Decorations, Gift Choosing and Cooking

Christmas was of course different this year for everyone. Boris announced the tier system six days before Christmas and a lot of people had to change their plans. I’m in tier 4, so I couldn’t visit anyone. Which basically means that I’ve spent the last couple of days lounging in leggings and eating more than my body weight in food.

However, this did not reduce the stress and anxiety that Christmas fills me with.

Christmas Presents

I suggested not getting anyone presents, but this didn’t sit well with my partner. I suggested spending limits, but even I couldn’t stick to the limits I set. I suggested a secret Santa style gift giving, but my Sister didn’t want to receive only one present. I spent too much time standing with a gift in my hand or an idea on my phone begging for my partner to help me pick out presents, but this ended with her annoyed that I couldn’t figure it out myself. You know your family better than me, help a girl out! Apparantly, I was no help to her gift picking, so I was given little to no help too. Luckily everyone liked their gifts, because if not, I had a speech ready to blame her and I’m not sure that that would have ended well.

We were quite lucky that we’d finished our Christmas shopping before Boris announced the tier system, although if we hadn’t I would saved a lot of money. So, maybe in hindsight not that lucky.

Christmas Eve

After finishing a short shift at work I thought it’d be a great idea to clean the house from top to bottom. No one was coming round, but nothing makes me happier than a clean house. My partner and sister attempted to help, but I wanted to do it myself. I needed the self satisfaction and I had a plan that I didn’t want anyone to derail.

Gin in hand, Christmas music blaring, I got to work. By the time I sat down to eat, I ached in places I didn’t even know existed. I ended up questioning my sanity- why did I think cleaning Christmas Eve was a good idea?

Well, the satisfaction alone was a good enough reason, but as my body didn’t feel the same sense of satisfaction, I could barely find the energy to smile.

I wish I could say that I slept like a baby, but I forget to take a sleeping tablet, so I was still awake at 3am and I tossed and turned for the few hours that I did sleep.

Christmas Day

Our original plan was to spend Christmas Day with my mum and Boxing Day with my partners family, but 2020 is the year that plans are written in pencil and will definitely get erased.

Don’t get me wrong I had a lovely day spending it with those that I live with, but after the year we’ve all had (not just because of the pandemic), we would have loved to have spent Christmas surrounded by all of our family and friends.

We made it work though. We had presents, food, films, laughter and of course a day spent with the animals.

My partner fell asleep during the day and I was left with the daunting task of cooking Christmas dinner. The last time I attempted this I grilled the pork for 2 hours instead of cooking it, which completely threw the timings and ruined any chance of unburnt cracking. I wanted to erase this memory for everyone and give them an exquisite Christmas dinner this year.

I was met with challenges from the offset, as our oven burns all food placed to the left hand side and only cooks on the top shelf. So, I knew that it would be a battle, but it was one that I was prepared to win. I ran backwards and forwards all day, opened the oven so many times that the yorkshires didn’t rise and had to cook one thing at a time so everything was ready at completely different times. Don’t panic though as everything was hot when it was plated up.

Now I don’t want to brag, but in all honestly Christmas Dinner was spectacular and I’m still eating leftovers now. The roasties were delicious, the veg was perfect and the meat was stunning. I would however like to take this time to apologise to the pigs in blankets, because as much as I tried, I couldn’t help but burn the majority of them.

Boxing Day

Despite not being able to see family or friends we had a wonderful day. PJ’S, films, leftover food, naps, music sing-a-longs and Harry Potter Dobble. What more could we ask for?

Christmas 2021

Whilst we have certainly made the most of the dismal situation we were given, I do hope next year is filled with visiting family and friends, trips to the pub and shopping without wearing masks.