“”Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents,” grumbled Jo, lying on the rug.”
Little Women by Louisa M Alcott
A Christmas past. Muddy roads and rain. I had 3 nieces rather than 4. Dad was still alive. We’d been cooped up inside for too long and the cracks were beginning to show in tantrums and whining.
“Okay, this is what we’re gong to do,” I ventured, placing each niece in seclusion with a sheet of paper and a pen.
“I want each one of you to write a letter to Father Christmas. Tell him if you’ve been good or not, and write him a list of things you’d like for Christmas.”
For a few blissful minutes they took to their task enthusiastically. The adults breathed a sigh of relief and I padded over to the awaiting kettle.
What angels, I thought … they really aren’t so bad.
I allowed myself a satisfied, tea-anticipating smile.
Just then one of my nieces, pen poised in hand, called out: “Granny! How do you spell ‘iPad’?”
The kettle whistled and the spell was broken.
I tell this story because it reminds me of how precious, surprising and honest life is with children around. I spent Christmas 2017 with my nieces, sis-in-law and Mama ‘up north’ (#Hullaccent). My brother and Hubby left for a fishing trip in Siberia on Christmas night so for a few days it was just us 7 girls – SEVEN!
Needless to say, the kettle worked overtime and innumerable cups of tea where consumed.
It’s been a while, dear readers. For some time life and busyness have sucked all the creative juices out of me. I’ve missed you. But I’m back now.
Happy New Year. And may 2018 give back everything 2017 took from you.
SMALL PRINT:
P.s. Hubby and I had 2 Christmases this year. We had Christmas eve lunch with Hubby’s parents, then drove all the way up to Kingston-upon-Hull to be with my brother, sis-in-law, nieces and Mama. On Christmas night Hubby and my boet drove to Heathrow to catch the 22h00 Aeroflot flight to Siberia to go fishing in the ice #notjoking.
P.p.s. The girls and I watched the latest 3 part series of Little Women on BBC – highly recommended. I took my nieces to see Paddington 2 (2017). We discovered – as suspected – that a feature-length film in a cinema, is just too much for a 13-month-old baba. Also, that Hugh Grant makes a really convincing villain.
P.p.p.s. I read an article recently about working less. You can find this interesting BBC read here.
P.p.p.p.s. What do I want out of 2018? I want to make space to read, reflect and exercise. I want to pick up my French again. I want to be generous with my time and my heart – to see my fiends and spend quality time with my Hubby. I want to laugh more. I want to be well. I want … I want …. We will see.
Nyamazela 
It sounds as though you enjoyed a lovely Christmas with the people who mean the most to you.I love your plans for 2018.Laughter is the best medicine ……so that’s the perfect start and every other wish will slot into place.xxxHappy New Year 😀
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And Happy New Year to you too!
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Happy new year, Nyama 🙂 may God bless the socks off you this year! xxx
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Yes, let 2018 be a year of more. More nice stuff though, we’ve all had enough of the nasties, thank you 2017, you can sit down now.
I wish you everything that will allow your heart to sing!
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