It’s
easy to get caught up in the pre-Christmas stress where everything becomes a
chore: putting up the tree, buying presents for family and trying to fit in all
those social occasions.
All
year I look forward to this season and then, last week, I wondered why I was
feeling so glum. When I scrutinized this feeling it came down to letting
everything get on top of me and turning what should have been a fun time of
year, into a martyrish occasion.
I
decided to change my attitude and lap it all up.
Here
is what I love about this season:
#
Decking out the rest of the house in bling;
#
Dusting off my favourite recipes for neighbours, teachers and friends –
watching the kids delightedly skip back from the neighbours, having experienced
the joy of giving and not just receiving;
#
Watching the kids’ faces as they see their personalised messages from Santa –
even my non-believer is still rather taken with this - (www.portablenorthpole.com);
# Attending
Christmas in the Park – always a fantastic evening in Whangarei;
#
Doing the lights trail on the way home;
# Making
Christmas lanterns with the kids’ class;
#
Hosting a pot-luck dinner with friends chez moi where we wear and serve only
our finest – this is girls-only with Miss Seven waitress and chief
photographer;
# Our
annual girls night out on the town where you are likely to catch up with people
you haven’t seen since the last one;
#
Realising I have lots of Fly Buys points from my second home at New World to
spend on fun stocking fillers to balance the practical stuff I have already put
aside;
#
Recycling the kids’ unwanted toys and giving to children who will appreciate
them;
# The
final, crazy supermarket shop where there is delicious food-galore and catching
snippets of fellow shoppers conversations excitedly planning their menus for
the big day;
# ‘Accidentally’
being a little heavy-handed with the top-shelf while making the egg-nogg;
#
Watching the riveting season finale of Shortland Street as the fairy lights
twinkle;
# The
town a mass of rouge as the Pohutukawa trees bloom on cue;
# The communal
generosity of giving as the Christmas spirit comes to the fore;
#
Playing Santa;
#
Lapping up the kids’ excitement Christmas morning;
#
Drinking the egg nogg;
#
Relaxing and unwinding in the company of all the family who have congregated
and being thankful they are still with us.