where art collides philosoperontap

Musings on Christmas Eve

There’s a lot of crap around in this ole world right now so I’m going to concentrate on nice things.

Sue and Dad are in Lincoln for Christmas. Staying at the Lincoln Hotel. They will be around shortly. I’ve finished all the shopping and this morning will get cracking on some of the prep by making the parmesan parsnips. Not sure whether we will need some more parmesan but that can be sorted.

The fire is lit and I’m chillin (so to speak) on the sofa next to it. What’s the difference between a sofa and a settee?

The one present I need to wrap is ready, for Hannah to do it. This is Anne’s present obviously. She wraps all the others:)

There are new lights on the tree which is looking splendid and is surrounded by a number of packages that will tomorrow morning turn into a frenzy of flying wrapping paper.

Anne is shortly off out to the Bailgate. She will be off to church later and then we will need to decide whether to pop to the Morning Star for early doors after the service. This, whilst being somewhat of a tradition is not a done deal. There have been times in recent years where the pub has been full of people we don’t know with kids running rampant. Also dad is less mobile these days so access and access to seating will be a consideration.

All is calm. Tom is doing something on his laptop in the conservatory (Tom Davies in the conservatory with the laptop #cluedo). Hannah and Joe have popped out to the shops. John is still in bed.

I have already been out to buy the last few bits of supplies we need for Christmas. Bread, turkey crown, salad. This year we are having turkey for the first time in a long time. Most of us find it bland and it has been replaced by beef as our standard Christmas Day joint. However Anne likes it so this year we are having both turkey and a sirloin of beef.

Tonight Tom is cooking us a cheese fondue ably assisted by Sue on grater. That will do for now. I may post an update later. In the meantime have a great Christmas wherever you are and I hope that Santa suitably rewards you for your goodness during the year 🙂

My plan for today

Already broken the fast with a toasted bacon and mushroom sandwich and now sat in front of the newly lit fire which is crackling as the kindling is made up mostly of pine. No match required as it self lit from last night’s embers. I will shortly get dressed and start prep for lunch. A simple roast chicken with stuffing, roast potatoes, parsnips, carrots, broccoli (yuk) and peas. The gravy will be top notch (ahem) and there will be pigs in blankets because we have the materials. Classic FM on the Sonos. Anne is off to church heavily decked out in purple. Must be a warm colour. I have to go and pick up a train ticket for John and a couple of items from the Post Office collection depot at Firth Road. Later I am headed to the Strugglers. Hey Dude are on at 5pm. A relaxed ease into the evening, home and likely an early night.

Christmas is arriving fast in our house. Tomorrow we decamp to London for trefbash, the ninth of its kind. The champagne has been ordered, the menu sorted and the band knows when to arrive. This year we also have a photographer lined up as it’s the only way I remember what happened and who came. Such is trefbash.

On Friday we catch the 10.30am train from London back to Lincoln where a taxi will whisk us through the thronging masses of Lincoln Christmas Market goers to drop our bags off at home and thence to the nearest point to the Wig and Mire whereupon we will be having lunch with Anne’s old university pal Gill Dowling (rod). Wine will be involved.

Saturday is our annual Christmas Market party. We have folk around, drink stuff and sing Christmas Carols. A tradition since the early 1990s. I can’t remember exactly when we had the first.

A busy long weekend ahead. But first I have 42 parcels to post!