I have a theory (actually it’s not my theory), that all pain and suffering and even slight irritations have a purpose…and that purpose is education. There is something to be learnt. My covid lessons have taught me, primarily, how to make face masks. Plus, how to teach others; how to bake banana bread, how to entertain myself; what I can live without; how important and useful and clever (and lovely) my husband is; why time with my mother is irreplaceable….and today it will teach me to make Christmas dinner.
I have never, ever made Christmas dinner…we’ve always managed to get out of it…mostly by virtue of 1. not having children and 2. not strictly being able to cook. So Christmas is either with his family or my mum…and I’m just required to bring a side dish or a dessert. I give my mum a lump of cash as my contribution, or buy an organic turkey for my ex-cook sister-in-law and her husband to deal with. Job done.
But of course coronavirus is turning everything on its head. We were prepared to not travel anywhere and have Christmas dinner at home with 1 other household – my god-daughter and her parents, who live 10 minutes away. But the latest variant of the virus (which has put us into a sudden tier 4 lock down here in London)…means no socialising outside of your own household whatsoever. So, like many well-prepared boy scout types, I am stuck with a pile of cranberry sauce, a large Christmas pudding, 2 tubs of brandy butter and enough turkey for 8. But….I’m mightily relieved that my first Christmas turkey will be just for me and Husband. Relieved, because we get to learn how to roast a turkey, cook crisp roast potatoes and parsnips, make bread sauce and most of the other side dishes, but have none of the stress of anyone else having to eat it. And we’ll have stacks of left-overs for turkey and ham pie…etc.
Thanks for the lesson covid!
Jx
Ain't we got it made? 