ENGLISH MUM: never knowingly undercatered

Well, it’s Christmas Eve Eve (if that’s possible) and it’s time for me to head off to do all the wrapping, cuddling, talking, drinking, eating, mixing, stuffing, steaming and more eating that makes Christmas the best thing ever in my book.

Just before I go, I hope you’ll indulge me while I dish out a few festive thank yous. Firstly to you, my loyal readers: thanks for tuning in, guys. It wouldn’t be worth sitting down at my desk were in not for the little hit counter notching up the hits every day, and your fantastic comments and emails.

To Isitjustme, 73, Foreigner, Nats and all my other blogging buddies: thanks for being you my lovelies, you’re always entertaining.

To me Mam, my naughty Disreputable Dad, Mad Uncle A, Sensible Uncle I and the cast of thousands that are our fantastic Aunties, Uncles, nieces and nephews, and all of my Hubby’s lovely family: we love you and miss you every day. Come visit soon! Oh and Happy 21st Birthday to my nephew, B. Cheers, geezer!!

To the lovely, patient, kind and caring C next door, who accepts what life is currently hurling at her with a peace and dignity that constantly amazes me, along with D (stop getting my husband drunk!), Lou and Little C (don’t mention the star costume!): I’m so glad we stumbled upon each other! May your Christmas be the one that you wished for, and roll on next summer and those barbies in the garden eh?!

To my wonderful, wonderful friends, C, R and Bea: thanks for your emails and texts and for not forgetting me, my darlings, love you loads and hope to be seeing you soon.

And to J, my wonderful, dizzy, greyhound-loving, Merlot quaffing, shopaholic (Prada? You shouldn’t have!), bonkers BF, who would cheerfully sell her liver for me: love you babes. And to C, the Betty to J’s Frank Spencer, and little C as well: big wet kisses. Mwah xxx

Finally, to my long-suffering Hubby (’Not da mama!’) and my unfeasibly mental children. Love and kisses are due in spades to you fellas xxxx

Right, I think that’s it. Have a lovely, lovely Christmas and good suet aplenty. And no doubt I’ll be back on St Stephen’s Day when I’ve finally run out of things to eat and people to annoy. I’ll leave you with a quote from Dr Seuss, who was a damned site deeper than people give him credit for.

‘And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so?
It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags.
And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before.
What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.’?

Mwah xx