6th January 2016

The weather in the lead-up to Christmas, and indeed over the festive period, was thoroughly miserable. However, here in Harborough, we must consider ourselves fortunate, as the North West of Britain fared far worse, with vast areas submerged under water. While we endured grey skies, frequent showers, and a persistent chill that tricked the spring bulbs into sprouting early, it was nothing compared to their plight. Our thermal underwear stayed firmly in their drawers, and with nine people in the house and the wood burner lit each evening to create a festive atmosphere, the lounge often felt like a sauna, with temperatures soaring towards 30 degrees!

With Sue slowly recovering from her broken foot, the family rallied around to help with Christmas preparations, from shopping to getting the house ready. Parsnips were harvested from the allotment, and the turkey, along with all the trimmings, was secured and safely stored in the fridge, ready for the big day.

I managed to spend a few mornings pruning the vines and fruit bushes in preparation for spring. The Goji bushes by the patio, which had outgrown their space, were dug up and relocated to the allotment. The garden received a general tidy-up in anticipation of Santa’s arrival, though I drew the line at mowing the lawn, despite the sound of neighbours diligently attending to theirs. Winter, in my opinion, is for sweeping snow, not cutting grass.

The family gathered on Christmas Eve. Although we were missing Nan, we had the pleasure of welcoming Lee and Mia into the Palmer way of celebrating Christmas.

We enjoyed a leisurely late-afternoon walk into town to admire the decorations and scout for any last-minute bargains at Joules, which the girls eagerly snapped up. We paused for drinks at Joules Eatery before continuing our stroll through Harborough, eventually winding up at the Lord Nelson for more refreshments. We then returned to Willow Bank for nibbles and yet more festive drinks to round off the evening.

In previous years, we’ve spent the time before Santa’s arrival playing ten-pin bowling in Kettering. However, this time we stayed in and enjoyed a lively evening of bingo and games on the Xbox, which kept everyone entertained until the boys eventually nodded off and were carried up to bed. In a break from tradition, Jamie decided to return to his apartment for the night, opting for the comfort of his bed over the temporary one set up in my study.

Magically, overnight, presents appeared beneath the tree. These were first discovered by Lucas and Ellis at 4:30 a.m. However, after some whispered excitement, they quietly returned to their beds to open their stockings with Mum and Dad. The next stirrings came around 7:30 a.m., as one by one, the rest of the family made their way downstairs to confirm that the man in red had indeed paid a visit. Once reassured that no one had been forgotten and there were treasures awaiting them after breakfast, everyone set about preparing for the first indulgent meal of the day. Jamie arrived just in time to join us for breakfast.

With the breakfast plates and bowls washed and put away, everyone settled into their own cosy spots, ready for the much-anticipated parcel delivery. As usual, I took on the role of reader and sorter, distributing the gifts to our enthusiastic elves, Lucas and Ellis, who dashed around delivering them. The process briefly paused when the elves received their own presents, causing a burst of excitement.

I set my little pile of gifts to one side, saving them for later, and focused on ensuring that the distribution ran smoothly. I aimed to keep the pace steady, so everyone received a gift at regular intervals, avoiding long waits between surprises. It was a well-rehearsed system that kept the festive spirit flowing.

With all the packages unwrapped and the discarded paper neatly stuffed into bags for later disposal, everyone turned their focus to examining each other’s gifts and tidying up their piles of treasures. Instructions were promptly unfolded, batteries hunted down, and plans made to test out new gadgets or assemble toys and games.

As Lee’s birthday fell on Boxing Day, we celebrated a little early with a cheerful cake-lighting ceremony. Though he intended to mark the occasion properly with his parents the next day, it was a warm and joyful moment to honour his special day amid the festive excitement.

The morning wasn’t without its drama, as the oven door decided to fall off, a minor hiccup that threatened to derail Christmas dinner. With the oven too hot for a proper repair, we improvised by propping the door back in place with a stack of heavy weights. Remarkably, the turkey cooked to perfection, and we made a mental note to remember this unorthodox yet effective trick for next year!

