So much build up for just one day, and then poof! Christmas Day comes and then it goes again for another twelve months in the wink of an eye. I think that Christmas Day always seems to move at breakneck speed and generally it always feels like a bit of a blur for me. I always host a Christmas lunch which means that I do get busy in the kitchen on the actual day, and because this was our first Christmas without dad I also collected my mother on Christmas Eve to ensure that she was not alone on Christmas morning or Christmas Eve.
Mum's house is a three hour round trip from our house, so the travel required an extra element of time management in order to keep all of the Christmas events running smoothly and on time, but we managed and everything went well. To be honest, I had completely forgotten just how much effort some people go to every year for Christmas. Flitting around the countryside from one Christmas event to another is absolutely exhausting and we haven't had to do that for a very long time. I'd forgotten how drained it makes you! Craig's family hosted an afternoon/evening event in town here last night and I was absolutely knackered by the time the day drew to an end around 11.30pm - I slept like a bloody yuletide log!
But, I am not complaining, Christmas should be a little hectic and a little bit crazy, it's a big event after all, so of course it deserves one's full attention! And it was a really wonderful day; we dressed the table in all of our finery, ate like kings, drank good wine, shared beautiful gifts, played games, hugged family members and laughed a whole lot together, so it was really a terrific day all round.
And today? Well today is Boxing Day so it is a completely different tale. Today I shlump about with unbrushed hair and an unwashed face in my old T-shirt and shorts looking like a bag lady as I picked at plates of leftovers, played Chinese Checkers with Seth and Craig and stood about in the garden with a hose at dusk for two hours in an attempt to water my sun crippled plants, all the while wondering how it is that the weeds in my yard look so lush and healthy. And tomorrow? Well, tomorrow reality will set in and I will probably pack Christmas away into boxes and bags for another year and begin to contemplate what I will do with the rest of my long hot Summer break.
These days when the whole Summer break stretches out before you are the absolutely best days of all. And not just because of the possibilities of what you can do to fill those days, but for me, at this point in my life, right now, it's about knowing that there will definitely be days ahead for me digest the year that lies behind me and really take stock of where I want to be heading in the next twelve months of my life. I desperately need some contemplation time and I am so relieved to know that it is on the way!
Mum's house is a three hour round trip from our house, so the travel required an extra element of time management in order to keep all of the Christmas events running smoothly and on time, but we managed and everything went well. To be honest, I had completely forgotten just how much effort some people go to every year for Christmas. Flitting around the countryside from one Christmas event to another is absolutely exhausting and we haven't had to do that for a very long time. I'd forgotten how drained it makes you! Craig's family hosted an afternoon/evening event in town here last night and I was absolutely knackered by the time the day drew to an end around 11.30pm - I slept like a bloody yuletide log!
But, I am not complaining, Christmas should be a little hectic and a little bit crazy, it's a big event after all, so of course it deserves one's full attention! And it was a really wonderful day; we dressed the table in all of our finery, ate like kings, drank good wine, shared beautiful gifts, played games, hugged family members and laughed a whole lot together, so it was really a terrific day all round.
And today? Well today is Boxing Day so it is a completely different tale. Today I shlump about with unbrushed hair and an unwashed face in my old T-shirt and shorts looking like a bag lady as I picked at plates of leftovers, played Chinese Checkers with Seth and Craig and stood about in the garden with a hose at dusk for two hours in an attempt to water my sun crippled plants, all the while wondering how it is that the weeds in my yard look so lush and healthy. And tomorrow? Well, tomorrow reality will set in and I will probably pack Christmas away into boxes and bags for another year and begin to contemplate what I will do with the rest of my long hot Summer break.
These days when the whole Summer break stretches out before you are the absolutely best days of all. And not just because of the possibilities of what you can do to fill those days, but for me, at this point in my life, right now, it's about knowing that there will definitely be days ahead for me digest the year that lies behind me and really take stock of where I want to be heading in the next twelve months of my life. I desperately need some contemplation time and I am so relieved to know that it is on the way!
KLAUS
Release Date: 2019
Rating: G
Running Time: 97 mins
Distributed by Netflix, this Spanish animated Christmas movie is a winner. Generally, I find Christmas movies extremely contrived and exceptionally cheesy, so you can imagine my surprise (and delight) when Klaus turned out to be a heart-warming and beautifully animated Yuletide viewing choice.
Jesper is an entitled, lazy and unambitious young man, which is why his father sends to the distant island of Smeerensburg to fulfil the role of local postmaster. Jesper must post 6,000 letters within twelve months or else he will be cut off from his wealthy family estate. However, Smeerensburg is a town at war and no-one (not even the children) are writing letters, which means that Jesper has to get very creative in order to complete his task.
This is a deeply imaginative, original and interesting take on the 'Santa Claus' tale. The voice casting is incredible; with heavyweights like Jason Schwartzman, Joan Cusack, Rashida Jones, J.K. Simmons and Norm MacDonald all delivering perfectly. And the animation! It is simply exquisite, Klaus is so visually pleasing and looks so fresh and original, I just loved it! Klaus is an excellent Christmas Eve viewing choice for the entire family.
FINAL SAY: A true selfless act always sparks another.
4 Chilli Peppers
Release Date: 2019
Rating: G
Running Time: 97 mins
Distributed by Netflix, this Spanish animated Christmas movie is a winner. Generally, I find Christmas movies extremely contrived and exceptionally cheesy, so you can imagine my surprise (and delight) when Klaus turned out to be a heart-warming and beautifully animated Yuletide viewing choice.
Jesper is an entitled, lazy and unambitious young man, which is why his father sends to the distant island of Smeerensburg to fulfil the role of local postmaster. Jesper must post 6,000 letters within twelve months or else he will be cut off from his wealthy family estate. However, Smeerensburg is a town at war and no-one (not even the children) are writing letters, which means that Jesper has to get very creative in order to complete his task.
This is a deeply imaginative, original and interesting take on the 'Santa Claus' tale. The voice casting is incredible; with heavyweights like Jason Schwartzman, Joan Cusack, Rashida Jones, J.K. Simmons and Norm MacDonald all delivering perfectly. And the animation! It is simply exquisite, Klaus is so visually pleasing and looks so fresh and original, I just loved it! Klaus is an excellent Christmas Eve viewing choice for the entire family.
FINAL SAY: A true selfless act always sparks another.
4 Chilli Peppers
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