page 22 chrstmas comes but once a year

page 22

Christmas comes but once a year

Thank goodness for that.

Well we are all prepared for Christmas, everyone turns up (who would dare deny mother, me if I wasn’t cooking) mother was in her element holding court over the proceedings. The turkey was purchased as promised with all the trimmings. Mother and I sat and prepared the vegetables the night before, all I had to do was cook it.

“I will have to go and help in the kitchen for a while” mother says to her guests “I have to keep an eye on things” (yes it’s not just my driving)

“It’s all ok out here mother, no need for you to worry yourself” (in other words, go away)

“Have you put the sausages in the oven, they need to go in you know” I glare at her to no effect.

“They go in later, along with the stuffing, unless you want them cold” (sarcasm or what)

“Ok, just don’t forget” (grrrrr) “is there anything I can do to help” mother is looking at me sweetly, ok lets get her working,

“Yes, you can start laying the table, put the cutlery on your trolley, you can manage slowly” her face, she didn’t see that coming.

“If you say so” I loaded her trolley with cutlery, condiments, and sauces, off she went to lay the table.

“I can’t do any more, I will have to sit down for a while” declares mother.

“I will call you when I need anything else doing” I say sweetly.

“Yes you do that” says mother and vanished back to her chair.

My daughter came out laughing “have you found a way of keeping Nan out of the kitchen”

“Yep, cruel aren’t I” she squealed with laughter and started helping with the final preparations. Then mother appeared,

“I have come to help”

“We have it all sorted now” my daughter says.

“Well let me take something to the table, you can’t manage all of it”mother says eyeing the turkey. 

 my daughter and I looked at each other,

“The bread sauce” I gasped “you can take the bread sauce, here you go” mothers eyes had been firmly set on the turkey, she had no chance.

“Phew” exclaimed my daughter “that was a close call” and grinned from ear to ear.

The rest of the day went quite smoothly once I had banished mother and trolley from the kitchen, honest that trolley certainly takes up some space.

Till next time

Copy right to Valarie Potter.