That is our hosting duties fulfilled for another two years.
It all went pretty smoothly with not too many hiccups - other than the potatoes being more mash than solid. Thankfully, I had nothing to do with them, and it was all my wife. Otherwise I would have been in trouble.
I just did the peeling.
This next image looks like a box of wine, but it is actually a box of apple juice we got for a Christmas present from our neighbours. Each year they have far, far too many apples (as do we) and they take them to be pressed. I think it is a nice gift idea, and it is great apple juice - far better than the basic stuff from the shop.
And this year, we went "fancy" with out second table, with the garden set coming inside to provide enough seats for guests. It worked pretty well, because those seats are far more comfortable than the stools we have had people on in years past.
Overall, the house looked and smelled pretty good, with all the different foods, fireplace and flowers melding together into the scent of Christmas. And then between courses, the family sang some songs together (while I was cleaning dishes and prepping dessert), before Santa visited to have a chat and hand out some presents.
Singing is not my thing.
And it was nice to have the Santa we did, because his wife and he are expecting their first child in the next day or two, so he won't be Santa for a while. You can't be Santa for your own kids.
And after dessert, people went back into the lounge and talked, while I cleared dishes away again. Since I am not much use in the conversations, I tend to just keep to myself throughout the evenings, which is kind of strange for me, as I would far prefer to engage with people. It is just too hard at this kind of thing, with a lot of people talking fast about shared experiences I wasn't part of - it leaves me out of the loop.
That is okay though, as it is a time for family.
And while technically I am part of the family, I am not part of the family in that way. I am more a peripheral part f the family, the father of someone who is part of the family, my daughter. So I am there to support her, and to make sure everyone is offered enough to eat and drink.
Tomorrow though, it is just the three of us, sitting around in pyjamas, eating leftovers and watching movies. My wife watches Home Alone every year, but I would like to watch something else instead. It can still be a Christmas movie, as there are so many to choose from we could watch a different one every year. But you know,
Traditions....
Most people celebrate Christmas on the 25th, so wherever you are, if you are celebrating, enjoy the time with family, friends and good food.
Taraz
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