I wrote a version of this for a guest blog a few years ago. Thought it would be fun to update it.
1. On the first day of Christmas, my true love asked of me: what was your best present?
I’ve had lots of really lovely presents. Elephants often feature – in various forms and books are always welcome. Recent house moves, and the chaos that ensues, made us request only presents that could be consumed. We’ve received a lot of food and booze. Could be a good Christmas this year!
2. On the second day of Christmas, my true love asked of me: what was your worst present?
Ah – I’ve had lots of those too. A green plant holder in the shape of a dragon with a dead cactus in it is probably a candidate. Some slippers in the wrong size too. But it’s the thought that counts. Remember to put on your grateful face!
3. On the third day of Christmas – oh I’m sure you get the idea by now – what was your best Christmas?
Every Christmas is special. There’s just something truly magical about the season. I love it, wherever I celebrate it and whoever I’m with. Snow makes it extra-wonderful.
One Christmas morning we took the dogs for a long walk across the fields, which were covered in two or three feet of snow. That was memorable. Especially as the dogs spent the rest of the day asleep and left us in peace!
4. On the fourth day … what was your worst?
Without going into details it involved a Christmas Day spent in hospital with a very poorly family member.
5. On the fifth day … weirdest Christmas?
I’ve spent Christmas Day on a boat in the middle of the Atlantic and one in Siberia. Both wonderful and weird in their way. No shortage of snow in Siberia! The huge ice sculptures in the park in Irkutsk were astonishing. Great snowball fights too.
6. On the sixth day … ideal Christmas?
This year, having lived with packing boxes for months, sipping cocktails on a beach somewhere hot and sunny and being completely idle really appeals.
7. On the seventh day … favourite thing about Christmas?
Everything! Food, cheesy television, hunkering down in front of the fire with a dog to cuddle and a good book, the smell of the tree, twinkling lights, the funny little Father Christmas figures my mum knits, finding that perfect present for the one you love. Bring it on!
8. On the eighth day … favourite carol?
Fave is my pal Carol – my oldest friend! Although, actually, come to think about it, she hates Christmas so I’ll choose again. I love ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ It’s a very quiet, thoughtful carol, with beautiful poetry by Christina Rossetti.
9. On the ninth day … favourite film?
No hesitation about this one – While You Were Sleeping. I watch it every Christmas, without fail.
10. Deep breath, nearly there … on the tenth day of Christmas my true love asked of me: what is your best cracker joke?
Apologies but here goes (this one always went down well with a class of five year olds). Q What do you call a donkey with only three legs? A Wonky!
11. On the eleventh day … Who would I like to find in my Christmas stocking?
Ooh, this took a bit of thinking about. The research was arduous, as you can imagine. There are quite a few I can think of … how about Gethin Jones, Aidan Turner, Colin Firth, Idris Elba, Rob James Collier and Santiago Cabrera. Do you think they’d all fit? Just as well I have extra-large stockings!
12. On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love asked of me: who would I like to entertain over the Christmas turkey?
Anyone willing to put up with my dreadful cooking is welcome. If it’s not possible to have all those lovely men from the previous answer, I’d have Jane Austen, Dawn French, Elizabeth 1, Eric Morecambe, Oscar Wilde, Ray Mears and Rupert Everett. What a party that would be.
These were great fun to answer the first time around and even better to rethink and update. So – what would your Twelve Days of Christmas answers be? Let me know!
Hope your Christmas prep is going swimmingly – and, if it isn’t, I suggest a large sherry and an even larger mince pie.
Love,
Georgia x