The 'C' word is finally here!!!!

CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS!!!!!

There.....said it!!!

Christmas for me has always meant spoiling the children, keeping the spirit of Santa alive as long as possible, presents MUST be a surprise, the tree had to be real, time with family, staying up till gone midnight when your already shattered waiting for the kids to fall asleep so Santa can fill the stockings, very early mornings, chocolate the Buck's Fizz for breakfast, mulled wine, the house bursting at the seams with visiting family, the dog joining us upstairs for the ceremonial wrapping paper shredding and eating what you want and not worrying about it!!!! I'm very sorry but I'm not in the slightest bit religious so Jesus doesn't feature for me at Christmas!! and as I always had the most children and so the biggest house, it was my job to host Christmas. I loved it.

All that changed in 2009 when I separated. The children decided to live with their dad. Christmas suddenly didn't happen. No children, no stockings, no paper ripping dog, no tree, no cooking for 15. I saw the children when I could, usually in the corner of a pub somewhere with no privacy. No intimacy.

Last year was better. Daughter Number 1 was living with her boyfriend so we were able to meet on Christmas Eve at her house, I cooked for 4, we shared presents, had fun and I was able to send them all home with a stocking for the next morning. They all sent me piccys of them opening their stockings.

This year, I have Daughter Number 1 back home. My best friend my ex's sister!!!!! and her husband are joining us Christmas Day, so a familia Christmas face AND I'm getting a real tree!!! The first one for 4 years! I'm determined to have a great Christmas. Different, but that's ok. It will be great.

I'm then seeing Daughter Number 2 on the 27th and planning a 2 night stay back in Newquay to see my Baby Boy on the 28th.

Christmas this year is sorted. I'm happy. And to celebrate my happiness, every blip of December is going to be Christmas related. That's my challenge for this month!!!

Sadly, MrW is not so supportive. He's a Baa Humbug, says we can't have a tree WRONG and hates blip. But loves Daughter Number 1, my Best Friend, mince pies and chocolate. I'm working on him!!!

Happy Christmas Everyone.

xXx

HoHoHo