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Wildblood feels the festive spirit

A very merry Christmas

Kate Wildblood

Tuesday, 23 December 2008

Christmas is a time of lists. We have one sitting on our dining room table and it’s never ending. Scribbles and notes and ticks and jokes are added and subtracted as we make our way towards the 25th. It can feel like a military campaign sometimes, this Christmas lark. But I love it.

My childhood Christmases we’re not the best. Divorced and feuding parents meant the 25th was a timetabled affair with hours dolled out as we trundled between houses. But then way back in the early Nineties I managed to mumble the immortal words “I’ll not be home this year from Christmas” to my demanding parents from a bedsit telephone and everything changed. The timetable became a list of joy as sex replaced stockings and stockings replaced dodgy jumpers with elasticated attached mittens. Cheers Nan.

Christmas is a time for following – and I’ll chastise anyone who takes it away from me. Homemade pickles and a nice boiled ham, missing the last post and praying the postman can. Writing endless cards to people you never see anymore and queuing on the PO winging like the best of them. Stringing fairy lights all over the house and blowing a fuse, ODing on Jamie, Nigella and Fanny and dreaming of a smug homemade Xmas. Sorting out a supply of festive painkilling pharmaceuticals but always forgetting the Rennie and of course the never ending hunt for the campest Xmas display. (Tesco in Shoreham cracked it this year.) Panicking you’ll never have enough Biscuits For Cheese and wondering why the inedible is called Eat Me. Avoiding Essex – sorry guys – and heading towards your dearest ones on Christmas Eve.

Making Xmas decorations outta Queen Josephine (what elese do you do with someone so camp at Xmas?) and chasing the cat through the house with some red and white Santa outfit. (You will wear it kitty!) Sorting out tunes for the gigs you have booked and downloading Barbara Streisand’s ‘Twelve Days Of Christmas’ just ‘cos you can. Being more chuffed than the kids about their Dalek gifts and gathering, all family like, in front of the Dr Who special. Checking the Christmas party pics on www.realbrighton.com you never remember actually being taken and blaming them on your Armaretto infused homemade mincemeat. Bah humbugging at the commercialisation of it all and yet closing your eyes and singing ‘la la la” when ever they mention recession.

Yes Xmas is a time of lists. A list of joy, love and goodwill to all. (Except to the punter asking you to play Slade!) Remember Xmas isn’t just for Xmas – it’s for life. Well until we get bored with the clutter on the 27th. Have a wonderful one and enjoy.