Holidays are coming

At least this is what the Coco Cola advert says but as far as I am concerned they are not coming quick enough!

I’ve attempted to slow everything down but as anyone who is responsible for a house, business or family know, there are numerous things you just can’t put on hold.

And so, I am crawling my way through to the Christmas holidays.

In fact, I feel like I’m way behind the masses this year.  As a huge fan of all things Christmas, the 1^st is my official start date.  Yet for many, it would seem that the presence of Covid acts as code for start early and go big.  

I don’t think I have ever before seen so many Christmas lights whether in houses or shops at this time of year. Hence in comparison I’m feeling like I’m slow off the mark.  That said, I did manage to get out to buy my own Christmas tree earlier this week where the vendor told me he had already sold 150 pines!

Blimey!

I also received my first card last week and two presents this week.  Some people are seriously ahead of the game!

My own chunky but funky little pine tree is now dressed and lit.  Now that I finally have a green garden I will even be able to plant it up after this season that I can use it again for the next.

Whilst I’m still a little snowed under with painting and decorating as well as catching up on training opportunities for work, my aim is to put the extra work down by the end of this week and throw myself in to all things Christmas.

It will of course be a very different Christmas this year.  Whilst Covid was but a Chinese whisper this time last year, it is now separating many from their loved ones.  Numerous family’s are finding themselves agonising over whether to meet and mix with family during the five day flout fest (as my sister has termed it).  Some people feel safe, others do not. Those who do not, want to avoid offending those who do and so another layer of potential conflict and complication is added to what can already be a challenging season for many.  

Personally I am so wrapped up in exhausting myself with house sorting that I’ll be happy just to have a break.  I haven’t quite got round to thinking about, let alone organising who I will or wont be seeing nor whether they will or wont want to see me!  

As for my own family, the ongoing estrangement from most of them spares me from wrestling with that particular dilemma!  Every cloud!

Generally, recent surveys suggest that the majority feel the sacrifice of one Christmas with family is a worthy act if it prevents further Covid spreading.  

After one of the most peculiar and challenging years of recent times, most do not want to prolong matters longer than necessary.  Rather, most seem willing to forgo the usual level of festivities and family engagements.  Who is to say for how many this offers respite rather than resentment!

Personally, I’m gutted there will be no Christmas parties this year!  I usually have around four booked in full of feasting and shape throwing.  I’ve really missed the chance to get out and dance this year.  With the exception of a spontaneous outburst of dancing in my neighbours living room (back when that was allowed), I’ve done no dancing this year and I miss it!

But other than that, the socialising restrictions have simply given me permission to focus solely on house sorting which has actually been rather helpful, if exhausting.

Christmas will indeed be quiet for me this year.  And at this point, I feel pretty grateful for the chance it offers to hunker down to watch Christmas films, bake mince pies and enjoy the great outdoors all without the option to attempt to fit in crazy amounts of catch ups.   

But until those holidays actually do come, I will get my head down, do what is necessary, enjoy what I can along the way and look forward to the chance to stop, breath and reflect.