31st December 2008

And just like that, another Christmas has come and gone in a flurry of wrapping paper, roast potatoes, and highly competitive ten-pin bowling. Here’s how the festive period unfolded at Willow Bank…

Christmas Eve
Charlotte and Lucas rolled up mid-afternoon in their new black Freelander, adding a certain 4×4 swagger to proceedings. Suraj joined us later at teatime, having nobly worked a half-day. By 7:30 pm, everyone except Nan (still excused from antics due to her festive red wrist cast) piled into cars and headed to the Rock & Bowl in Kettering.

As always, bowling proved the perfect way to ease into Christmas; nothing says ‘seasonal spirit’ like your mother-in-law lobbing a strike in rented shoes. By 11 pm, several bottles of champagne had been consumed (mostly won, astonishingly), and the middle generation was getting decidedly giddy. We left before we were formally asked to.

Christmas Day
The usual Christmas routine rolled out like clockwork:

• Breakfast
• Present unwrapping
• Wrapping paper incineration (or at least strategic tidying)
• Dinner
• Playing with presents
• Tea
• Family games (where someone always becomes irrationally competitive)
• Christmas TV
• Collapse into bed

It was gloriously familiar and deeply satisfying.

Boxing Day – The Return of the Gambler
Tradition dictated a visit to Peterborough’s greyhound racing stadium, where we indulged in some light-hearted, post-turkey gambling. Historically, our fortunes range from “mildly amusing loss” to “sobering reminder not to bet on dogs called Flopsy”, but this year, astonishingly, I was on fire.

Of 13 races, I won all but three, and even pocketed £104.60 from a single £1 bet. For the rest of the day, I was (by general consensus) insufferably smug. But then again, wouldn’t you be?

The Day After
While Sue and I stayed home to recover from post-racing giddiness, the rest of the family headed off to Northampton to crush the credit crunch under the weight of their shopping bags. Suraj, not to be outdone, popped into the now-defunct Woolworths in Harborough and capitalised on their “everything for 10p” closing-down sale. The family, scenting an opportunity, democratically decided that I should reinvest my greyhound winnings in a Nepalese meal in Desborough. I pretended to object. I failed. It turned out to be an excellent decision, delicious food, cheerful company, and not a single dog in sight.

Steam-Powered Excitement
The next morning, we introduced Lucas to the magic of steam trains with a ride on the (admittedly rather short) Northampton & Lamport Railway. When the great, hissing machine pulled into the station, Lucas looked understandably unsure, probably wondering if we’d all taken leave of our senses. But once aboard, he warmed to the racket and loved every second. Sherry and mince pies on board helped warm the adults, too; it was bitterly cold.

Suraj had to leave us that evening, returning home to both work and two cats with serious abandonment issues.

The Following Days

Those remaining at Willow Bank settled in for a few days of sales shopping, leftover nibbling, and general festive sloth. The fridge door now needs oiling, and there’s plenty of space left on the cheeseboard for another wedge of Stilton.

I also had the chance to try out my new paper log maker, an excellent and unexpectedly satisfying gift. It’s efficient, easy to use, and makes me feel like a 19th-century woodsman with recycling credentials.

New Year’s Eve
To round off 2008, Sue and I left the others at Willow Bank and headed to a party at the Rugby Club to see in the new year. A jolly evening was had, fuelled by dancing, laughter, and the firm belief that 2009 simply has to be calmer than the past fortnight.

If the rest of the year follows the pattern of the last few days, I’d better keep that log maker close and perhaps put a small bet on myself surviving it all with sanity intact.