It's almost all done. I just sat down for the first time since I got up (early!) Mark and I went to the Co op at eight and it was already heaving; got the last baguette in the shop, lots of bread; topped up the fruit and chocolate and got a couple of bottles of wine since the case we ordered has so far failed to show. )o:
I got to work in the kitchen before nine and now the nut-roasts are baked, as per the mince pies and the rum truffles and chocolate-covered marzipans are made and sitting on their dish - only some salads to make and a few presents to wrap now - and it is only a few; Christmas isn't cancelled; we have a tree and mucho cards and some evergreens around the place but it is very much toned down this year. None of us can bear the thought of sitting around the tree distributing presents for hours at a time as before so the gift-giving has been drastically cut - Likewise, for the first time ever, we're not having a sit-down Christmas dinner this year, we're going to put a buffet of good things on the table and leave it at that. The idea of Christmas dinner without Mum is unbearable. Maybe next year.
Thanks everyone who sent me cards, by email or post - I hope you all got mine and Maddie - my God, are you nuts? You angel! Such incredible generosity and kindness; I'm... staggered! Thank you honey; what a wonder you are!
So now I'm sitting down with a cooling coffee, looking for cheesy Christmas films on TV. (o:
To those who celebrate Christmas, I hope you all have a truly wonderful time. Those who don't, I hope you have a wonderful time too.
Happy holidays to you all; you really do make my life worth living. Merry Christmas everyone!!
I got to work in the kitchen before nine and now the nut-roasts are baked, as per the mince pies and the rum truffles and chocolate-covered marzipans are made and sitting on their dish - only some salads to make and a few presents to wrap now - and it is only a few; Christmas isn't cancelled; we have a tree and mucho cards and some evergreens around the place but it is very much toned down this year. None of us can bear the thought of sitting around the tree distributing presents for hours at a time as before so the gift-giving has been drastically cut - Likewise, for the first time ever, we're not having a sit-down Christmas dinner this year, we're going to put a buffet of good things on the table and leave it at that. The idea of Christmas dinner without Mum is unbearable. Maybe next year.
Thanks everyone who sent me cards, by email or post - I hope you all got mine and Maddie - my God, are you nuts? You angel! Such incredible generosity and kindness; I'm... staggered! Thank you honey; what a wonder you are!
So now I'm sitting down with a cooling coffee, looking for cheesy Christmas films on TV. (o:
To those who celebrate Christmas, I hope you all have a truly wonderful time. Those who don't, I hope you have a wonderful time too.
Happy holidays to you all; you really do make my life worth living. Merry Christmas everyone!!
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I wish I could be with you... Have a wonderful time, both of you. Love and hugs to you both, you wonderful people. XXX
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Laurie
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Sometimes those cheesy Christmas films help and sometimes the fact that Christmas comes relentlessly on and we are forced to take the annual steps, even when we are flagging help us, too - on some level. I was lucky enough to spend last night with my parents and they both spoke poignantly of their beloved mothers, decades gone... still loved and still missed.
Bless you and your dear family this Christmas, and the many more Christmases to come.
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We all had a nice time; I hope you did too. ♥
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::Love & hugs babe::
♥♥♥
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I had a nice time, thanks hon - hope you all did too.
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It's a bittersweet Christmas this year for both of us, but nonetheless, have the merriest Christmas you can and I wish you all happiness in the year to come.
::hugs::
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I hope you had a good time without regrets or too much sadness - here's to the future for both of us, hon. ♥
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No regrets. Some sadness, missing Mum - it was so much fun to be with her this time of year and to be in Toronto, visiting with my brother, sister and their families, seeing movies in theatres five minutes away, visiting the local Pioneer Village to see how people here celebrated 150 years ago around here. All of this I shall miss for the rest of my life, I'm sure.
But that's the way of things, whether we like it or not. We shall make new traditions next year with our first grandchild. =>}
Here's to the future for both of us indeed!!!
Cheers! =>}
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Maddie
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Here's to the future, hon. ♥