Christmas Is Cancelled. Part Three.

For some background you may like to look at parts one and two. Part one was written, 20.11.2017A.D. and Part two was written 26.11.2021A.D.

I had been off from Monday, a week before Christmas, and returned to work today, Boxing Day.

I had bought only one gift, as a Christmas present, and that was a lovely jumper from TKMaxx for my young grandson. The jumper cost £12.99. I had tried it on him, with his eyes closed, so I knew that it fitted him perfectly. There was no need to wrap it, as he knew it was a jumper.

Our two children in their twenties, knew that nothing from Paul and myself would be bought for them. Most years they got us chocolates, which was nice of them. I didn’t mind if they got us chocolates or not, I can buy my own. I did think just before Christmas, that I should by myself Ferrero Rocher, but I thought, maybe one of my kids will buy it me, so I didn’t, buy any.

I really wanted those chocolates, the day before Christmas Eve, and wished I had bought them for myself, I would have eaten half of the pack, if I had!

A week before Christmas, Paul saw in the reduced section of Tesco, a large chicken reduced to £5 he asked me, “Will this be ok for Christmas Day?” I replied, “Yes, perfect.” He then showed me what was in his trolley, he showed me a pack of beef, he said, “This is £6 is this too much?” I said, “No, it’s Christmas, some people spend £30 on a turkey.” Paul, always does the cooking on Christmas Day. He takes hours and it is more than worth it, when he is finished. It is like he is cooking for eight, but it is for four. Everything is on the plate. Even horrible, sprouts that usually I wont eat, but as they are done SO beautifully, I eat them. Paul does his own stuffing, and his roast potatoes, they are to die for! His homemade gravy is simply delicious. Perfection on a plate. We all experience the love, and passion from his Christmas meal. It was ready ‘early’ yesterday 6.18pm, I said, to Daniel, he was hungry sitting beside me, “Next year I will cook, it won’t be as elaborate as his, but it will be ready at 2pm.” I went on, “Would you like that, all the works, but ready at 6 or basic and ready at 2?” He wisely replied, “Ready at 6.” Over the years, I don’t usually starve myself and wait, but eat mince pies, chocolates, biscuits and pop! I nibble and eat, throughout the day, I don’t fully appreciate, Paul’s wonderful food, as I am half full, when it eventually arrive at the table. Yesterday, I was ‘good’ and I made sure that I was hungry. I am SO glad I did, it was divine.

Meghan worked yesterday, Christmas Day, she arrived home 8pm. After she had washed her hands, and even before she had eaten, her dinner, she said, “Mum I have a gift for you,” Surprised I said, “I wasn’t expecting anything.” Meghan ran upstairs and came back down into the TV room and said, “Please can you just go into the kitchen for a moment?” I went into the kitchen, then Meghan said, “You can come back in now.” I want back into the room and sat next to Meghan.

She gave me a wonderful tote bag, the colour and material I loved instantly it is jute and cotton. I said, “I love this bag!” It had the words Harrods on both sides. Meghan said, “I bought this for you, when I went to the Winter Wonderland a few weeks ago, look inside.” I looked inside the fabulous bag and something that was beautifully wrapped, when I picked it up, I said, “I can feel it is a cup,” I opened it carefully and it was indeed a cup, with the words Harrods in gold colours. I said, to Meghan, “This will now be my new works cup.” I was pleased with both my unexpected gifts.

Meghan then handed me a golden envelope, blank at the front and not sealed. I opened it and read “Mum…… it took a second to process what I was reading, but I read the words, “We are going to Malta!” I screamed and laughed at the same time and said to Meghan, “We are going to Malta?” Meghan said, “Yes,” I carried on reading, it said, “Surprise, pack your bags going on, 7th July 2024 from Meghan xxx.”

Meghan said, “I booked it four months ago, and will pay for us, monthly over one year, it is all inclusive,” She went on, “It is in the same hotel, that I went to three years ago, the meals are three times a day and there is top-quality in-house entertainment.”

I was still, in lovely shock, as she said, “Remember when you asked me earlier this month, “Do you want to go with me to Malta or not?” I replied, “No, then you said to me, “OK, I will ask Anna to come with me,” Mum in my head I was thinking, please don’t ask Anna. I added, “I was going to ask Anna yesterday, but I thought, get Christmas out of the way first, then I will ask her this week,” Timing or what! For it was certainly in my thoughts yesterday, throughout the day. I’m SO glad I didn’t ask Anna yesterday.

Meghan did ask, months ago, “Are you going to keep those?” She was in my bedroom when she was watching me putting clothes into a bin bag to give away to charity shops. One of the items was a black swimming costume, I had used it possibly twice and that was over twenty years ago. I said to Meghan, “My figure has changed since then,” She said, “But you might need it in the future,” I replied, with confidence, “I won’t.” I was been ruthless, with clothes I had not used for years, and that was one of them, the bag was taken to the Air Ambulance the same day!

Meghan reminded me of that day, for she had booked the holiday and said, “You will need to buy another swimming costume,” I replied, “OK, I will buy one and wear a t-shirt over it,” Meghan said, “You will be too hot.” I said, to her, “I will look for one that comes with a tiny short skirt, attached to it, for in my head, I know the type of swimming costume I would like to wear.”

I don’t like flying, and I hadn’t thought I would fly again. The last time I flew, was nine years ago. When my Mum lived abroad, I even thought to myself, if she passed away, I might even give the funeral a miss! She wouldn’t know, that’s how much I don’t want to fly. I know millions of people fly every day; I just feel out of control. When I am driving my car, I am in control, I know some people drink and drive or even take drugs! I never sleep when I am on the airplane, Meghan has told me the time of the flight out, and when I told her, “I won’t sleep,” She said, “You will.”

Today she asked me, “Do you want to sit by the window?” I said, “I don’t mind, you can, if you want to,” She replied, “You can sleep better by the window, I will be OK, not by the window as I have my neck pillow.” I said, “OK, I will have a window seat.”

Meghan said, “I will look for places for us to visit, and we can visit a restaurant, that is not in the hotel,” I said, “OK, I am easy, I mainly love, relaxing in the heat on the beach, that is my ideal of a holiday in Malta.”

Meghan said, “Don’t pack too much,” I said, “I won’t,” I will mainly pack my beautiful, lightweight, tie and dye linen and cottons that I have dyed.

We are both good with money. My plan is to spend, no more than £100, £200 tops, and that will only be on the food in the restaurant, outside the hotel, the rest will be on merchandise. A t-shirt with Malta on, a leather keyring with Malta on, a metal key-ring with Malta on and about seven different pens with Malta on. All for me.            

I am glad I am going to Malta, I am not excited, yet. July is a long way away.

This surprise gift, is one of the best Christmas gifts I have ever had!      

Oh, I forgot to mention, why I was asked to leave the room for a minute, that was for Meghan to put her mobile phone opposite me, hidden on record. From start to finish, the whole thing was recorded, my surprised reactions, we laughed later watching it, and we have watched it repeatedly.