Christmas is a hectic time in households across the land. We’re trying to get organised whilst hankering after festive fun. Not because we particularly want to, but because we feel it’s our duty. If we hear a choir singing in the supermarket (as we race past) or catch a made-for tv Christmas-movie (always the best ones!), we’ve ticked the all-important box of embracing the festivities! Phew. If you don’t manage at least one such experience it can be highly damaging to your Christmas spirit. As can being a neat freak at this time of year. I’d rather be the world’s worst hayfever sufferer at the height of summer. Wait a minute though, I am that too…oh woe is me!
Despite having already heard a choir, watched The Muppets Christmas Carol about fifty times and bought two poinsettias, I have been struggling to embrace “the spirit”.
I love a tidy house, so dragging a tree into my lounge, which drops pine needles if you so much as glance at it, is like planting a tarantula on an arachnophobe’s pillow. I’m on constant alert, eyes on stalks. Add to that the mountains of ‘stuff’ that have suddenly appeared. Cards, reindeer food, advent calendars (of which we have four…I know), school crafty things, which I’m going to have to start suspending from the roof due to lack of space, plus all the presents, wrapping paper and cards I’ve yet to write!
It’s ever so slightly getting to me and I seem to spend most of my time saying to the girls “just a minute”, as I attempt to cram it all into cupboards, behind sofas and whatever measly nooks and crannies there are left, before playing school. By the time I’m done the game is all but finished and the guilt, the guilt? It’s crippling. But not crippling enough to force me to sit amongst pine needles and half-played monopoly whilst trying to have a good time I’m afraid. No no no no no.
I am terrible for tidying and to what end? Feeling radical recently, I ditched the housework and decided to bake. Should friends ever hear me say “I’m baking”, it would spark much confusion as I’m not really that way inclined. However, maybe I should do it more often as we had a ball listening to Christmas music whilst making mince pies and snowmen by decorating biscuits with icing and marshmallows (so creative, I know!)
It was a lovely afternoon during which I did my very best to ignore the mounting mess. I was assisted in this matter by a few Baileys which seemed to do the trick. I think it’s what you call embracing the spirit to embrace the spirit. Now I think you’ll find that box well and truly ticked!