Monday 20 December 2010

Christmas Club - The Chinese Bracelet

Forgive me, it's Christmas and I am running very behind schedule!  Firstly, thanks to all the kind comments about the book, I just wish we had touchy feely blog posts as you would have been able to feel how soft the leather was on that book spine .....  I digress ...

The Chinese Bracelet Christmas.

When my daughter was young, she was obsessed by people who had a foreign accent and loved to try and copy them.  There was a memorable phase in her life where she was equally obsessed with 'Neighbours' and 'Flying Doctors' (or Flying Gockers as she called them).  She would allocate everyone characters and we had to talk like that for a whole dinner time, my mum used to find this hysterical and was often pulled up on her impersonation of Helen Daniels 'It isn't that funny Nan, just talk like her, try it again'.  And of course The Husband was totally bemused and could only say 'G'day Auntie Madge'.
About this time, the daughter was at play school (about 4 years old) and came home one day totally excited about a new girl who had started.  The girl was called Sylvie-Ann and she was Chinese.  (You can see what is coming here can't you?)  Not only that, but she didn't know many English words, so we now had a whole new made up language to practise over dinner.  But best of all was Sylvie-Ann's bracelet.  The daughter was obsessed with all things Sylvie-Ann, and she had a lovely silver charm bracelet.  All I heard about was Sylvie-Ann's bracelet and how the daughter was going to ask Father Christmas for one exactly the same.  Now, F. C's chief elf was slightly concerned about this request and needed more details.  'I don't need to tell you what it looks like Mum, I've drawn a picture of it in the letter to Father Christmas that we made at play school today and Miss has sent them off for us'.  I considered the possibility of inviting Sylvie-Ann for tea but as her mum spoke even less English than she did, I didn't think this was an option.  It was getting closer to Christmas and I still hadn't seen this bracelet.  I tried scouring the crowds of 4 year olds coming out of playschool to catch sight of the bracelet, but it was winter and all arms and wrists were covered up with winter coats and gloves.
Then we had a morning where mums could go in and watch a little play and I realised this was my only chance.  I was dragged across the classroom to a rather bewildered little Chinese girl who had her wrist grabbed by the daughter and the bracelet in all it's glory was revealed.  It was lovely.  Clearly not from England.  Delicate silver links had wonderful chinese symbols hanging from them.  There were little animal charms including beautiful tiny elephants.
Now Santa's elf did her best and on Christmas morning, a little silver charm bracelet was unwrapped.  There were no chinese symbols and certainly no elephants but there was a ballerina, a ballet shoe, a rabbit, and a letter 'R' - all things appropriate to the daughter.  The husband and I held our breath ... she loved it!  It was not only as good as Sylvie-Ann's it was better - phew!  Every photo taken that Christmas day has the daughter proudly displaying her wrist - which has led to some strangely posed pictures.  I really must get round to scanning them into the computer!

14 comments:

Amy said...

Deb you make a wonderful representative elf for FC ... does DD still have her bracelet?

It is funny to hear you talking about Australian shows - Flying Gockers was popular here but, dare I say it - not the crew from Ramsay Street.

Ruth said...

That is such a cute story ~ I also want to know if DD still has the bracelet?

scrappyjacky said...

I bet she does still have it somewhere....lovely story,Deb.

Liberty :) said...

A brilliant story and well done chief elf!

Sian said...

Oh, please, let's see a picture! I love this story as a perfect example of what Christmas means - to the Santas who search for the right present to the children who truly believe the right present will arrive! Thank you for CC'ing it. It's much appreciated!

We have a girl here who does a very entertaining Australian accent - when she isn't impersonating the Headmaster. I n fact, one of the reasons she wanted my brother to come home at Christmas was because "he helps me with my funny voices"

Cheri said...

Ah, the lengths we elves will go to in order to obtain the perfect gift for a child! This year I ended up last minute shopping for a ski jacket and having to return a pair of white skinny jeans (ungiven) in order to keep to the budget and still make sure the late request of a desperately desired ski jacket would appear under the tree!

Maria Ontiveros said...

What a great story. I love Christmas Club.
Rinda

Miriam said...

Lovely story Deb, no wonder FC only goes out once a year he is sooo exhausted looking for these special gifts! I remember searching high & low, this town & that town for some fluffy slippers with dog faces on!!

Anonymous said...

What a lovely story Deb. So funny that you all spoke Australian at the dinner table.

Anonymous said...

What a lovely story Deb. I too want to know if your daughter still has that bracelet.

humel said...

Aww, bless! Santa gets set some challenges sometimes, huh?! The Girl announced this evening that she'd like a laptop for Christmas, but this particular Chief Elf soon put paid to that idea!!

Becky said...

What a wonderful story - I could just imagine you panicking about the bracelet! So glad that she loved the one that FC managed to get for her. Wishing you and yours a merry Christmas.

Denise said...

Ah,that's a lovely story,I can imagine how you felt trying to find out what it was like and eventually managing to get a glimpse-you and Santa triumphed in the end x

Rachel Brett said...

What a lovely story, I'm so glad it was a success. I was holding my breath too - just incase! :)