Because of the hiatus we haven’t bought a proper Christmas tree this year – we lashed out £15 on an artificial tree. It’s excellent quality for the price. Six feet tall and with plenty of realistic branches- only the scent and irregularity of the branches are missing.
It even dropped some ‘needles’ while being erected!
We decided to spare Emma Gertrude for another year and are having lamb and chicken for Christmas Day. Richard is making the gravy and he had a practice run yesterday – it’s excellent stuff.
We have yet to do the shopping and Jo is still working until Thursday but at least we are getting into the Christmas spirit.
I hope you all have a super time and our very best wishes to you all.
Oh, I think your tree is lovely!
ReplyDeleteHope you and your family have a very Happy Christmas!
One of the differences between CJ and I (I say this for the benefit of readers because CJ already knows!) is that CJ loves Christmas and all the decorations etc that goes with it. I'm from the bah humbug school. Having said that I enjoy the way it's celebrated here in New Zealand. We'll be having lots of fun and a bbq with lots of extras.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are on the mend.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to all of you.
Is this already your Christmas tree for this year in the picture? Here, the tree is set up and decorated only on the afternoon of the 24th, to be ready for Christmas Eve, when we will gather for our meal and exchange our gifts.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you are much better and will be able to really enjoy Christmas now!
For me, work this year lasts until Friday, but then I'll have two weeks off, which I am very much looking forward to.
Yes Librarian, this is this year's. In Victorian times it was traditional to set up the tree on Christmas Eve - I'm not sure when it changed but nowadays people don't have one traditional day for setting up the tree. Most people seem to do it in the first or second week of December. We always tended to do it the first weekend after the 10th (only because that was my Dad's birthday and we didn't want it detracting from his celebrations). Only doing it on the 18th this year seemed a bit late but it has made it seem really Christmassy with the day itself being so close.
ReplyDeleteGifts are usually exchanged on Christmas Day morning - and if you have young children it tends to be about five or six in the morning - Ugh.
I hope you have a really good time and thanks for being my principal commentator in 2011!
You are welcome, Scriptor! What you write is always so interesting and/or entertaining, and your pictures so good I simply have to comment :-)
ReplyDeleteYes, ever since I married into an English family, I had TWO present-opening sessions; one on Christmas Eve and one on Christmas morning. Can't get much better than that, can it!
Glad you're better in time for Christmas, have a wonderful day,
ReplyDeleteSP
It is a lovely tree. Happy Christmas to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteIn my youth (which was a little later than the Victorian times) the tree was still set up the day before Christmas Eve (because Christmas Eve is our big celebration day rather than Christmas Day). I think decorating the tree is still probably one of the last things on the to-do list in many homes. I was unusually early this year in putting mine up a whole week before Christmas. I must be getting Americanized by all the blogging!
ReplyDeleteSo good to hear that you are feeling better, CJ. Your new artificial tree is lovely. That's what we have this year too -- I bought one last year, and put it away in a huge plastic bag already decorated. The beauty of that is that I don't have to fiddle with all the lights! Once festooned around the tree, they're there for good.
ReplyDeleteWe are having a fine ol' English roast beef dinner on Christmas Day, with Yorkshire pud, and about four vegs. My daughter is doing it, and she is an excellent cook. With mince tarts for dessert of course.
I do hope you have a wonderful Christmas. We'll look forward to hearing all about it in your posts next week.
Take care and God bless, have a wonderful time.
Cheers! Canadian Chickadee & English Robin
Happy Christmas, CJ, to you and yours. May all your days be merry and bright, just as the song says.
ReplyDeleteTake care and God bless, Carol
Scriptor,
ReplyDeleteSeason's Greetings!
So glad you are on the mend and back at the blog - missed you! Hope you continue with your recovery over Christmas, and that the New Year is good to you.
Thank you for all the time you put into sharing your 'rambles.'
Wishing you and yours the happiest Christmas and all the best in 2012.
Take care, McGregrr