Christmas is a comin'...

[Petrushka]

... ah, but have you checked the sell by / use by dates?

Once had a Christmas pudding which had a 'best before' date of December 24.

[Anna]

Some of my decorations are handed down from my parents; I first put them on trees as a child so they mean something.

Same here, I have some of the family decorations and do remember when I was old enough to be allowed to decorate the tree, but the tree never went up before Christmas Eve. Also, I remember waking up to the rustle of the stocking at the end of the bed (after having left out the carrots for the reindeers and the sherry for Santa) No presents before lunch was prepared and in the oven! After lunch was cleared away Dad always had a cigar and we tucked into fruit and nuts. It's the smell of satsumas mixed with cigar smoke that transports me instantly back to childhood at that time.

[MickyD]

I have much the same memories as yourself, Anna. I always thought the smaller, tatty items in the stocking were much more fun to unwrap and discover. Who remembers those gold chocolate coins in netting, sweet cigarettes and the sugar pigs? My parents used to go to a lot of trouble throughout the year to find silly small things with which to fill the stockings. The (paper) decorations were kept in an old suitcase up in the loft - when I think of them now, they must have been pretty dreadful, but their musty smell which emerged as the case was opened never failed to excite me as the big day drew closer. Do kids feel the same sense of anticipation now, I wonder? I fear they probably don't.

[BBMmk2]

I have been told not to do any forward planning this year. Sombre thoughts as far as my parents are concerned, 84 and 93 reespectively.