The Christmas Tag

As I’ve been so quite lately I thought I’d ease myself back into it over the Christmas period. So when I saw that Jegz had done a little Christmas tag post I thought I’d get in on the action.

So, here is a little bit more information about Christmas in our house.

1. Do you prefer a real Christmas tree or synthetic?

We have a really sad-looking artificial Christmas tree in the flat. It claims to be 6 foot tall, it’s definitely not because I’m bigger than it but never mind. It was bought in a rush last year as we were in our very own home for the first time. I actually remember it being a bit bigger last year but that must be my mind playing tricks on me. I think we’ll be sticking with our sad skinny tree for another year or so yet though until we move anyway. We don’t really have enough space for a fuller tree.

I’ve never actually had a real Christmas tree though. When I lived at home we always had an artificial tree too so I don’t really have a frame of reference for preference.

2. You’re in a coffee shop, it’s December, what do you pick?

I’m less of a coffee drinker these days, especially in coffee shops because they’re so full of empty calories. I used to love a Starbucks toffee nut latte but I had one last Friday and it wasn’t as awesome as I remember. I was a bit upset by it to be honest. I’m more of an Earl Grey girl than a coffee drinker usually. Although, Costa have some sort of gingerbread drink on their menu that I’m tempted to try. I am a little wary though because Starbucks’ gingerbread drinks are really quite cinnamon-y and I hate cinnamon.

3. What’s your favourite colour scheme for decorating the tree?

I do love a traditional red and gold tree but our living room colour scheme is red, white and silver. The hall is gold and purple though. I’m actually longing for the day when I can dress our rooms properly for the festive season. Although we do a bit of decorating we don’t go all out the way I’d like to. We don’t live in the same city as either of our families which means we often spend the festive season travelling around and I don’t want to go mad with the decorations and then not have time to enjoy them properly.

4. Giving or receiving?

Giving. I’ve always loved giving presents. I love that feeling you get when you’ve got someone something you know that they’re going to love and that it’s a complete surprise. I get too excited and want to tell them all about it. It’s all worth it when you see their face when they open it though. 

On the other side though, I hate it when you settle for something for someone because you just can’t think of anything brilliant. I really feel bad when I’m handing those gifts over.

Don’t get me wrong, I love receiving gifts too but I always get really embarrassed opening gifts in front of people.

5. To mince pie or not to?

I’m not a mince pie lover. It harks back to my hatred of cinnamon I think. Anything Christmas-y and fruity always seems to have a shed load of the stuff in it and it doesn’t ring my bell at all.

6. What’s your traditional Sunday lunch?

We always have a traditional turkey roast with all the trimmings. Pigs in blankets, stuffing balls, honey roast parsnips, carrot and swede mash, big fat peas plus mash and roasties. All topped off with the most important bit – gorgeous gravy. I love gravy, that’s clearly the northern lass part of me, you can;t find proper gravy in the south.

7. Christmas day fashion.

I always used to get a brand new Christmas day outfit, every year without fail when I was younger. Now I tend not to and just wear something I feel nice in. I tend to be a bit more dressy than a normal day on Christmas day but nothing particularly OTT. Last year I wore a simple green shift dress and this year I’ll probably go for something similar.

8. What’s your favourite Christmas song?

I love most Christmas songs to be honest. I always used to say All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey but I think Last Christmas by Wham! is actually my favourite you know. Stop The Cavalry by Jona Lewie always brings back good memories of decorating the Christmas tree when I was younger with my mum. Driving Home For Christmas by Chris Rea is my dad’s favourite  and always starts a competition each year. The winner is the first person to hear it on the radio while they’re in a car. As the years have gone by we’ve got more and more competitive about it and more rules and regulations have come into place about how you win. My mum was this year’s winner. 

9. What’s your favourite Christmas film?

Despite the fact that I hate Will Ferrell, I love Elf. To be honest though, I’m a sucker for any Christmas film, the cheesier the better. My mum and I watch Miracle on 34th Street together with a big tin of chocolates between us every year. This year so far I’ve only watched Home Alone and Scrooged. Bad form. I still need to watch The Grinch, Muppets Christmas Carol, Elf and Die Hard at the very least. 

10. Open presents before or after lunch?

Before, always before. Who has the willpower to wait until after lunch? We can’t even wait until after breakfast in our house. It’s too exciting to get downstairs and discover if Father Christmas has been. Luckily, I’m a good girl so he hasn’t missed me out yet.

In fact, all these answers could be completely wrong for how my Christmas will work this year. These are all based on my Christmases at home. This year I’m off to the in-laws for Christmas Day and things will probably work differently there. I’m nervous and I know I’ll miss being at home with mum, dad and Harry but I know I’ll be OK. We all get on really well *huge sigh of relief* so I know I’ll have a great day. It’ll still be weird not just falling into our usual routine though.

Have you done the Christmas tag? Do you have any traditions you want to tell me about? Or any hints and tips about how you navigated the change from one family Christmas to another?

Kisses,

P.S. Yes, Die Hard is a Christmas film.