Happy New Year! I hope everyone doesn’t have too sore a head after last night, and that you all have a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year. As New Year’s day is here, and we’re now a week away from Christmas 2017, and just 358 days from Christmas 2018, I thought it was high time that I unwrapped Christmas for all of you.
Christmas is always a time for family in our house. Since I’ve moved out of my parents house, I had been taking a couple of things round with me when I went round to put around the Christmas tree, before moving myself back into my old room for the festive period (I didn’t return home until late on 30th December!) This meant old traditions of making more than the specified amount of stuffing and also meant new traditions of having a takeway on Christmas Eve (Indian of course) followed by a quick trip to the local pub. It also meant going to bed on Christmas Eve knowing that family, and presents would be there on Christmas morning. Like always in our house, my Aunt and Uncle on my Dad’s side had travelled up from the Midlands, and my Gran was down near Oxford with my Aunt, Uncles, cousins, and dog. Continue reading “Christmas Unwrapped”→
A Very Merry Christmas. I hope Santa has been kind to you, and that your day has been full of festive fun, family, and happiness.
As it’s Christmas, and no-one wants a heavy post, I thought I’d put together a festive favourite post, full of all the little things I like about Christmas, from movies to songs, traditions to food.
Movies
Not all of the movies that are in this list are strictly Christmas films, but they are movies that I enjoy watching over the Christmas period:
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
I love Harry Potter, and the castle in the snow combined with the heartwarming scenes of Harry and Ron opening Christmas presents in the common room make this a Christmas must!
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
There is a whole section of this film set on Christmas Eve, in the snow, at Godric’s Hollow. It’s so pretty and lovely.
Die Hard
The best Christmas movie. Simple.
The Christmas Prince
I watched this a week or so ago, and it is glorious in the best way. I then made my friend watch it less than a week later.
Food
Let’s be honest with each other, one of the best things about Christmas is the food. It’s just awesome.
Pigs in Blankets
I love bacon, and I like sausages, so this is just a heavenly package on a plate
Bacon and Mushroom Stuffing
The family stuffing recipe made predominantly from bacon, mushrooms and onions, is the best stuffing recipe in the world.
Leftover Christmas Lunch Sandwiches
The above stuffing on fresh bread with turkey. Yum Yum.
Advent Calendars
Nothing quite prepares you for Christmas than eating a chocolate hidden behind a small numbered door. I usually have a Dairy Milk one, but this year, I have a No.7 Make Up one and a Malteasers one with a pun behind each door too.
Songs
We all love it when Christmas songs play on the radio, and when a festive playlist accompanies the wrapping of presents. Here are some of my favourites:
Merry Christmas Everyone | Shakin’ Stevens
Fairytale of New York | Kirstie McColl and The Pogues
I Believe in Father Christmas | Greg Lake
Christmas Wrapping | The Waitresses
TV Episodes
I am a serial TV watcher, and love a great TV episode. There are some that I have watched over and over again, and there are some that aren’t as good, but here is a couple of the best:
The Best Chrismukkah Ever | The O.C (S1 E13)
The O.C. is possibly my favourite TV show ever, and this is just the greatest holiday that Seth Cohen (and I actually think just Adam Brody) gets excited about. The moment Ryan hangs his stocking on the mantle piece is so cute!
Forgiveness and Stuff | Gilmore Girls (S1 E10)
I think this is the first time I really really invested my time in Gilmore Girls and just loved it.
The One With The Holiday Armadillo | Friends (S7 E10)
I mean, a Friends Classic. Who doesn’t love a Holiday Armadillo and Santa with a belly like a bowl full of jelly.
Queen of Sheba | The Royale Family (2006 Christmas Special)
This was clever, emotional, and funny, such a underrated Christmas special.
Traditions
We all have little traditions that our families observe that we enjoy. To be honest, our family don’t have that many that still go on now as we’re adults, but there are still a couple that I enjoy.
Two Christmas Trees
Dad has a real tree in the front room. Mum has an artificial tree in the dining room. It’s just how we roll.
Christmas Sack
I have a Christmas sack, in which i still like to receive my presents even though I am 26, and every year hope that it will be full. It pretty much was this year.
Making the stuffing
Making the stuffing is a Christmas Eve tradition. And not just making a little bit, enough to go in the turkey and for at least one loaf tin’s worth too! We like stuffing, what can I say!
We’ve had an enjoyable day so far, and hope to have an enjoyable evening.
Travel in Retrospect 