As we head towards our first Christmas in our new home, and the first in the UK since 1999, we will be introducing some new “traditions” to our established ones, and creating a blended flavour of Spain and England into our festivities.
No surprise (hopefully) to anyone that knows me/us but for the record: you have next to no chance of getting me to spend Christmas Day anywhere other than at home (all welcome but I am not going anywhere), and neither Sands and I are big fans of large parties (OK Sands is MUCH better with them than I am as I would pretty much rather stick pins in my eyes rather than go to one).
1st December: we put the trees and decorations up. As a rule we have one ‘best’ tree that we try and keep the cats away from by putting up the old tree up with lights and a few indestructible decorations first to let the cats get used to it and assess how much damage we think they going to do, then we put the best one up later and add more decorations to the old tree. We decorate the same rooms in the same way each year ….. why complicate life, and whilst I am not against a few tasteful decorations I dislike rooms being full of tat so we do the Lounge, Dining Room, Hall and some lights in the Garden.
14th December: Twelve Movies For Christmas – a relatively new tradition but we “start” the Christmas period off with the same twelve movies each year watched in the same order; Love Actually, Shawshank Redemption, Die Hard, Bohemian Rhapsody, Where Eagles Dare, Brassed Off, Lethal Weapon, The Darkest Hour, Saving Grace, Downton Abbey, Behind Enemy Lines, The Holiday. Not all movies about Christmas but for one reason or another old favourites or old habits.
2nd Sunday in December: a new UK tradition, Christmas Lunch locally at one of the restaurants we use regularly with my parents. My parents join us and whoever else wants to.
22nd December: Christmas Carols and Mulled Wine in the garden with the Firepit and Alexa in the Summer House, this is the closest we get to a party – friends and neighbours all welcome.
24th December: Dinner For Two (Fish).
25th December: Christmas Lunch, with the family (all welcome), always at home, aways the same meal – Roast Turkey, Gammon, Potatoes, Carrots and Parsnips, with Red Cabbage and Peas, Gravy, Stuffing and Cranberry Sauce followed by Christmas Pudding and Brandy Sauce.
26th December: Home Alone – Breakfast of Staffordshire Oatcakes, Bacon and Cheese then Fish Pie in the evening this is a no people day!! Long walk with the dogs, plenty of TV and Sofa.
28th December: Left Over Lunch with friends and family. We make a Turkey and Gammon Pie and a Mincemeat Cheescake, and then whatever anyone else brings with them.
31st December: Walk on the Beach & Family Dinner at Home – we like to go to Formby to walk the dogs on the beach and then back in time for a dinner (Steaks) at home and a quiet night in with the animals.
6th January: Three Kings – a tradition from Spain we have a meal at home and take the decorations down.