The Only Time The Cheese Board Actually Leaves The Cupboard

Christmas time. Family time. 'Relaxation time'.

Possibly the most stressful time of my life, busy as anything. Far too many mince pies eaten and a jolly good quantity of paper cuts from wrapping presents and sending christmas cards.

Oh the joy of a 'normal' Christmas. Oh to be a normal family, where the TV is on 24/7 and you have all watched and sung along to the Sound of Music more times than you can remember.

But no, as my family cannot do anything in halves, we put on a live nativity play on the 23rd and 24th before Christmas and, by golly it is hard work. Totally worth it, but makes Christmas the most stressful time of the year.

The days before are spent putting staging in the right places, adjusting the star, finding children to be in the nativity play and practising going up and down to the church.

It's safe to say, however, that it is THE cutest nativity play I've ever been to or been in.

Normally I am Shepherd 5, or any other character that doesn't exist before the night. There is a live baby, 3 live camels (horses), some sheep, and we go from the church down into the stable yard to see the innkeepers, the shepherds and the kings; finishing up with following them through into the stable to see the beautiful array of little children and animals.

It is a highlight and some say it is when Christmas starts for them.

Christmas Eve is spent undoing all of the previous weeks hard work and settling down to some mulled wine and mince pies, followed by playing musical instruments in the following day's church service.

Following that, we all sit around and chat mindlessly to our relations at the lunch table before enjoying an evening of Racing Demon. A rather ferrous card game that is not for the light hearted.

In between all that, Boxing Day hunting is prepared for and more happy smiles whilst receiving the 19th pair of gloves that year - and there is no sign of snow - especially with the 10 degree weather.

Oh the joys of Christmas. Smiles, cheese and enough screaming 5 year olds, to put you off having kids forever.

Yours sleeplessly,

X