Christmas

Monday - Christmas Day:

Christmas Day

Early arose the children, Ben and Amy, all ready for presents.
The kid's had a ball. A bike for Amy and a John Deer push tractor for Ben.
Scott, Jen, and I headed off to Oakham to gather Janet and Philip. Philip had out the 1941 Willy's GP and Scott Jen and I piled in with mom's ashes and we putted over to Wing to scatter Mom's ashes. We headed down Glaston Rd and out into the field where the other day we got stuck and off we went with Janet walking in the muddy grass to sing and grab a handful of ash and send her off. Granny was sitting in Janet's car watching as we ceremonially spread the rest of the ashes about the field. The sun began to come out and it was 11am, bells were ringing in the distance and we cried together. Up to the car we went and let Granny spread a bit of mom on the hedge-row. A quick drive round the burroughs, then back to Oakham to make sandwiches.
Philip, Jen, Scott, and I headed off to Whissendine to Warrick and Ann Moise's for a quick beer. Met their race horse "Little Rutland" a two year old, also called Morris, expected to come into his own in 2007.
Back to the house for a quick change of clothes.
Janet, Granny, and Philip arrived, then Kate and Megan. More gifts. Soon the Dodson family arrived for lunch, more gifts. And finally more champaign, about 7 bottles, then dinner. Roast turkey and all the trimmings. We all sat around, 19 of us, laughing and joking, drinking and eating. Dessert, sweet wine, cheese, port, it just continued and continued.
We finally left the table and most of the older men slept by the fire in their chairs while the children played and the others cleaned up the table.
Jen hit the wall and turned in. Not wanting to miss a beat, I powered on and into the beer. Finally, off to bed after all the guests left.
<snore>

Sunday - Christmas Eve:

Christmas Eve with the Family

We awoke to the screaming and yelling of Amy followed by the chorus of Megan singing the Loose Tooth song at our door. It was quickly followed by pounding at the door and the pounding in my head made the child antics untolerable. I kicked them out of our room and barricaded our door with my suitcase. That stopped nothing. It was followed shortly by SCREAMING at the door: "who's there, who's blocking the door," at the top of her lungs. I couldnt take it, even worse, Jen couldnt take it... haha. I went to the door and Amy finally realized that we werent up for playing when she said "your eyes are bloodshot," and I said, "that's because you are screaming at the door and I am trying to sleep." She went downstairs... finally!
Supporting my brain with an alcohol sea (aka blood), I stumbled downstairs for a cup of tea (only three days later to learn I had been drinking decaf tea bags all week... no wonder).
Get ready for christmas!
We had a day of recovery... sort of... before heading off to the evening Chris Tingle ceremony with Granny, Janet, Kate, Emma, Megan, and Amy at St. Andrew church. It was a special carolling service for the children in the area, telling the story of the birth of Jesus. Adults all received a candle and all children an orange with 4 toothpicks with candy on them and a candle in the middle. In the middle of the service, after baby jesus born (Amy was fortunate enought to carry the clay jesus figuring to the Nativity), all the candles are lit as all pews are emptied and everyone stood shoulder to shoulder in the aisle and clerestory singing silent night after the lights went out and the old 16th century church lit entirely with candles of over 250 people singing Silent Night. I cried. Thought of Mom and how she just loved christmas. No wonder. I can't believe this was my first christmas in england.
Back to the house for supper and more drinks. Then off to bed anticipating the morning of gifts and children.