Just one CLAUS
ALL KERRE WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS IS TO BE WITH HER GRANDCHILDREN!
My bag is packed and in just a few weeks, I’ll be in London with my little family for what I’m hoping and praying will be a white Christmas.
The jackets and merino hat and gloves that I only ever wear in London take up half of my suitcase. The thermals have been brought out of storage and I’ve packed a couple of good dresses for Christmas Day and New Year. I really don’t enjoy winter as a season but I wouldn’t miss being with the family for anything.
This year, I’ve decided to embrace the whole Christmas in London experience. We were there for the festive season last year, but I didn’t get fully on board with the silly jumpers and flashing earrings and tartan pyjamas for the entire family.
This time I’m going in, boots and all. I ordered the ugly jumpers and they arrived a couple of days ago, but I’m still dithering over the reindeer onesie. I thought perhaps I could change into it on the plane and wear it to surprise the little ones when I arrive. But then again, perhaps a supersize, jet-lagged reindeer at their door might be one step too far.
The presents to go under the tree for the babies were sorted ages ago. My daughter found a few old episodes of Suzy Cato’s iconic kids show, You and Me, on YouTube and both Bart and Dora are spellbound by them. Dora’s only got a few words, given that she’s just turned one, but Bart sings along and his Ma¯ori and Samoan pronunciations are pretty jolly good, given he’s a Kiwi kid living in south east London.
“It’s our time, Kia Ora, Talofa!” he sings joyfully, waving back to Suzy. “It’s time to say, Hello, Gidday, kei te pe¯hea koe?” The video his mum took of him singing along is one of my faves and when I sent it to Suzy to show her she was entertaining a whole new generation of children, she responded so generously. DVDs of every one of her shows turned up on my doorstep, along with handwritten notes for Kate and the babies, as well as a couple of her books. Lovely, lovely woman.
Add that to the Irish tweed baker boy cap I ordered from Donnegal for Bart and he’s sorted.
He’s going through a phase of wanting to look just like his dad and given that we gave his father a similar cap last Christmas, we thought we’d get him a replica so the boys can match.
Kate told me not to worry about Dora – she’s too little to understand Christmas. I totally understand that − she’ll have much more fun tearing up the wrapping paper, but I’m a nana! It’s all about me!
So I think I’ll find a dress-up costume for her – she loves putting on masks and the big silly flashing glasses that Kate bought for Bart when he was going through his fan-boy phase for Sir Elton John.
One of my lovely listeners is even knitting a beautiful merino dress for
Dora. I had plans to do it myself but while I might have the desire to be a proper nana and knit something for my grandchild, I simply don’t have the skill or stickability. So Joss, who has produced some lovely garments for the children purely out of the goodness of her heart, is working overtime to produce a beautiful, warm Christmas dress.
My son-in-law, who is a brilliant cook, is in charge of Christmas lunch and I think my only job is to order the Champagne when I arrive. As for me, all I want for Christmas is the opportunity to wake up with my two precious grandkids. As we grandparents know, nothing − not jewellery, not perfume, not a single thing that can be bought − can compare to hugs and kisses from your baby’s babies. It will be a very Happy Christmas for me and I hope yours is too.