All Set

The tree is up, paper chains blu-tacked to the ceiling, the cake is iced, and the last minute presents tracked down.  All our parcels have arrived safely, and there is much joking and teasing about what might be inside.

Julie finished school on Tuesday, Duncan on Thursday.  There is a strange feeling of being under siege: it has rained non-stop for a week, and the road from the village is blocked entirely by flood in one direction, and nearly impassable in the other.  Leaving the village means a long journey up onto higher ground, and makes relatively simple journeys to friends in neighbouring villages nearly impossible.  Duncan has already gone down with a seriously bad cold which must be steadily battling its way to infect the rest of the family. It promises to be a long fortnight!  

However, this is the first Christmas I can remember in which Julie has not been nearly hysterical in anticipation of "the magic".  We have dismantled some of our traditions - ruled out stockings, a turkey dinner, and no twinkling lights - and as a result she seems much calmer.  She is still tense about exams looming on the other side of the Christmas break, but for now seems to have weathered the worst of the panic, making up a meticulous revision timetable and sitting down each morning to study.

I have stocked the freezer, bought in baking supplies, collected a supply of good books and films, and made up some puzzles and quizzes.  Even though Julie has her revision to do, there will be hours of the days to fill, not all of which can (or should) be spent in front of the television.  I am thrilled to discover that her regular support team will still be visiting her once a week over the Christmas break. I can't thank them enough for soldiering on, despite the floods, and the lure of a warm office - a cup of tea and a slice of cake will be the best I can do.