OMG I've just written out a whole essay of a reply and deleted it all by mistake... nooo!
Beginning again...
It went a bit like this...
You made me smile and giggle through a three week backlog of ironing with this Emily... what a wonderful, funny but true account of how we've come do to Christmas ! And how glad am I that both of my two are grown up and I no longer have to go through the rigmarole of filling advent calendars (what happened to just opening a little door on a picture?) not only with jokes and proverbs but a gift too... I do however still have to leave a glass of sherry for Santa, a mince pie (handmade because in France you couldn't find one in the shops if your life depended on it) and a carrot for Rudolph of course, duly nibbled, crumbs left... and fill stockings with gifts with tags saying 'love Santa' (not the best gifts of course) all of which have to be opened at the crack of dawn meaning the house is just a pile of wrapped wrapping paper before breakfast is even served!
Christmas traditions are hard let go of aren't they? I guess you'll still be dreaming up cheeky Elf tricks for Thomas McSleighbells when your 90, and I'll be frantically making mince pies!
This was gorgeous and funny and so rich with Christmas spirit - love love love!
Oh noooo 🙈 I have accidentally lost a comment so many times - bloody elf mischief no doubt!! Susie, you’ve made me smile with this! Your description of Christmas morning chaos and those handmade mince pies in France—what a beautiful, nostalgic image (even if a slightly exhausting one!). I completely agree about the advent calendars, Thomas wanted a gemstone one this year, and Katelyn a beauty one, as well as the obligatory chocolate versions 🥹
I love that your Santa still gets his sherry (he knows where to visit for the good stuff), and as for me, I suspect you’re right—Flashy Thomas McSleighBells will be causing mischief well into my old age! I bet he doesn’t get any wrinkles though 🙈
Thank you for your kind words, sweet soul, you’ve filled my heart (and inspired me to stock up on carrots). Much love to you! 🎄🩵🤍❄️ xx
I’m wondering if Rudolph, and maybe Santa too come to think of it, would be ok with persimmon this year? Worth a try don’t you think! 😂 I hope your day was kind lovely - much love xx💛
Very relatable Emily. 😊. The thing is I suspect that despite the "hassle" that deep down you actually have fun with all of this too.... possibly? You are a creative and clearly have a little elfie mischief yourself so what better time to bring that all to the fore! Just a suspicion...
Either way, you are creating life long memories for your children Emily.
Beliefs change but the associated meaning of fun, surprise, parents involvement in their lives makes these traditions so special. My kids are 20 and 18 and still pretend to be asleep when I put a stocking on the end of their bed!!!! I am an early to bed person and because our Christmas is mid summer and it doesn't get dark till 10.30 pm I have to stay up very late!
We are feeding something within ourselves when we keep up with these traditions.
Love your Elf and wish I had that idea over the kids younger years.
Your suspicions are correct!! I have actually loved those elves (as well as hated them!🤣) over the years - I am very much struggling for new ideas this year though, and getting Thomas to bed on time is getting harder! And the stockings, it warms my heart to think of you sneaking into your grown kids rooms to hang their stockings while they pretend to be asleep 😍
Well this just brought all the smiles at 2am on December 1st!🤩 I hope ole Flashy helped you write this at such a late hour in recompense for fixing him up. Bless his stripey stockings.
I’m sooo happy you included photos of some of the elf shenanigans 🧝🏻♀️🧝🏼🧝🏼♂️😂
I also love that your new book title is about someone called Aunt Mol. Growing up I was in great reverence of someone I called Aunty Molly. I was well into my 20’s and I still called her aunty even though she wasn’t blood related. Well, one day, my darling grandad made the grave mistake of shortening her name to Mol. This sweet and gentle lady of God suddenly lost all saintliness and gave him a thorough dressing down.
