Sunday 21 December 2014

Christmas Club


Say, are you ready to play? It's Christmas Club Day! The final meeting of the year. Already? I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have.


Last week I showed a picture of two little girls in their best party dresses; and that reminded me of another Christmas photo of that same pair in their special festive trouser suits.



We're going back at least another year here, maybe two, to when they were still living in the city and so a big family party was the thing to look forward to on Christmas night.

At Christmas we

think about the company of the people we love most in the world, and about how faces can appear and disappear and reappear over the years, and how sometimes it all works out and everyone comes together, and sometimes there's a dear face we miss, or a plan which doesn't work out; but, at the end of it all, simply being able to say It's good to see you to an unexpected arrival is enough to turn the whole thing round.

Our student arrived home yesterday. We went to the airport and I did all the right things. You would have been proud of me. I held myself back from running towards him, screaming Mummy's special little boy and throwing my arms round his knees. I decided against handing out Santa hats and false beards, so he'd know it was us. And I remembered not to tell him to give his dad his suitcase. Not manly. So I think he was pleased to see us. He'd emailed ahead, requesting potato based meals. "We've only eaten potatoes this term when I've cooked them. Doesn't the rest of the world eat potatoes like we do?" he said. I think you know the answer to that one, son.

But at least this year we'll all be eating. It's a few years ago since the famous food poisoning perplexation of '98. I'll spare you most of the details, but you're welcome to use your imaginations. I passed out, ended up in hospital on a drip, leaving two small children and a quite-sick-himself husband, home alone. Sometimes everything looks set to be perfect, other times..

Whatever they hooked me up to was strange stuff. I'm not sure that I'd like to try it again. I imagined the children coming to visit me, heard them running up the ward, calling to me. I got home in time for Christmas dinner. just. Was that the year Uncle Dave washed all the dishes?

Did someone say Uncle Dave? He's flying in tomorrow and we're all looking forward to seeing him. He knows it. As Uncle Dave himself used to be fond of saying when his niece and nephew would eye his  back-home-for-Christmas suitcase expectantly:

Your present?

Your present..................

.............is my presence.


I'm very much hoping there's a presence who's a present for all of you this week. Merry Christmas!

Come join our Christmas Club. Any story, any Christmassy post welcome. Link us up! Last chance this year...

27 comments:

Kirsty.A said...

Thanks. Good story. Sorry I haven't joined in this manic Christmas but I've enjoyed reading them

Ladkyis said...

Oh I love that. The picture is just fabulous

scrappyjacky said...

Great photo....hope you all have a wonderful 'no hitches' christmas this year.

Becky said...

That's a wonderful photo and I loved reading your 'piece'. Ben is home today and we will once again be all four under one roof - doesn't happen very often now, so I enjoy it all the more. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas with no upsets this year. Thanks for running the club again this year :)

Mel said...

Aww you should have gone for the Santa masks to welcome him home! I bet he is loving the fully stocked fridge as well as the potato meals! I have finally got organised to join in this week!

Maggie said...

A lovely story and picture! I am glad to hear your son is a potato eater as potato growers I heartily approve! Hope you all have better health this year. We had one year when we had all had flu and had to cancel the rest of the family coming.

Lizzy Hill said...

Awwww...good on you Mum holding back:) I'm sure you'll have a wonderful gorgeous Christmas with all those near and dear to you:):) enjoy consuming those spuds, as we call them here!!!!!!

debs14 said...

Oh my goodness that was a Christmas to remember for all the wrong reasons! Let's hope that never happens again!
I'm amazed at your restraint on greeting The Student on his return. Not even a hat? How on earth did he find you in the crowd? So, do tell, this secret way of cooking potatoes - now I'm intrigued!

Anonymous said...

Love your post! Love it! Love those foxy trouser suits! How swish! LOL about potato-based meals.....and "typical Unce Dave" was my first thought when I read his response! Am not feeling the muse for my story just yet but will post one shortly.......hope you're having a lovely day!!!

Cheri said...

Your story this week just made me all nostalgic and wanting to join in... so I've spent the last hour tossing together my entry. Thanks!

Jennifer Shaw said...

Love your fancy Christmas outfits. Such a great photo. Wonderful that your son is home and that Uncle Dave is coming too. Yay to potatoes! My mother was the daughter of Irish immigrants to Canada. I grew up eating mashed potatoes most nights at supper. When I married, my husband was often heard grumbling that it was mashers again at supper time. Why don't they get it? ;)

Maria Ontiveros said...

What a lovely jumble of memories!
So glad you house will be full of love this holiday. We have a new presence in our house - Clara got a puppy. A lot of work, but she's taking on the responsibility like a trooper.
Thanks for hosting Christmas Club again this year.
Rinda

Jane said...

I always enjoy reading your stories and admire you for your restraint. I hope you and your family have a lovely Christmas x

Sandra said...

I've been rubbish at joining in on many of your great ideas this year Sian, and I'm sorry about that, but I've absolutely loved reading your stories this year and looking forward to reading more next year xx

Lou said...

aww that's a fab photo. Reminds me of the ones of me and my sisters in the same dresses. Even though i haven't joined in, I've enjoyed reading x

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

Oh, that photo is just adorable. Love your matching trouser suits. Lovely memories.

Rachel Brett said...

Lovely post Sian, I was very late to the party but have enjoyed reading the last few posts from everyone :)

alexa said...

Ahh, this has warmed my heart, Sian! The great thing when they get old enough to have children of their own, is that you get to do that drop-to-your-knees-for-a-hug thing at the airport for real :). And no-one minds a bit!

Unknown said...

Great story and and even better photo! That christmas is a tale but not with happy memories. Poor you, what a thing to happen.
Sorry I haven't been around, work is manic, again! I am hoping to catch up with your wonderful blog in the new year, a treat to look forward to.

Merry christmas to you all and I hope you got to give him a big knee hug when you were back in private lol.

Melissa said...

Lovely memories you've shared today (well, except the hospital stay!). So glad TTO has arrived safely & Uncle Dave will there soon. Merry Christmas to y'all!

ally said...

Great story and love the picture. Have an awesome christmas

Abi said...

Yay for having your student back! It made me laugh that he requested potatoes. We seem to get nothing but potatoes in my college! I was sick of them by the time I got home.
Hope you all have a lovely christmas Sian!

Barbara Eads said...

You have captured the essence of Christmas!!! Being together is what it's all about. And potatoes!!! If I had to choose just one thing to live on the rest of my life, it would be potatoes!!

Sandie said...

Love you story and photo Sian. Had hoped to take part but ended up with a stinking cold and so I have lost out on time and energy. Have a wonderful Christmas with your family back together Sian, and I'll be back to catch up on more of the Good Stories when I have more time.

Susanne said...

Lots of stories in this post all joined up together. Well told.

Jo said...

I can imagine it was very difficult for you to hold back on doing those things at the airport :) I hope you had a lovely Christmas x

Anonymous said...

Hope all went well this Christmas and there were no untoward occurrences. Sorry I'm so late catching up with you.

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