Don't we all drive ourselves mad for what is, in reality only a couple of days of the year? Every magazine you see gives you the perfect menu for Christmas, the perfect way to decorate, the perfect mince pie recipe ... and so on. The thing is, I don't lead a perfect life for 363 days of the year so why should I feel like I have to live 2 perfect days? Come to think of it, my idea of perfect is my own idea. Just because Nigella Lawson is dipping her fingers into sublime, perfect brandy sauce with her Christmas pud, and Jamie Oliver is dishing up a 'pukka' roast turkey with meat piled high on a platter for everyone to help themselves doesn't mean that this will work at our house. In fact, any dipping of fingers is bound to lead to me dripping sauce right down the front of my best Christmas dress. We have 14 round the table at Christmas, ages ranging from 85 to 9 months, can you imagine all those arms diving in to help themselves? (I make one exception here, Queen Delia Smith really does know how to make perfect crunchy roast potatoes, so if I can borrow one person's idea of perfection, that's the one I will be taking on board!)
So I reckon that with the hindsight of Christmases past, the thing to do is make two lists. One reality check, things that I need to do and one called 'it probably won't happen but if it is does it would be a bonus'. The days go past in a blur and I always end up going to the supermarket far too often in the days leading up to Christmas buying impulse things that seemed essential at the time but were so non-essential, they are still in the fridge two days after Christmas.
The real essentials for a Happy Christmas for me are having those closest and dearest to me around me, everyone keeping healthy, and enough food in the cupboards to keep us going until the shops reopen.
Keep Calm - It's only Christmas!!!
10 comments:
You are so right but I think we all have the unrealistic need to make Christmas 'perfect', I know I do.
I couldn't agree more. On my side of the family, no one person ever has to do all the catering themselves - it makes such a difference if we all pitch in - and, we sort of have to because there will be around 30 people there on the day.
The inlaws are different and prefer to host, I think it creates a lot of pressure - my MIL says she enjoys it but I am not so sure ... I have started making the pudding to help her out, I already make it for my side so one extra isn't a problem at all.
Being together is the biggest thing - I think it is why I secretly enjoy Boxing Day more - super relaxed and no pressure! Just more eating and drinking ... and it is when I plan to make the yummy salted caramel pav!
Oh, Deb, I love this post! You are so absolutely right on with everything you wrote here.
"Keep calm - it's only Christmas." I love that!
I just HAD to weigh in on the potatoes. If they're Delia's, it will all be fluffy and crunchy and perfect :D
I think Queen Delia is definitely the exception that proves the rule.
Definitely agree about Delia's roast potatoes and you're absolutely right about all the rest too x
Thanks for the reality check. You are right we idealize everything, however, I am sure Nigela's on screen life is a little different to her off screen life no matter how grand it is. I thik having 14 at the dinner table on Christmas is pretty amazing.
You are right of course. But I still have to dream for pefection and try to bring it just a little nearer. It is only 2 days. What would be unrealistic would be to strive for Christmas perfection all year. i can just about manage my version of perfection for 2 days!
Well said! Perfection can be in one little thing, or in all of it if we just don't overthink it. Happy Christmas!
Great post and so true. The perfect day is what you make of it :-)
I'm inherently lazy so calm is a way of life for me. :) I like lists, I put the the things I need to do in big letters & then under them make little subsets of 'would be nice' variations in case I suddenly feel ambitious.
I rarely feel ambitious but when I do I know exactly what to do. :)
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