiri, salmon & vegetable maki
Tomato and basil bruschetta
Chicken liver pate on toasted brioche
Crab and smoked salmon blini
