Christmas Day (Thinking of times past(

Christmas Day (Thinking of times past)

27 December 2018

12:05

Following Christmas dinner.

Full of turkey, spouts and stuffing; wine and cheese biscuits, too full for pudding; half asleep, not watching the TV playing repeats of old films.

My mind went back to times past

When we were sent home from mothers Christmas party because our son (five year old)wanted to play on the floor with his toys, like his cousin playing with her dolls. No he must sit on the chair and be quiet - If he cannot do that you can take him home and dont come again.

We put our coats on and went home

Next morning down to wifes parents

"I've put a fire in the sitting room you can take him in there with his toys

Morning I went out with FIL to carry his cartridge bag and game bag on the estate shoot for the 'Gentlemen' guests.

The estate manager told me to line up with the beater party;

Father in Law stepped in "He comes with me, I will organise the beater parties, I know who is familiar with the layout and how they should go about things; You have enough to do keeping the 'Gentlemen' in order"

The mornings shoot was through some woods with lots of undergrowth

Lunch time we were joined by the other beaters for a mug of tea and sandwiches (not too many so that they would not be in a fit state for the afternoons work)

Afternoons shoot was on open farm land easier walking, just the hedges and bit of rough scrubland to clear.

Our meal was just the family (Five of us)

Tired, well fed and warmer we sat to watch TV, talk about old times and people. Son played happy with his toys

 

Mother in Laws first Christmas after she had moved to live with us.

Following the meal she had floods of tears.

"what the matter love? I asked 

"There is nothing wrong. Its just the first time I have been able to sit down foe Christmas dinner with out having to prepare everything myself; Its such a pleasure to be waited on it has always me doing the waiting"

 

The year we got up at four o'clock to put the oven on; severe gales had been forecast with travel disruption some structural damage and possible power outs

Oven on, then breakfast, turkey prepared and in the oven; prepare the vegetables and lay the table get wine from the garage.

Meanwhile we had prepared two double burner camping stoves ready

Turkey completed and put aside to rest. The vegetables were pronounced complete, pans drained and ready to be served out.

The electricity went off.

Two candle sticks with ornamental candles, Two empty wine bottled similarly attired. Lit and placed on the table one to each person, veg served using sons head torch from his fell walking gear

 

After the meal wife was praised by her mother for the organisation "That was a lovely meal, cooked just right and so romantic by candle light we used to have it by gas light in the old days. You couldn't have timed it better to get all the cooking done just as the lights failed"

 

This year the Christmas tree collapsed as we were setting the table