Christmas memories

Tina wrote about her favourite memories so I thought I would add a few of mine here too.

My dad was the greatest fan of Christmas. Every new invention that came out, he would have. I remember the pink tree, and the blue tree and the white tree. These were not plastic but spray painted. To a youngster like me they were magical. Then he got some candle lights that had liquid in them and bubbles would rise up when they got warm.

Mother knew how to celebrate Christmas, too. We would often have 20 or more people to dinner. She would start in November making her Christmas cakes and puddings. Not many of us really liked Christmas pudding but she would wrap coins in waxed paper before cooking them and so, there was added incentive for us to actually eat some. She made the best shortbread cookies I have ever tasted and I am not the only one. Many people recalled eating these treasures when she died this year. She also made hermits and rum balls and ice box cookies. The turkey was stuffed with sausage dressing which I loved. I remember when I was 4 or 5 telling my aunt that Mother's dressing was MUCH better than her bread stuffing. My poor mother nearly crawled under the table in embarrassment but I was only telling the truth.

Mother was also the very best at filling our stockings. I don't know where she got the stuff she put in them but many years opening our stockings was the best part of the day.

I remember when Jennifer was 2 and my mother-in-law had bought her a teaset for Christmas. Unfortunately Jennifer opened a teaset from a dear neighbour first and wouldn't open any other presents because she wanted to play with it. It was my turn to be embarrassed.

I remember when Jonathan was 6 months old, we bought him a stuffed bear that was bigger than he was. I still have that picture somewhere.

I also remember my husband and mother-in-law staying up until all hours of the night trying to put toys and a huge playhouse together.

I remember the year when it rained so hard for so long that the power went out while the turkey was in the oven. Fortunately it came back on it time to cook the bird OK.

Christmas should always be about making precious family memories. If you are able to be with family this year. appreciate them. As we have found out, they will not be around forever and you will miss them.

Food for thought . . .