I suppose most of our good Christmas memories come from childhood. I never really believed in Father Christmas, except maybe for a couple of years. I knew my parents bought the gifts because I always found them. I suppose before that I may have.
I do remember sitting in my bedroom window watching through the frosty pane, looking at the sky and waiting.
Well I never did see him. I know I fell asleep. Did I fall asleep looking out the window and Mum laid me down? Or did I give up and take a nap?
Some years I would awake to find the gifts on the end of my bed. That year I really did wonder. Usually though, probably as I got older, we would open our gifts Christmas morning and later yet, on Christmas eve so we could sleep in.
I know now my parents tried to sleep in, and by putting the gifts on the end of the bed it would keep me in there and playing. No. How dumb was that idea. First thing was to share the fact that Santa came never mind the gifts. I dont think they got to sleep in until I was old enough that I would prefer to sleep in.
For me, looking back it was the later years that come to mind. Family. I loved that the house was a bustle of friends and neighbours and family all stopping by.Everyone got a drink and probably a mince pie. Mum made the very best pastry. I have never had anything like it, hers was different. I have never experienced anyone else's like it or bought anything like it.
We didn't have much but Mum always had a couple of bottles of Sherry, maybe Port and lemon and a drop of the hard stuff for the men. Whiskey usually.
She would make her mince pies and some fairy cakes and usually Scottish shortbread and cheese straws. In any case everyone enjoyed themselves. In those days most people walked everywhere so a nice drink at each stop was welcome. Then the walk down to the pub, everyone invited. A jolly group that I joined as I got older. Fun times with my uncles, granddad and dad. The women of course were all home cooking. Just the neighbour ladies would pop in for a nip and to try the pies. After dinner I would go into next door and put up with Charlie Mac's gropes and kisses and a glass of sherry. Mrs Mac and the girls didn't bat an eye but I know he embarrassed us all. Me, I was not offended and took it in my stride with an eye roll and gentle reprimand. I guess I thought thats what men did. That was my experience of any but my dad anyway................Charlie got merry when he drank and sang. Yeah, time to go back home the men would have finished their nap by them and the ladies got to clean up so it was dish washing time next. Then to take another look at the gifts.
The men would be laying around with their silly paper hats from the Christmas crackers. Snores and hands around their full bellies. Took ages to do the dishes but with Mum, me, my aunt and grandma it was not so much of a chore.
