As my regular readers know, I lost my Mum in July of last year, eight years after Dad passed away very suddenly.
November 1996
As the only family member left with ‘capacity’, I am now responsible for two adults with quite several mental incapability. Albert at 77 and Diverus at 65.
Beloved Grandchildren
It is like having two 6 years old again.
The constant chatter, repeated questions, inability to left alone, making ‘silly’ decisions as there is no ability for rationale and more mean that every aspect of their lives has to be organised and planned out by me.
Imagine Donkey in Shrek with “Are we there yet” “Are we there yet” ad nauseum.
Happy Holidays
All of this combined means that I really struggled with the Festive period; simply buying gifts, putting up the tree, wrapping and writing cards taxed my mental capacity to the limit.
In fact, even thought I bought a real tree on the 4th of December, it stood in the living room for 16 days before I even put a bauble on it. This is completely unheard of.
Not Getting Very Far
The tree goes up at the beginning of the month and doesn’t get taken down until the 6th of January.
Well, not this year.
The lights and baubles got added on the 20th December and looked stunning. In fact I was actually disappointed that I hadn’t done it before, knowing it would be coming down pretty soon.
Christmas Chow
Anyway, I eventually got my ass in gear and wrapped the final present on the 23rd December, just in time.
Now, Christmas for many is all about the Children and their innocence at such a special time.
With Albert and Diverus, I have described them as childlike and this is the absolute truth.
Santa And His Happy Elf
But with the childlike mannerisms you DO have the innocence of childhood; Christmas Day is an wonderful time as they take delight in absolutely every aspect of it.
Seeing their faces light up with every gift opened, I just hope that Mum was looking down on me with pride at how I had managed to bring even bigger smiles to their faces.
Happy Christmas
In fact, the biggest gift I got was tickets in Liverpool to see Andre Rieu and his Orchestra who both of them absolutely idolise. Seeing tears running down Alberts face for the first time ever in my life made everything worthwhile.
I have to admit to shedding a few tears myself over that!
It was always Mum’s tradition to have my Uncle Ian and Auntie Ann come for Christmas Day, so I chose to keep that tradition going too. They arrived at midday and alcoholic beverages were offered all round, whilst I stuck to a Dr Pepper.
Christmas Dinner was definitely the highlight of the festive time for us all.
Starters For All
Two kinds of pate with Melba toast for starters then moving onto Turkey, pigs in blankets, two kinds of stuffing, roast carrots, parsnips and potatoes, shredded Brussels with pancetta and mushrooms, thick gravy and cranberry sauce and bread sauce for those who like that kind of thing.
The only downside was I forgot to cook the Yorkshire puddings!
Yum!
For dessert we had an absolutely fabulous Christmas Pudding from Waitrose which I literally couldn’t get enough of. Lashing of Double cream or custard rounded it all off.
Every morsel was finished and then we all needed a nap!
What a Cracker!
Sadly though, that didn’t happen.
Instead I spent a couple of hours chatting with them all whilst making some of my new Lego, which included Santa on his sleigh pulled by Rudolph, a Christmas tree with a secret compartment and my favourite, the Disney Up House, which many of you will know is my favourite film ever.
As for my presents, well Baby Bear and Little Chick got me some amazing Up goodies, including a glass tree ornament and the Adventure Book. I also received the Lego Moana boat and some fabulous Fortnum and Mason’s conserves from my Uncles (which I may have bought, wrapped and paid for myself)
Festive Frock
Given that Mum would normally treat me to something special, I treated myself to a present upon the completion of the final present purchased, wrapped and completed.
Something I had been wanting for a really long time; the Christian Louboutin Metal Matte Fluid in Rouge Louboutin.
Loubi Girl
I was NOT disappointed; the gift wrap, the packaging and the actual lipstick container were all absolutely beautiful and then the colour itself was just wonderful.
I know Mum would have approved at the extravagance of it all so I didn’t feel guilty in any way.
Presents For All
In fact, I have relished putting it on.
So yes, Christmas may not have been what I would normally have experienced, but it was brilliant in its own different way.
