Vocal Voices

Seeing Kaz's advent post just now has reminded me of a lovely, touching conversation I had with mum yesterday.

The first Christmas Craig was born (1985) we went to Scotland to be with my folks, and dad made a little post box from cardboard and drew round Craig's hand on paper, coloured it in and arranged it in such a way it was Craig's tiny little hand posting a letter to Santa.

Mum said yesterday, just as I phoned, that dad was at that very minute putting the little post box on the fireplace.
It brought a lump to my throat.

She still has all the things sis and I made at school..including a Santa I'd made from an empty jam jar.
I still remember making it..wrapping cotton wool all round the jar, making Santa's head and beard and sticking on black felt fuzzy bits for his eyes etc.

Mum then told me about her Christmas lights.
It's the ones her and dad bought for their first Christmas that they'd been married meaning these very same lights, that come out every year, are 52 years old!!!

They cost her five and seven!! (I don't know how much that is in real money!)

27p Ally
That's lovely about the postbox

I don't have any...

Not sure we have any really, apart from always getting together at some point Although when B and H were little their stepgran bought them both a handmade quilted Advent calendar each to hang up - it had pockets for sweets or tiny toys, and every year I filled it I expect it is in a box somewhere in their dad's attic.......

Oh hang on, I always always watch the Kings Carol service on BBC2 every Christmas Eve, so that must count

As soon as that little choirboy sings 'Once in Royal David's City' Christmas has begun for me. My mum loved it too xxx

Kaz wrote:Oh hang on, I always always watch the Kings Carol service on BBC2 every Christmas Eve, so that must count

As soon as that little choirboy sings 'Once in Royal David's City' Christmas has begun for me. My mum loved it too xxx

Yes I do too Kaz

See, you do have a tradition!!!!!

Di did you know that they don't tell that little chorister until before the service that he'll be the soloist? It's so he won't feel too pressurised, and I think that's lovely

That is lovely Kaz!

I think the only one we have is that we have a carpet picnic on Christmas night, the table cloth goes on the floor in front of the TV - it's usually ready in time for Doctor Who.

John and I are starting a new tradition this year though. Every Christmas Eve has been busy, getting things ready and trying to get two over-excited kids to sleep but now they're older it's a lot easier and the last couple of years we've ended up sitting around watching TV...so this year we're going to walk around to the pub

God we have so many traditions its a wonder we manage to actually fit Christmas in!!!!

We get the same old wooden advent calendars out, the girls hang the decorations that they made on the tree in the dining room (they aren't allowed on my beautiful tree in the living room), we sprinkle reindeer dust outside on Christmas Eve, we go sing carols round the tree at the local hotel on Christmas Eve, the girls get new PJ's on Christmas Eve, stockings are opened on S's bed by just the girls - Mick and I stay in bed and listen to them opening them..... the list is endless!!

Our oldest thing is the fairy on top of the tree. My nan bought it for my mum and dad for the first Christmas they were married (they celebrate their Golden wedding anniversary in April). It now goes on top of our tree and L always puts it on.

L has started a new tradition this year - Secret Santa. The four of us, my sister and Roy and my mum and dad are all taking part and the presents will be given out on Christmas Eve when we have lunch at my mums.

And we've had to put a stop to one tradition this year. Ever since we had the girls I have made gingerbread hearts that we have all decorated and hung on the tree. This year we have decided that as Millie has become obsessed with food we just can't run the risk of having anything edible on the tree. But we are still going to decorate the biscuits - but will just put them in a tin instead!

Yes I did know that Kaz, it is lovely isn't it

Jo picnic - floor - dog?! Presumably he's banned

One of our traditions is Bb insisting all day on Christmas eve that they were always allowed to open one present on Christmas eve. I always said I didn't believe him and wouldn't let him have one and last year finally remembered to ask his mum - who said no, never!
Anyway, last year I bought us a cheapy Christmas film and let him open that so we could watch it