Yes, we’ve had a nice relaxing day of presents, drink and food but without over-indulging.
Had a bit of a lie-in and got up about 9.30. Two mince pies and mug of tea for breakfast.
I rang my mother and had a quick chat with her; she’s in a care home 120 miles away so although we aren’t there she isn’t on her own.
About 11.30 we sat down with an extra large G&T (Noreen had a similarly large Bacardi & Coke) and opened our main presents. As always there was a fair amount of alcohol and quite a few books. But we always manage to find each other something unusual: this year I got Noreen a Jersey milk/cream jug — silver plate, pre-WWII and probably made for the tourist market, but a nice thing nonetheless.
After clearing up a bit we had our traditional Christmas Day lunch of smoked salmon sandwiches at about 1.30 (we have Christmas Dinner in the evening).
At 3-ish Noreen put a large leg of pork in the oven to roast; while I had a nap she went to see the old lady across the road (who is 90+ and on her own) for an hour or so.
Just after 5 we both got to work in the kitchen on the rest of dinner. Somehow we managed to avoid any alcohol in the process!
Dinner at about 7: Roast Pork, sausage, garlic potatoes, roast parsnips, sprouts, chestnut stuffing and apple sauce. Accompanied by a bottle of pink champagne (which also now one of our traditions). No need for starters or pudding; just a good main course.
After dinner we sat and opened presents part two which I accompanied with a glass of an unusual, rather nice and delicate rosé port Noreen had given me. The tradition from my family is to have small presents, from under the tree, in the evening — really just a little something to unwrap like a few chocs or a paperback book.
After that we sat reading for a bit and abhorring the available choices of TV viewing.
And shortly to bed, perhaps to read some more, maybe with another glass of something.
I think we’ll call that a good Christmas!