AEach year Christmas comes with a new twist, as manufacturers attempt to ring the changes. Food in particular is liable to experience a seasonal makeover. Chocolate pudding, caramel mincers and small things requiring an air fryer. As far as I’m concerned I remain unmoved. Bring on a Christmas Carol, bedeck the rooms with green stuff and have the Pogues on full blast in every shop. It’s called tradition.

 Our family tree doesn’t get a makeover, nor is it themed. It is real and decorated with the same trinkets that I knew when I was small. They are very lovely trinkets and I go and search out my favourites as soon as I arrive home. I gave mum a miniscule wood soldier when I was about four - my first personally chosen Christmas gift. It has a string to hang it, but is very hard to spot due to sizing. There is a red Murano glass ‘bow’ we bought together in Venice back in the day and bows made from red gingham ribbon that are recycled year to year. Mum could tell you the origin of every one. So I don’t want new decorations, I like the old ones.

I still get a stocking from Santa 😱. It brings me joy. The little gifts are treats. A delicious soap, a pair of socks, maybe a lippie and obviously a bag of chocolate coins and an orange. I have the same felt stocking that has kept me company for over thirty years. I don’t want a new one. I like the old one.

Lunch is at 1.30. Turkey, roasties, sprouts, all the usuals, plus an addition brought in during the ‘90’s, sliced courgettes, sauteed in butter with the addition of lashings of cream and parsley. Please ask if you would like the recipe. I make this, because I have to do something. This is my favourite lunch of the entire year. I certainly don’t want a new version. Afternoon is present time. We aren’t allowed to open any before. This is because Mum likes to see our smiling faces as we rip off the paper and gasp. 

A few years ago we started a ‘secret santa’ in the family, so instead of a present glut we now have one each. This is one new tradition I am onboard with. Otherwise it is too stressy and as I keep bleeting on - we all have enough stuff. That’s about it. The same old, same old. Same faces, same food, sometimes even the same wrapping paper if there was some left over, but I wouldn’t have it any other way…

So whatever you think of as ‘your’ Christmas just keep at it. Pyjamas all day? Christmas woolies? Even the ones that go entirely wrong will seem brilliant down the line.

Which reminds me. Have you watched season 2, episode 6 of ‘The Bear’?

⭐ Forget the canapes, replace with an extra glass of Prosecco.  I did once replace with a gin and fizz which was too much too early. 

⭐ Make the roast potatoes and root veg tonight. Then heat up. Saving you any tricky timings and washing up.

⭐ Bread sauce is excellent when made in the Nutribullet - whizz the lot up and heat. Done.

⭐ Forget the fancy. Leave Heston and Nigella and focus on friends and family. That's more than enough.

⭐ Secret Santa - one gift per person, carefully thought about.