All is quiet today and we are now in the lull between Christmas and the next burst of jollilty, New Year and I, for one, am enjoying being peaceful at home,
Had a lovely Christmas with the family, but Beatrice not caring that it was Christmas, decided to start teething and Christmas Eve night had her parents on the hop through the small hours as she yelled the place down. I was due to drive up on Christmas day morning, probably a wise decision so I was fairly alert when I got there to be met by pyjama clad goggle eyed mum and dad. All got a bit behind and we ended up having our turkey at around 4 pm, not that it mattered in the slightest.
Drive up was a tad scarey. Hit the A12 and the sky darkened and down came the rain and boy did it rain! Windscreen wipers working double time, totally inadequate and could barely see where I was going, road flooded in places. Throughout all this I was staggered at how the traffic on my right tore past at the rate of knots and chucked up enough water and gunge to totally blind me on several occasions. I seriously thought of turning back at one stage but soldiered on and made it in one piece.
As you all know by now, I am not a huge fan of Christmas. I find the rampant commercialism of it all and the frenetic shopping and rushing around not to my taste. When I was at home with husband and two children all the work and tasks fell to me and I was usually worn out by the Day itself. Both my girls have happy memories of our Christmasses together as children so obviously I managed to hide my feelings well and now I am a happy viewer as others do it all for me.
I did not buy Florence or Beatrice anything hugely big or expensive as Beatrice is too young (she did get a Teddy Bear from grandma though, every child should have one), and Florence received a new nightie, a puzzle, sticker book and a wooden hair brush, specially ordered, with her name on it. She simply loved this and straight away wanted to brush her hair and she kept an eye out for it all day amid the debris and wrapping paper. Next year when Beatrice is bigger I intend to order a toy box for her with her name on which I did last year for her sister. Lovely piece of work from the Posh Box Company and then both she and Florence will have these boxes all their lives.
Came home on Boxing Day morning as the hives resurfaced and not feeling too good. Beatrice also up all night and Florence wakeful so the breakfast table that morning had three haggard adults and two children who, having kept everyone up for hours, were now full of joy and happiness. Best part of being a grandmother is that I could leave and go to bed, unlike Mum and Dad who had to get through the day while feeling like zombies. A feeling I remember very well.
Florence came bursting in to see me in the morning and was chatting away and when I asked her which was her favourite present, there was no hesitation: "Oh grandma, it was the Winnie the Pooh toothbrush Father Christmas put in my stocking"
I rest my case.........
Au reservoir
