The trees are still up, the fairly-lights twinkling; the piles of presents now disappeared and replaced by swirling tufts of wrapping paper & ribbon; turkey/chicken bones picked clean and round tummies betraying the post-lunch snooze .... Christmas 2014 is DONE!
And what a happy time most of us were lucky enough to enjoy.
Santa has a strange old time in London this year. We moved into our new apartment on the 2nd December, so he didn't have much chance to get organised in Ascot. The apartment took-up most of Santa's budget too - which was a very welcome gift by the way..!
Mind you, he did manage a fair old pile of presents, given the financial constraints of moving (although again, once the children visited just before they went off to celebrate Christmas with their families, those piles reduced significantly...!).
Julia and I decided to have a low-key, quiet Christmas this year, just the two of us and my Mum.
I collected my Mum at 9.30 in the morning and brought her home - and immediately dialled-up her grandchildren in Australia using Apple's 'Face-time'. Granddaughter Sarah was with her mother, but the two boys had spent the day with their Dad and they were winding-down in the evening over there. Beers in hand and looking well fed and 'presented'..!
It is difficult to express the joy that a face-to-face call can generate.
Mum sat in front of the large iMac with its big screen and was able to talk to her grandsons and see them in high-definition, brilliant colour and crisp as anything. She BEAMED...!
I said to (ex) brother-in-law Harry: "it is so easy to just be normal and allow life's little, normal things to happen - which can bring such simple joy".
Then we sat in the lounge and opened our presents, before the expertly-prepared roast chicken was consumed and a bit of quiet TV was watched (despite the slight snoring which may have occurred...!).
And now we look forward to the new year.
It is freezing cold outside at the moment (snow up north and temperatures below freezing outside here). Tonight is due to go down to about -5 deg ... luckily we'll be wrapped-up warm and enjoying our little nest.
The little Robin is about and some daffodils are already raising their heads (a few even flowered, although this week's temperature may have taken them out..!). But we have passed the mid-winter solstice and can start looking forward to 2015.
The possibilities, the opportunities ... Spring isn't too far away.
In the mean time, wishing you all a very festive (remaining) holiday season and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.
Cheers!
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