My ‘grotty’ grotto is a hit on farm

I LOOK at things pragmatically. This does not make for a good chooser of festive gifts as I can’t buy things just for the sake of it.

I asked the children to write notes to Santa with details of what they would like. Most were vague and featured the word ‘surprises’.

There were a few pointers though: a doll, crayons, books, a rugby ball, a can of WD40 and a Christmas jumper.

As it happened,

Raven found the garish Christmas jumper of her dreams in a charity shop in Richmond. It set me back £4.

Edith & Violet made a wreath for the front door using a wire coat TOGETHER hanger, holly from the garden and ivy that grows up the house.

Our tree is heavily adorned with glass baubles at the top but sparse at the bottom with just felt animals and other robust decorations that can stand being chewed by the dogs.

I strung sparkling Christmas lights around the nativity scene on the piano. The stable was looking almost as busy as our house: Mary and Joseph, kings and shepherds were joined by hangers-on including Elsa from Frozen.

I was very proud of my decorations. “I think it looks like a grotto,” I said to Annas, four, who then announced to all visitors that it was grotty.

Christmas on the farm is a busy time: there’s still all the animals to look after but we thank our lucky stars that we have food, family and friends around us.