Just About Christmas

Friday 25.12.09

Twenty minutes until the end of Christmas Day, so Merry Christmas for the moment.

It has been a stressful, strange trip to get here. That sickness bug hasn't truly gone away, and there was a point at the supermarket on Wednesday when I didn't think I'd make it through the checkout. Luckily, everyone pitched in and by New Years Eve (which was H's 16th birthday) we were ready. It should have been easy as we weren't expecting visitors and there's only the four of us. The pressure is always to create, for one day of the year only, the perfect 24 hours. One of the last things I said to Nick last night was that I regretted that I had forgotten to get dates. This was a bizarre thought considering that we had spent £200 on food for just the four of us. That's the price of three weeks shopping aimed mainly at just the one day. There's loads left to eat, but the quest is always for luxury, variety, choice. Let no-one mention value or nutrition. Let us all nibble on anything (this year, anything but dates), and not be disappointed.

We weren't disappointed. I was up last, as usual. We sat around opening presents. It was clear, as it always is that my fears that there weren't enough parcels were unfounded. Everyone had something of what they wanted, something of what they needed, and something naff. This year, the family took a risk and played a trick on me.

'Your present is on the dining table', Nina called, 'Keep it upright!'

'You'd better open that one first' Nick added.

I picked up the large box shape. It felt cool, like it concealed the bars of the cage. Rats have been in my mind lately. There is an infestation on the paths close to our house, and many have been seen in daylight. Bait has been placed. In the petshop, we had browsed the pet displays, and I had been talking about how Nick and I once had a rat, given to us by a friend. I just couldn't get to like it. Although it was friendly, the sight of the tail weaving through the cage was unsettling. I was concerned that my family had bought me a pet. I don't want one.

I brought in the gift and began, gingerly, to pick at the wrapping. There was a whiff of sawdust. I felt something move inside of the cage. My heart sank. I didn't want to ruin Christmas before it had properly begun but it seemed too much to cope with. I pulled off a little more paper. There was a largeish, dark shape, two beady eyes. Holding my breath, I pulled off the paper. Two soft toy rats, one black, one white, on a bed of shavings inside Nina's spare gerbil cage.

They had been planning it for days. I love my family.

Then, the Christmas routines kicked in. Luxury breakfast of choice. I had bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese this year. The kids had crumpets. I got the dinner on, chicken this year, and went back and forth between the tv, a book and keeping an eye on it all. We listened to the Queen's Speech, heavy on the Commonwealth, and speculated on what this meant.

The dining room, decorated just yesterday by the kids and finally tidied by Nick this morning looked Christmassy. e ate the dinner, commenting on the awful Christmas CD. 'It's an old one, we never listen to', Nick said. 'Not surprised, it's rubbish'. Corny covers of old time classics. Dinner and fake champagne made up for it. And the company of course.

Phone calls to family. Rich rang from China. A game of Monopoly. More TV. Chocolate. Cheese. Satsuma. Mince Pie. More wine. Cups of tea.

Now, quarter past midnight. Boxing Day. Just me up. Facebook, Twitter, Blogger.

A Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a Good Night.