With another festive feast successfully tucked away and the pots and pans washed and returned to their rightful places, we decided it was time to combat the post-dinner slump with a brisk walk. We drove to Foxton and strolled along the locks. A few hardy souls had the same idea, but it was pleasantly quiet. The restaurant by

the bottom lock was bustling, catering to those who preferred not to plan, prepare, or serve their own Christmas meals. Judging by the lively atmosphere, they seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Perhaps one day we’ll try it too?

Upon returning home, we soon found ourselves indulging in a leisurely Christmas tea. Afterwards, it was time to say goodbye to Sarah, Lee, and Mia. Sarah, unfortunately, had to work that evening, and the next day they were heading to Cotgrave to visit Lee’s parents and celebrate his birthday.

Boxing Day was spent at the Greyhound Stadium in Peterborough. This year, we decided to book a couple of tables in the executive suite to ensure we had seats. Although pricey, it was well worth it, especially with Sue’s injured foot, as we didn’t want to risk her having to stand all day. It turned out to be an excellent decision.

Alongside the usual mix of fun, minor losses, and the occasional win (for some), we enjoyed the luxury of having a hostess to take our bets, no need to move around, and an endless supply of mulled wine and mince pies. Later in the day, more buffet delights appeared, leaving us thoroughly stuffed. Those who weren’t driving even became a little merry, making it a truly indulgent and festive outing.

Returning home, we spent the evening playing family games before heading off to bed.

The following morning, some of the family took advantage of the sales, while later in the evening, Suraj, Jamie, and I went to the cinema to see the new ‘Star Wars’ film. It was enjoyable, though the plot felt quite similar to the very first one.

Unfortunately, the central heating system decided to break down, but the engineer promised to come the next day to sort it out.

The following day, Sarah, Lee, and Mia joined us once more, and the engineer arrived to fix the boiler. After replacing the control board, it was switched on and everything was working perfectly again. Later, we all went to the Sondes Arms in Rockingham for a wonderful lunch.

On returning to Willow Bank, I took Mia for a very muddy walk, which ended with a bath to clean her up before we headed out again. This time, we were off to see the pantomime ‘Rapunzel ‘ at the Cube in Corby. Once again, we had fantastic seats near the stage, and the evening was thoroughly enjoyable. The Cube is such a charming theatre with a wonderfully intimate atmosphere.

Unfortunately, the Braunstones had to head home that night, as they were both working the next day, no rest for the wicked!

With Sarah and Lee back in Leicester, Jamie back at his apartment, and the Rothwells heading home after lunch the following day, the house returned to its quieter state. The weather hadn’t improved, but I decided to take the opportunity to get the bike out and cycle a few miles. It was tough going, carrying a few extra pounds! I vowed to eat less and cycle more in the coming weeks to regain some level of fitness. So far… I’ve managed to achieve one of those goals!

With the house now peaceful and the temperature finally back to a more reasonable level, the heating has only been fired up in the late afternoons. The unseasonably warm temperatures have meant no need for thermal underwear, definitely a bonus in terms of laundry!

Over the past few weeks, Sue’s mobility has gradually improved as the bone continues to heal. She’s started using her walking stick less, and today (6th) she ventured out in the car by herself, following a positive prognosis from her doctor. She returned from her spontaneous shopping trip looking buoyant and visibly happy that she didn’t have me tagging along, getting up to my usual shopping mischief.

With the family gone, I turned my attention to pruning the large apple tree in the back garden. A few years ago, I would have completed the task quickly and without much fuss, but this time it felt like an endless chore. The constant rain over the four days it took to finish the job meant I had to wear full waterproofs, which didn’t help my enthusiasm. Still, the greenhouse is now stocked with logs for next year, the tree looks as though it’s had a very thorough “short, back, and sides,” and the twigs scattered around the garden have been cleared away. Yet, despite all of that, I didn’t feel the usual sense of satisfaction from a job well done, just achy and tired. Perhaps I should have skipped my early morning cycling sessions in the mud?