There’s No Business Like Snow Business

Ghosts of Christmas past

I was too busy to blog yesterday.  I have packed so much into the last two days I can’t believe it’s not next week.  I have had doctor’s appointments and dentist’s appointments: no details for you, but let’s just say that the turkey isn’t the only bird this Christmas to have people rummaging around its orifices.  I have bought last-minute gifts, groceries and enough cakes to stop a French revolution.   I have been visitor and visitee and wined about it.  I have walked through mountains of snow without falling down; and taken my son and his friend sledding.  I even had a go myself, which was fun and utterly undignified.  I have eaten free toast in Stockport before ten in the morning: I met a Writing Friend and we exchanged gifts and Christmas horror stories: Had to queue for two minutes at the supermarket; ridiculous!  Took a child shopping and regretted it.  Was forced to drink copious amounts of alcohol and enjoy myself in order to be a good hostess; it’s so unfair.  My WF gives me a lift to our writing class and won’t accept petrol, saying I should just buy her a coffee instead.  I finally got the chance to do it yesterday.  She very fortunately chose a cafe that offers two free rounds of toast with each brew sold before ten, which made me look generous but only cost me £3.  I like those kinds of deals. 

Today is Christmas Cleaning Day.  I always spend Christmas Eve Eve cleaning, getting all washing and ironing out-of-the-way, making sure I don’t have to do anything but cook and enjoy myself for about five days.  You may not know this, but I don’t like cooking as a rule, but Christmas cooking has a festive spirit (largely brought on by a glass or three of wine) that marks it out as quite different.  I cook the meat on Christmas Eve because I refuse to spend all of Christmas Day in the kitchen, no matter how good the wine.  The Hub carves it all up and I just have to warm some on Christmas Day when I cook the vegetables.  Also, it means the juices have had time to set and the fat has risen to the top, giving delicious roast potatoes. 

I am suddenly starving hungry; I don’t know why.  See you tomorrow!