Back to reality

While farmers can never have a break at Christmas (but maybe arable farmers do? I'm only speaking of livestock farmers), it's true to say we've been taking it a bit easier for the last couple of weeks. Henry and James planned to have as a relaxing Christmas Day as possible - i.e. they made sure they did as much as possible the day before, and that feed and bedding were all readily available. And they didn't get up at the usual time on Christmas morning - but nearly an hour sooner so there was more time to spend indoors between milkings.

I too had done as much as possible the day before, with the help of visitors. Many thanks to Victoria for decorating the cake (and more besides!) and to young Fletcher for helping with the vegetables. By we went to bed on Christmas Eve the turkey was tucked up in the bottom oven of the Aga and a mince pie, glass of milk and a carrot waiting by the tree for any visitors that might come by.

The early start meant an early finish to breakfast (rum butter on toast) and then we could get down to the serious business of unwrapping the heap of parcels which had thoughtfully been left behind a locked door in the sitting room. Poor Father Christmas had got a bit confused (or maybe there was no more room on the sleigh) and left Fletcher's bike in Leicestershire - but he did leave a note to say where it was. There was rather a technological and foodie theme to some of the presents (including chocolate game controllers).

Meanwhile the Aga was struggling manfully on, as I began to panic that the parsnips would never crisp up, or the gravy heat up. After a bit of a meltdown (me, not the Aga) it all came together and ten of us sat down to a laden table. I'm a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to Christmas food - well I keep to the traditions that have been established in our family over the past forty odd years - turkey, vegetables and as many trimming as we can manage.

Henry and James had to go out to work at four o'clock - and not just so they could work up an appetite for turkey sandwiches and Christmas cake.

On Boxing Day I was glad I had gone a bit overboard with the food the day before, as there were plenty of leftovers to go round. After a supper of rather posh shop bought nibbles (supplemented by another of my traditions - home made mushroom vol au vents), we sat back and relaxed and/or played a few energetic party games. Somewhere along the line we had musical turns from children and grandchildren - violin solos, singing and piano playing.

As the days went on Henry and James had to do more and more farm work - and tried to make the most of the few good days when it was fine, by hedging and spreading muck. I had got up to date with bills and other paperwork before Christmas and I've just been "ticking over" since then. But today marks the end of my "holiday" and it's nose to the grindstone again (well, nearly to the grindstone). We've taken the decorations down and it's back to school tomorrow. What shall we look forward to next? February's a month full of Birthdays, so I had better start saving up.

Every year I think our Christmas tree is the best we've ever had, but this year it really was! It reached the ceiling in the hall and spread it's branches far and wide. I can never take a good photo of it, but this gives some idea - you can even see the fairy  on the top (given to me on my first Christmas many years ago).