“Mol is a gangster’s prostitute! Don’t you dare call me that. My name is Molly!”😂
I think it was after that I stopped calling her aunty. I stopped short of dropping the ly though.😅
Hahaha!! That’s so brilliant Suzy! I so love your story of your ‘Aunty’ Mol 🤣🤣 I’ve been meaning to fix Flashy up since he was first savaged, but as always, things get done when they absolutely must and not before, hence the 2am letter. Merry Christmas Suzy 🎄💚
I was struggling to sleep and so I thought I’d listen to a podcast or something….your letter dropped down as soon as I turned ipad on…perfect, serendipitous timing.🪄✨🪄✨🎄All the Magicks of Christmas on the 1st.😁✨🪄🌌I hope flashy (and you) can grab a sneaky nap this noon.✨
I hope that you managed to drop off and get some sleep Suzy. I may well be off to bed for an early night tonight…. Oh no, that’s right! Now I have to stay up LATER THAN THOMAS to sort the bloody elves 🤦♀️
This was so much fun to read. We don't really have Santa, but we do have Sint Niklaas here. I still get gifts from him at my parents place. Some traditions are hard to shake.
Thank you for reading and sharing Sint Niklass - sounds very much like Saint Nicholas - from which Santa Clause and Father Christmas are also derived, I think! I’m glad you enjoyed reading, enjoy your Christmas traditions.
Yes, I believe that St. Nicholas and St. Nicholas are the same. I hope you enjoy your Christmas traditions too, even if Flashy Thomas McSleighBells needs fixing. We don’t get the decorations out until St. Nicholas (December 6th) is over, but now I’ve already opened the boxes to see if I really need to fix that star.
I am so pleased my kids were too old when all this ‘nonsense’ started; bah humbug. No elves, no Xmas Eve boxes, no Santa (Father Christmas please), just grumpy old me and a CHICKEN roast dinner.
OMG I've just written out a whole essay of a reply and deleted it all by mistake... nooo!
Beginning again...
It went a bit like this...
You made me smile and giggle through a three week backlog of ironing with this Emily... what a wonderful, funny but true account of how we've come do to Christmas ! And how glad am I that both of my two are grown up and I no longer have to go through the rigmarole of filling advent calendars (what happened to just opening a little door on a picture?) not only with jokes and proverbs but a gift too... I do however still have to leave a glass of sherry for Santa, a mince pie (handmade because in France you couldn't find one in the shops if your life depended on it) and a carrot for Rudolph of course, duly nibbled, crumbs left... and fill stockings with gifts with tags saying 'love Santa' (not the best gifts of course) all of which have to be opened at the crack of dawn meaning the house is just a pile of wrapped wrapping paper before breakfast is even served!
Christmas traditions are hard let go of aren't they? I guess you'll still be dreaming up cheeky Elf tricks for Thomas McSleighbells when your 90, and I'll be frantically making mince pies!
This was gorgeous and funny and so rich with Christmas spirit - love love love!
Thank you sweet soul - always! 🎅🏽🧝🏻xx
Oh noooo 🙈 I have accidentally lost a comment so many times - bloody elf mischief no doubt!! Susie, you’ve made me smile with this! Your description of Christmas morning chaos and those handmade mince pies in France—what a beautiful, nostalgic image (even if a slightly exhausting one!). I completely agree about the advent calendars, Thomas wanted a gemstone one this year, and Katelyn a beauty one, as well as the obligatory chocolate versions 🥹
I love that your Santa still gets his sherry (he knows where to visit for the good stuff), and as for me, I suspect you’re right—Flashy Thomas McSleighBells will be causing mischief well into my old age! I bet he doesn’t get any wrinkles though 🙈
Thank you for your kind words, sweet soul, you’ve filled my heart (and inspired me to stock up on carrots). Much love to you! 🎄🩵🤍❄️ xx
I’m wondering if Rudolph, and maybe Santa too come to think of it, would be ok with persimmon this year? Worth a try don’t you think! 😂 I hope your day was kind lovely - much love xx💛
If I were Santa or Rudolph, I certainly would 🎄
I’ll let you know!😉x
Very relatable Emily. 😊. The thing is I suspect that despite the "hassle" that deep down you actually have fun with all of this too.... possibly? You are a creative and clearly have a little elfie mischief yourself so what better time to bring that all to the fore! Just a suspicion...
