Okay, so I haven't blogged in ages. I blame Christmas. We were barely home from Benidorm when I was plunged into a world of Christmas preparation - present-buying, card-writing, house-tidying, list-writing, arrangement-making, decoration-putting-up... Of course, this all increases ten-fold when you have children. You haven't simply got to buy for them - you also have to let everyone else know what they want to avoid duplication ('Thanks, Grandma, I'll put it with the other fifteen...'). And don't get me started about helping them choose presents for other people ('That's lovely, Dylan, but do you
really think Daddy wants Lego for Christmas?' 'Yes, Finn, Dylan does like Beast Quest books, but who are you
really buying it for?)... Then there's the cards. As well as your own, you have to get them to write (or write for them, in the case of my youngest) cards to everyone in their class. Can they remember all their names? You can't leave anyone out. And how on earth do you spell that one?! Presents for teachers - contribute to a joint effort from the parents? Make something, for that personal touch? Buy chocolates and be done with it? Cards - Poundland, Paperchase or home-made? It's a minefield. For the record, I opted for a compromise - home-baked presents for the teachers, and cheap-as-chips Poundland cards. But just thinking about it all stole vital hours from a time-short day. And what exactly are we doing for Christmas - are we at home or somewhere else? Who's coming to us? Who's staying with us? Better start food shopping - are there any turkeys left? Then there's all the other Christmas arrangements to make, for us and the kids - parties, meals, discos, pantomimes. The list is endless. All this, of course, on top of the usual work, school runs, household chores and other organisation that inevitably takes up a large portion of life. Hence blogging went somewhere on the backburner.
So, what's all this got to do with holidays then? Nothing - and that's kind of the point. I am obsessed with holidays, and usually take every opportunity to go away - which generally means every school holiday and the occasional weekend too. But the one time I shy away from all that is Christmas. Stress and organisation aside (when would I actually have time to go on holiday?!), I think Christmas is a time for staying at home, for family, for enjoying spending time with each other, for catching up with friends and other family members. Somehow, despite the horrible weather and the admittedly tempting offer of a holiday in the sun, I prefer to stay at home for Christmas. So that's one school holiday you'll find me at home in my snuggly PJs, drinking hot chocolate - and only occasionally wishing it was a bikini and a Pina Colada.
And before you think I've gone soft, we're off to Jamaica in two days - see you when I get back!
