Ready, set……

Go? Usually at this time of the year my preparations for Christmas are well under way. This year hasn’t been a whole lot different as I had already been buying “things” when I saw them. You know how it is, if you don’t get it when you see it, it will be gone when you go back. In addition to that I’ve also “embraced” on-line shopping – to a small extent. As things stand though, as a family of 7 we may not be able gather as a group and now we hear of further restrictions looming who knows what the situation will be by the end of December. So what’s to do? Well I’m going to continue to prepare in the hope we may see some of them at some time. Sprouts are a must on my shopping list, to be cooked in that special way (fry a small onion, chopped, with some snipped streaky bacon, add halved sprouts. After 2 mins add a splash of stock and some single cream; lid on, 5 mins and you’re done – just a twist of nutmeg and that’s it) As far as The Tree goes, that will be left to others and becomes a riot of colour with no theme or regard for shapes and sizes. The control freak in me stays well away, instead master minding a more elegant creation. Last year it was sprigs sprayed silver (evidence still on the conservatory floor..)then held in a wide vase by hundreds of marbles and glass pebbles, then finally hung with tiny silver and pale blue baubles. Quite ethereal. We can still do all this even if not together, we must make the best of whatever situation we find ourselves in. So, dear reader, it really will be a case of ready, set, GO!