Either way, you are creating life long memories for your children Emily.
Beliefs change but the associated meaning of fun, surprise, parents involvement in their lives makes these traditions so special. My kids are 20 and 18 and still pretend to be asleep when I put a stocking on the end of their bed!!!! I am an early to bed person and because our Christmas is mid summer and it doesn't get dark till 10.30 pm I have to stay up very late!
We are feeding something within ourselves when we keep up with these traditions.
Love your Elf and wish I had that idea over the kids younger years.
Enjoy the festivities! xx
Your suspicions are correct!! I have actually loved those elves (as well as hated them!🤣) over the years - I am very much struggling for new ideas this year though, and getting Thomas to bed on time is getting harder! And the stockings, it warms my heart to think of you sneaking into your grown kids rooms to hang their stockings while they pretend to be asleep 😍
😊❤️❤️
Well this just brought all the smiles at 2am on December 1st!🤩 I hope ole Flashy helped you write this at such a late hour in recompense for fixing him up. Bless his stripey stockings.
I’m sooo happy you included photos of some of the elf shenanigans 🧝🏻♀️🧝🏼🧝🏼♂️😂
I also love that your new book title is about someone called Aunt Mol. Growing up I was in great reverence of someone I called Aunty Molly. I was well into my 20’s and I still called her aunty even though she wasn’t blood related. Well, one day, my darling grandad made the grave mistake of shortening her name to Mol. This sweet and gentle lady of God suddenly lost all saintliness and gave him a thorough dressing down.
“Mol is a gangster’s prostitute! Don’t you dare call me that. My name is Molly!”😂
I think it was after that I stopped calling her aunty. I stopped short of dropping the ly though.😅
Hahaha!! That’s so brilliant Suzy! I so love your story of your ‘Aunty’ Mol 🤣🤣 I’ve been meaning to fix Flashy up since he was first savaged, but as always, things get done when they absolutely must and not before, hence the 2am letter. Merry Christmas Suzy 🎄💚
I was struggling to sleep and so I thought I’d listen to a podcast or something….your letter dropped down as soon as I turned ipad on…perfect, serendipitous timing.🪄✨🪄✨🎄All the Magicks of Christmas on the 1st.😁✨🪄🌌I hope flashy (and you) can grab a sneaky nap this noon.✨
I hope that you managed to drop off and get some sleep Suzy. I may well be off to bed for an early night tonight…. Oh no, that’s right! Now I have to stay up LATER THAN THOMAS to sort the bloody elves 🤦♀️
😂😅Oh Emily, chuckling so hard!😁🎄
This was so much fun to read. We don't really have Santa, but we do have Sint Niklaas here. I still get gifts from him at my parents place. Some traditions are hard to shake.
Thank you for reading and sharing Sint Niklass - sounds very much like Saint Nicholas - from which Santa Clause and Father Christmas are also derived, I think! I’m glad you enjoyed reading, enjoy your Christmas traditions.
Yes, I believe that St. Nicholas and St. Nicholas are the same. I hope you enjoy your Christmas traditions too, even if Flashy Thomas McSleighBells needs fixing. We don’t get the decorations out until St. Nicholas (December 6th) is over, but now I’ve already opened the boxes to see if I really need to fix that star.
I am so pleased my kids were too old when all this ‘nonsense’ started; bah humbug. No elves, no Xmas Eve boxes, no Santa (Father Christmas please), just grumpy old me and a CHICKEN roast dinner.
Haha!! I honestly don’t know if I hate it or love it 🎄 I think, possibly both. Thanks for reading and enjoy your roast chicken Tamsin 💚