I thought I'd document our Covid Christmas as it was markedly different to other years.
Christmas Eve started with Andy nipping out to work. I cleaned the downstairs loo (festive!) and then showered. I continued with some vacuuming and general tidying. Once Andy was home we had lunch (noodles if my memory serves) and then we embarked on a baking session. Whilst Andy made Scotch eggs (his best yet), I made some Yorkshire pudding batter and while it rested I baked some sausage rolls, and vol-au-vent cases ready for supper on Christmas Day.
Then I popped my Yorkshires into the oven and Andy set about peeling potatoes and parsnips ready to part roast and finish cooking for lunch the next day. This was my first attempt at Yorkshire puddings, as I usually cheat with Aunt Bessie's, I thought it was about time I put on my big girl pants and gave them a go. I FaceTimed my Mum so she could see them being taken out of the oven. She was impressed, they came out rather well, even if I do say so myself.
I cut a piece of our Christmas Cake to pop into my Dad's Christmas Day bag, which contained a gift, a Christmas cracker, some Celebrations chocolates and other festive treats. I'd dropped a bag off for my Mum the day before.
My Dad came over for the evening (we've formed a support bubble with him as he lives alone) and I cooked a not very festive but delicious lasagna which we followed with Christmas pudding and custard. Andy thinks we're weird for eating our pudding with custard but after 11 years together he's decided that it's actually rather tasty, if still weird, and has stopped insisting on Brandy butter (yuck!).
Naturally there were crackers pulled, terrible jokes told (when do astronauts eat lunch? At launch time!), and the paper crowns where (and always are) compulsory.
Following supper we played a card game, Newmarket, which has been played by Andy's family at Christmas for generations. Once we'd reminded ourselves of the rules we had great fun, Andy didn't win many games which is most unusual, and it was a close race between Dad and I but I won by the skin of my teeth.
Snacks littered the table and even though we'd eaten enough we still managed to munch our way through bowls of roasted peanuts, pretzels, crisps, and Celebrations.
BBC1 had been on in the background the whole time. Once the card game had been concluded Dad made his way home. After a quick tidy up it was time for bed.
Christmas Day started reasonably early. We opened a few presents whilst we drank our first cuppa of the day. Andy likes to spread the presents out over the course of the day, whereas I'd always opened everything in the morning after breakfast. We do it his way these days. We had scrambled egg and smoked salmon on toast for breakfast - a tradition from my childhood, we always enjoyed a cooked breakfast together, and in later years my brother and I did the cooking.
After breakfast I FaceTimed my Mum, we pulled crackers (paper crowns compulsory) and we opened a few presents together. For the passed few years we've done a Secret Santa in my family but I felt an extra present was necessary this year. I gave her some mushroom garden ornaments and a tiny 100 piece puzzle that required tweezers to handle the tiny pieces. She thought the piece of Christmas cake I'd wrapped for her was a hunk of Stilton cheese (which would've been an interesting choice as she's not a fan), but it caused a few giggles.
Next I FaceTimed my Dad and we repeated the pulling of crackers, opening of presents, and he successfully identified his cake as cake. He'd been in his shed that morning working on some screening for his garden and had a walk planned for the afternoon.
After popping the chicken in the oven, we opened some more presents, and watched King's College choir (I think). Neither of us really wanted anything this year, and neither of us had any truly inspired ideas of what to give each other. Andy received lots of clothes and some DVDs, along with a dustpan and brush to use when sweeping the ash from the hearth (a dull present as far as I'm concerned but he was grateful), and a joke present of three huge pots of Swarfega in an attempt to keep his grubby hands to a minimum.
Andy gave me a teabags in bulk as I've been unable to buy my favourite green tea recently (I've got no idea where he found them), some PJ bottoms, a selection of books, a water butt, a doorstop (both requested by me), and some popcorn in various flavours. And some slipper boots.
Soon it was time to cook, and having prepped a lot the day before it was a pretty simple exercise. It was delicious and I have to admit I enjoyed our leisurely lunch more than the usual hectic affair with nieces and nephews. I'm never allowed to sit next to Andy as nieces claim their places next to me so it was nice to be able to chat and enjoy each others company uninterrupted. I did miss seeing everyone though.
After lunch we FaceTimed with Andy's family. We opened our Christmas decoration secret Santa gifts. It's the third year running we've exchanged tree decorations and it's probably my favourite part of the day. Everyone really enjoys it, especially the kids.
Soon after we drove to Andy's parents where we went for a walk. It was a bit soft and slippery underfoot and it was on the chilly side but it was nice to see them in person after not having done so for months. Feeling the cold on my skin and filling my lungs with crisp winter air felt wonderful.
At home we watched Eastenders, having had a conversation about never having seen a Christmas Day episode. We'd also wanted to watch the Queen's speech that afternoon but timings didn't allow, we watched at a later date on iPlayer instead.
We had a buffet supper - sausage rolls, scotch eggs, samosas, pakoras, prawn vol-au-vents, salad, dips, crisps - and had a bet as to whether or not we'd be able to eat half of the food we'd placed on the table. We did just about manage to eat half but forfeited pudding, which makes it the first Christmas ever that I haven't eaten anything sweet on Christmas Day!
I can't remember what time we went to bed but I was ready for it by the time my head hit the pillow.
Boxing day started with another FaceTime call to my Mum, we'd planned to go for a walk but the weather was horrid so we postponed. We had a lazy morning and after lunch, which was an equally delicious reheated roast dinner, we FaceTimed with Andy's family to open some presents whilst sipping tea from Santa mugs. I was given a lovely Magnolia plant, some bubble bath, books, and bubbly. Andy got some boy stuff (tools), socks, and a hamper full of local produce - mostly cheese.
We decided to FaceTime again later in the day and have supper 'together', which for us was a repeat of what we ate yesterday. Once again we were too full for pudding, making it two days in a row without any!
Overall it'd been a fun few days, very different to the years that preceded it but lovely none-the-less. It was nice to do something a little different, be at home more, keep traditions going in new ways, and celebrate with people remotely. I do hope next year is different, but this year has taught me that a little bit of time at home is every bit as nice and enjoyable as being surrounded by family and chaos. This year I got to spend so much more time with Andy which was really rather lovely.
I hope you enjoyed the festivities.
xx
