Anyone finding it hard to get into the festive spirit? This sometimes happens to me, and I remain in denial about the imminent approach of the old chap with the big tum and red jimjams right up until the last minute – and sometimes way after his sleigh has taken off again.
This year, for some reason, I feel full-on Christmassy, even though the girls are going to be with Mr X and I shall probably be sobbing my lonely heart out over a solitary mince pie (and I don’t even like them! But I have 450 left after forgetting to serve them at the party).
Something that’s helping me feel festive every morning is a lovely slot on Capital Radio
Though I am bored to tears with them yammering on about their blimmin’ Jingle Bell Ball (the girls were desperate to go and I called 83 times to get tickets, to no avail – sold out in less than an hour. Not that I’m bitter or anything) I do absolutely love the moment, shortly after 8am every morning, when they get a child to open that day’s window on their advent calendar live on air.
Yesterday’s was particularly charming. The little girl was 4, with a lovely fluting voice, and she got a cracker-shaped choc. ‘And what picture is it on the window?’ said Johnny Vaughn. Silence, then a strange mumble in reply.
Then it dawned on us listeners. The little girl couldn’t speak properly because she was eating her chocolate! Awwww, bless. Adorable moment.
It also makes me think of my lovely friend at Family Affairs, who didn’t get her Cadbury’s advent calendars in time and has had to somehow hand-fill an old one, I think, to appease her children! Greater love hath no mummy.
My daughter doesn’t eat chocolate so we got one from WHSmith that’s just doors with pictures behind them. We love. I got home from being away earlier this week and the first thing she said to me this morning was, “Mummy I’ve opened 3 doors already on the advent calendar!” Really exciting.
That sounds like a great idea! Mind you, no chocolate would cause a total revolt in this house, I don’t think I’d dare. Quite tempted by those ones with drawers where you can put your own bits and bobs in, but didn’t see one this year in time. Your daughter sounds lovely, get her to ring Capital!!
My friend recently went on a trip to Berlin and brought me an advent calendar back from there. How’s that for oneupmanship!! I think though, it is the first advent calendar I have ever had. At last an excuse to eat chocolate!!
OOoh, well, that is very swish indeed, Rosiero! I imagine it’s probably lovely chocolate too. I don’t think I’ve ever had my own advent calendar, now you mention it, and certainly don’t have a hope of getting a stray choc from either Child One or Child Two’s …will have to wait till they’ve left home!
Hand fill one?!! Now that is a labour of love. I bet she didn’t manage to do it without eating a few!
No, I expect there was a bit of slippage ….certainly would have been if I’d been doing it! Actually, if it had been me, I’d have bought them a bag of chocolate buttons and doled them out one at a time ….
handfilled? am impressed. the girl on the radio sounds adorable!
Hi Heather, I think you’d be able to listen to Capital online if you were in the mood, but not sure …it’s a very sweet little daily moment!
Well here we are on the 5th December and I still haven’t bought Harry & Megs’ advent calendars. There’ll be some kind of kiddie revolt if I don’t get them today so it’s moved from No. 139 to No. 1 on my list of Things To Do!
I was sneakily trying to comment on this post this morning but failed to make contact… sigh… I am attempting an advent calendar this year but keep forgetting about it… strangely, my chocolate-obsessed three year old has forgotten to remind me about it for two days in a row. I think I will punish his nursery for inflicting jingle-bells on us in November by allowing him to open all three doors at once tomorrow before he goes. And eat the chocolate…
Lovely to meet you this morning!
Hi, lovely to meet you yesterday, I shall look out for you in the park! Funny he’s forgotten about advent calendars, by the time you get one he’ll have quite a backlog, yum!
I wasn’t going to get my 6 year old a chocolate advent calender this year. Last year we had arguments over whether she could open in at 6am and eat the chocolate. But then I gave in and now, every morning, she eats a bowl of cornflakes and then opens the door of the day with so much excitement. She tells me the picture behind the door and shows me the chocolate as if she’s found a gold coin. And I have to admit it’s the highlight of my day too.
It is really precious, isn’t it? Mine keep forgetting to open theirs, and I do sigh for the days when it was absolutely the highlight of coming home from school ….
Christmas is a pain these days ennit ?
Christmas is a pain ?
Sorry about the muddle, I’m having terrible trouble with rogue software.
I used to think it was my technophobia or ignorance.
Now I know better – software is all just bloody rubbish.
Computers OK -Software rubbish !
I follow your blog and see that you have links to others, I thought you may be interested in following up on ruralrambles.co.uk which seems to have attracted quite a following in a relatively short time.
It’s described as the ‘scurrilous thoughts of an ageing rebel somewhere in the bleeding heart of Middle England’ and I found it very funny. According to the archive page, the author, who calls himself Aubrey Fitzrovia, is putting together a list of his favourite blogs and perhaps if you drop him an email he will add your site to his list. Keep up the good work!