Christmask 2021

 It's such a magical time of year!  Even as a full blown adult!  I love doing all things Christmas with the grandchildren and the Christmas trees, the twinkling fairy lights and wafts of mince pies and mulled wine.  Everyone seems to be in the best mood around Christmas time.  People smile more and just seem more friendly towards one another (maybe that's all the mulled wine though).

On December 1st, dreaded by parents but much loved by children, the Elves returned and they brought with them some cosy and cheerful Christmas jumpers.  I love hearing from the grandchildren what the Elves have been up to.  On Christmas Eve they returned to the North Pole to help Father Christmas prepare for next Christmas after some lovely cuddles.  (The children are only allowed to touch the Elves on Christmas Eve or they lose their magic).

Making a home for the Elf

We visited Mottisfont Abbey with Caroline and family just before Christmas.  It was so lovely to walk around the beautiful grounds, although very chilly, but we warmed up afterwards in the beautifully decorated House.

We were determined, as can be, not to miss another Christmas with the family this year, as we were forced to do last year, so we were as careful as is possible when joining friends in restaurants before Christmas.  We wore a mask except when eating and drinking, socially distanced, no hugs or handshakes and washed our hands frequently.  However, it was so nice to have face-to-face company and a chat that's not limited by technology.  We are jabbed to the eyeballs.  Our age enabled us to get our Pfizer booster jabs in November, before the panic of Omicron and endless queues began, so we reckon we are as safe from the new variant as it's possible to be.  We've also had the flu and pneumonia jabs so our immune system must be in overdrive.  Our generation, I suspect, has more confidence in vaccination than any other.  We were the children who saw the first preventative measures against smallpox, measles, polio and diphtheria that had killed so many of our predecessors.

Christmas Lunch with Aqua Aerobics group

  

Family get-together at Caroline's before Christmas

                                                      Chloe making reindeer pancakes

                                                      Emmie making a gingerbread Christmas village

So on Christmas Eve, having carefully done our preparations for the big day, we were on our way to be with the family.  The Night before Christmas.

On Christmas Day it was so wonderful to hear the sound of each other's voices in the same room, to see the excitement of the grandchildren and the laughter (even at the dumb Christmas cracker jokes).  So much better than via Zoom. . Caroline's Christmas dinner was excellent - quite an exercise in planning, logistics and timing and was truly fabulous.  Phil even ate some brussels sprouts!!!

We then spent a wonderful evening on the 27th with Alun, Gemma and Emmie eating more delicious food, drinking champagne and very good wine, dancing and karaoking,  Great fun. 

I do hope your Christmas was magical too.  Wishing you a very happy and healthy 2022.