At least a ‘Government Christmas’ meant less washing up

WHAT an odd Christmas it has been this year. I know for many years I have probably had more than my fair share of the festive celebrations to be able to remember them all, but I always seem to enjoy the day once I have survived the hectic preparations.

Our close family, you may recall, made an early decision to abandon Christmas this year … and then at the last minute, so did Boris!

Initially it seemed a sensible idea to do things differently, but then as the 25th got nearer I started to think about all those many Christmas Days past.

Sadly, this year must have been upsetting for many who have had to spend the holiday on their own. One day it may happen to me and I am sure I will hate it.

Way back in the 50s we would invariably be sharing the flat my grandparents lived in. It must have been a tight squeeze as there was just the one bedroom and four adults and two children needing a bed.

I cannot remember how it was sorted, but I will always recall the radio in the lounge being switched on for the carol and the 8am news. This meant that my sister and I could get up and start our day.

We often had to be organised early as the male members had to get ready to go to the match. Football was played on Christmas

Day until 1957 and although the buses were running, we lived close enough to the ground to walk there and back.

The game on Christmas Day was followed on Boxing Day with a return fixture against the same opposition!

After that game, the extended family would gather for Christmas tea and for the adults some serious quantities of beer! We had no television to watch, and the radio somehow did not have any attraction so a few more beers it was until me and my cousins found somewhere to fall asleep before they were roused to go home.

The modern version of Christmas Day has far greater expectation for everyone. More extravagant gifts maybe, mountains of food that somehow rarely gets consumed and as much liquid as we want to wash it all down!

I know we had to do all this without our families with us this year, but the telephone and Zoom have offered far more family contact than we had in the distant past.

The very first Government-designed Christmas I have to admit was both different and interesting. Senior Management still cooked her excellent lunch but I enjoyed also the reduced volume of washing up!

Just the two of us could happily defer the plum pudding until Boxing Day as we have often wanted to do and never dared suggest it as everyone else wanted all the courses.

I am looking forward to the next year so that we can get back to the usual celebration. That will be the time when I decide which version I enjoy the most. Before that can even be thought about, we have the New Year celebrations to consider.

In 2010 we were in Sydney over the New Year and can confirm the fireworks are extraordinary. They have two displays – one at 10pm and the big show at midnight! Will these happen this year in either Sydney or London? Somehow I do think they will also be a deferred item to discourage the crowds. Whatever happens, I am sure you will all manage to have a glass ready to bid goodbye to the past awful year and dream of good things to come. Whatever is in those dreams, and presumably some fresh resolutions, I wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year and hope we are all here in 12 months’ time to properly celebrate the next festive season!

A happy new year to you all!

Just the two of us could happily defer the plum pudding until Boxing Day as we have often wanted to do.