Day 274 Christmas Day 2020 🎅🏼🤶🏼🐶🐶🐶🎄❄️

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!!

It’s 6.15 and I’ve been awake since 5.30 when Craig the 6ft 3.5” Christmas Elf decided he couldn’t sleep anymore…. I’m lying on bed and there’s not a sound from outside. It’s the one day of the year that everything seems to stop. Not one single car or truck has driven past yet and that’s unheard of on a normal day.

36 years ago at 12.10am we lost my Grandad at 56 years old. A massive heart attack. I have a story in my head that he got up out of bed, put my Nana’s “housecoat” on as she called it and did Eric Morecambe’s wee leg and arm kick before walking into the bathroom and collapsing into the bath. I don’t even know if this is true or I just made it up……. ♥️

It was the first year I was allowed to stay up late and go to the Christmas Eve service at church. It was such a magical time for me. I was 12 so probably fighting the Santa story but midnight service was something for grown-ups. Something of awe and wonder.

As we came out the church about. 12.30ish my Grandpa was in the car park. Mums dad….. he never came to church. My dads Uncle Cha was in the car park… he never came to church. I knew something was wrong but I felt very tiny as all the chat was going on above me at adult height.

So enough sad stuff! I remember him every Christmas Day.

We had a lovely lazy morning opening presents and think we had it all done before it got light! I got some super lovely gifts…. the pièce de resistance being the projector and screen for Abbie the camper van AND just when I thought it was all done…. Craig said… and since you’ve had a rubbish year here’s another one…… 😲

She’s written on the back “Julie’s Happy Place” wow. I cried. A lot. I think he knows I like it. You can get lost in the waves! I swam in that sea. It was Baltic even although it was a beautiful day….. it took me 4 full minutes to get right under the water as it was so cold. Craig was filming the lot and there were a LOT of sweary words. 🥶🤣

We had some Hotel Chocolat hot chocolate when we got home. It was so velvety and decadent!

Christmas 2020 has been so different for us but we’ve made it a very special day. We had a zoom present opening with mum and dad.

So lovely to see everyone come out but didn’t even get a chance to chat to most folk. It was fureeeeeezing!

Back into the fire and started our first ever Christmas lunch in our own home and by ourselves. I can’t believe I got to this age without ever having to cook a Christmas lunch!

Poor Craig when he realised we forgot to pick up real kilties…… 🙄🤣 it’s just not Christmas without them…. unless you’re on a veggie/vegan twist in your life. 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

Dessert was an amazing Sherry trifle and in true Christmas fashion we were both asleep within about 10 minutes of finishing it. I can still remember watching my grandpa and Auntie Marion settling down for a sleep after every Christmas dinner…. ahhhh Christmas memories.

We’ve watched Morecambe and Wise and Blackadder so far. A great trip down memory lane. It’s been lovely to spend the day together with the dogs. We’ve made the very best of our 2020 Christmas.

I hope you’ve all had a lovely day with your loved ones. Scotland goes into level 4 tonight at midnight which is as close to lockdown as we’ve been since lockdown ended in July.

We have enough food and toilet roll to last us until February I reckon 🧻🎉

Merry Christmas to you all.

Stay safe everyone 🎄🎄🎄