Oh heck, only a week to go until the big day! Why does everyone go mad under the pressure to produce such a perfect family day? It's only like cooking a big Sunday roast dinner, which I try to do every week. The shops are ONLY closed for one day! If you've forgotten anything or not enough, then tough! We won't starve or miss out because we have all taken one day off!
Well some minority occupations won't have a day off, they have to keep on working throughout! Livestock farmers must tend to their animals every day of the year and Christmas Day is no different. So it's a fairly short event for us. Having milked, bedded, fed and cleaned up after our 190 herd and youngstock BEFORE breakfast, we have a short time to open presents, eat a fairly big meal (always at 1pm sharp) then an after lunch snooze, wake up for the Queen's Speech then back outside before the daylight runs out to feed everything, clean up and milk the herd! As I've said before, it would be so much better to have Christmas in July for us, when the cows and youngstock are all outside feeding and spreading manure themselves. In fact, an antipodean Christmas would suit us better. As I'm about to find out.
For me this year, the festive period is going to be even shorter as I'm off to Australia on Boxing Day afternoon to visit our daughter Charlotte, who's working out there for six months. I fly in to Sydney Airport on 28 Dec, and together we will have three whole weeks of fun in the sun. Unfortunately, I'm leaving Mark hard at it at home with the help of our Kiwi student, Jayden and Harry will be home from College to help out too. So I don't feel guilty at all!!!!
Harry is having the time of his life at College in Cheshire. Tonight he's gone to the Winter Wonderland Ball in his first Dinner Suit! As it's his birthday on Thursday (he turns 17) he got the dinner suit he wanted. My only concern is the food and beer fights that I'm sure will happen during the evening at some stage. He looks fabulously handsome in his DJ, with red bow tie and braces. Those girls at the Ball will be fighting for him I'm sure - then again I would be biased wouldn't I?
Anyway, hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and New Year! I shall be a bit ahead of you this year celebrating the arrival of 2014 in Sydney Harbour 11 hours before you do. Weird but really looking forward to the experience!
Happy Christmas readers!
