We made it!!! Still no COVID (though absolutely feeling it is only a matter of time – hope these aren't famous last words) so we were up and at it fairly early.
Stockings in bed (of the present rather than lacy variety, obvs) and an early bucks fizz with breakfast then a quick drive over to Southfields to pick up the lovely Maureen, one of the AgeUK ladies who I visit. She was going to be all on her own for Xmas so that had to be changed into a morning with us, a mince pie and a cheeky sausage roll. The most I have ever seen her eat! In fact, the first time anything beyond a coffee, which made me feel better as I worry she doesn't eat anything like enough…
Pleasingly I had managed to secure her a big box of Xmas treats from an oldies charity, ranging from biscuits & a xmas lunch in a tub to beans and soup for more practical purposes. All delivered as per the plan on Xmas Eve. Bless her, she was trying to give me bits from it despite me repeatedly insisting that it was all for her!
Anyway, she was so pleased to come round and be plied with bucks fizz and to open her prezzies. Nothing more sweet than an 84 lady saying 'oh you chump, you' when looking at the 2-penguins ornament I'd got her for her little xmas tree, one saying 'Maureen' and one 'Scotty'. It was the first time H had met her and her thought she was super sweet too. Luckily she was a bit tired after a couple of hours so no guilty feelings in dropping her back home, while we returned to feed ourselves into a state of oblivion. Look at the size of that 'turkey for 2'!!!
Prezzies were all a dream too, and Scrumpy was especially happy with her bag of treats from chum Flossy.
As per the plan, H's brother Tim & wife Mel, and his nephew Reeve and wife Kerry-Anne and daughter Izzy all tipped up on Boxing Day to help us make a bigger dent in the Dora food mountain. The Secret Santas were v successful – Reeve looking good in the turkey hat, before H 'stole' it back from him. I do like the version where the person who picks the highest number from the bags of turns, get to pinch anything they want from the gifts already opened! And of course the girls whupped the boys at Xmas Articulate, despite the amount the cheated..
All in all a v good few days – though we were more than ready yesterday morning (having cleaned and prepped the house for Cathy & the family and been in Waitrose at 8am to stock the fridge with goodies for their hopeful arrival that evening) to head off for a few days peace & quiet.
STILL not knowing if Mojo would be getting dinner from cathy that evening, or from Anita next door, on backstop duty as ever..
x