The Christmas / New Years season this year has
been a good one... Friends, festivities, frolicking and food. In hindsight I’d
say for me, the best things about this season have been:
Holidayyy Whether you love work or hate work, it’s
always nice to have a little time off. This is probably the one time of the
year where it’s totally acceptable to laze around in ‘loungewear’ all day and
do nothing. Apart from drink. And eat. Even if you’re revising for GCSEs,
A-levels, Uni finals, Accountancy exams etc etc it is frowned upon to get your
revision notes out on Christmas Day. Make the most of it…
…On that note, it’s 100% acceptable to drink all day and take a nap whenever you
feel snoozy!
Port
wine & cigars on Christmas Eve This has turned into a bit of a Neiss Family tradition. Daddy’s dinner
has been devoured and everyone is deliciously drunk. All the grown men and the
children (or ‘semi-adults’ as I term myself) head onto the patio to smoke a
cigar and drink some port wine. (Obviously the children are just there to smoke
up the atmosphere. Not an actual cigar.) This year I pushed the boat out...I
smoked a Virginia Super Slim. 
Presents
Giving, receiving, whatever
takes your fancy. Who the hell doesn’t like getting new stuff or seeing that
smile on mummy’s face when you’ve given her something cute and loving?! Christmas
simply isn’t Christmas without a bit of giving and getting. After all, Baby
Jesus got some gold, frankincense, myrrh, some sheep etc etc
Christmas carols and especially Hark! The Herald Angels Sing! This hymn
has such a feel good factor about it that they should prescribe daily 10
minutes of singing it at the top of your lungs to anyone suffering from
depression.
Christmas
TV & Films The Muppets’
Christmas Carol! Elf! Miracle on 34th Street! Love Actually! I could
go on.. Christmas films + a glass of mulled = pure bliss. I’m not even going to
start on Christmas TV specials… Christmas Specials are always bloody brilliant,
no matter how bad the TV show.
Finally, I’m going to be controversial and say Christmas Eve. Yes. Better than
Christmas Day. For my family, coming from a European background, this is the
classic present exchanging time anyway, as opposed to Christmas Day. However
I’m inclined to say that the Christmas Eve activities of decorating the tree,
eating a good meal, singing a few carols, midnight mass and the anticipation of
the next day are what makes it so great. Unlike Christmas Day, no-one runs out
of steam and there isn’t a huge anti-climax.
-
Sub note:
this year Christmas Eve was altogether something special... My aunt received a
copy of the notorious Fifty Shades of
Grey and post-port wine and champers, father dearest thought it would be a
complete hoot to read from it. Aloud. Obviously only the sex scenes.
Ah the Christmas season..!!
