So how are your festive preparations going? I bet you’ve finished your shopping, wrapped your gifts, prepared the table and are ready to get going with the celebrations.
Yeah right! You’re not are you?
I’m still not quite into the swing of the festive season. Let’s just say I’m trying the JiT approach which means everything is Just in Time. Although I have to admit I’m not sure that some of the cards will quite make the deadline. But, looking on the bright side I did at least manage to send cards this year!
I spotted this festive fern on one of my basset walks. It looks so much like a Christmas tree decorated with baubles and tinsel I snapped it straight away. It’s been keeping me in the festive mood ever since.
It hasn’t however meant that my productivity towards the celebrations has improved at all, in fact it’s making me see Christmas in an increasingly laid back kiwi kind of way.
We did at least decide today we’re breaking with tradition – I know, we’re devils – and we’re not having turkey this year. We’ve had it for the last two kiwi Christmas’s so this year we’re having a change. That is of course if it’s not too late to get the centre piece of the meal.
Having made this decision I feel I can now move forward with the practicalities of planning, shopping and preparing a list of things to do. With my in-laws here there will be no shortage of hands in the kitchen.
But, that’s all going to have to wait for another day. It’s like new business city in my office at the moment. I’ve got three new proposals on the go. All of which have to been finished this week. I’ve just had a new coaching client start and another wants to start in the new year. Whilst this is all great news for business this Executive focus is distracting me from Domestic matters.
By noon today I’m determined to be finished with all the work. I feel I’ve got to draw a line otherwise I’ll be fiddling on to get things perfect for work and we’ll be sitting at a pretty bare table with no Christmas decorations and presents still in their shop bags on the big day.
Here’s a less festive picture I took of a neighbour of the Christmas tree fern. Not really that festive but I liked it anyway and it’s a very kiwi thing.
That’s not a fern, it’s an alien about to take over the Earth.
Like you I’m torn between ‘work’ and home. Although I’m not being paid I’m going to spend the day at work tomorrow, planning for next term with the (other) new reception class teacher. As teamleader it will be my responsibility to see that both classes run smoothly and in accordance with all the govt. guidelines. Luckily the current teacher is amazingly well organised and I’ll only have to update last years planning which is all on the shiny new lap-top that goes with the job. Also tomorrow being the last day of term will be a fun day.
At home I feel the pressure to provide a ‘Christmas to remember’ as this may be our last family Christmas for some time. I’ve managed to do most of the ‘town’ stuff, shopping etc so that I can become a ‘country’ person for the next 2 weeks. Even though we are only 20 mins drive from town it’s a completely different world here, fields, farms,lanes, the moor and the beaches.
Once all the youngsters start arriving I know that quite a lot of my energy will be spent on tidying up after the rest of the household and I need to get the family to sort through their stored boxes of ‘stuff’ so that it can be given/thrown/taken away. I think I could do with hiring a cook, a cleaner, a house keeper and a chauffeur and just do a spot of gardening to keep my hand in.
Just LOVE that photograph! I find myself finding Christmas cheer in my heart more from nature her in New Zealand than anything else – and Pungas and Pohutukawa are my favs!
I like Ruta’s comment about the fern, she is right though, its massive!
Sounds like you will have fun Christmas Day – what have you decided on if not Turkey?
It will the same for us, the only difference this year is we wont be going to the beach for our BBQ breakfast as its no longer a 2 minute drive. But we will be cooking the full on dinner, pigs in blankets, turkeys a la BBQ, and all the trimmings. Looking at some of your photos you might even havethe veggies ready for your meal!
xx