Dress rehearsal

The plan was to have pork with green butter tonight followed by the (minimally) famous Chez Gaz syllabub. Before food, though, the tree had to be trimmed.

We ordered the tree last week with the idea being that it would arrive today. To be honest, I was amazed that they would deliver it on a Sunday but I figured the gift horse could look away as we planned accordingly. So, imagine my greater surprise when there was a knock at the door yesterday as we were sitting with our quiche and Boring Salad. At the door was a young chap clutching a lovely seven foot Christmas tree.

While the Hassells and Stockwells went to the cottage, I struggled to sit it in the tree holder and get it upright. This afternoon Mirinda, Fiona, Lauren and Jason trimmed it beautifully. All of our decorations and lights were spread decorously throughout the branches. It looked marvellous when they’d finished with Jason being elected to plonk our Madonna angel on the very top.

All of our decorations have a story and looking at the tree is like a trip down a memory lane of people. It’s always lovely.

The trimming took place once the sun had vanished to the other side of the planet. Before the darkness descended on this, the shortest day, we all went for a walk into Farnham. A good chance to tell the Hassells the Story of the Stile (my personally favourite) which had to start from the fact that they didn’t know what a stile was.

We walked the usual route with a stop for a beer in the Nelson Arms (where we discovered that Lord Nelson had secret assignations with Lady Hamilton) and lunch at the Lion and Lamb cafe. It was then off to the church for a gawp at the Pugin window and a general chat about where the original pulpit would have been – the latter with Bob.

And then, finally, our Sunday roast.

I was ably assisted by Jason who proved an excellent pupil in the kitchen. From cutting the carrots (julienne) to plating up. I told him it was just a dress rehearsal for Christmas Day. He’ll be taking over from Farelli, who has been my able assistant in the past.

Dinner was enjoyed by everyone (Bob made particular mention of how delicious it was) and, afterwards, we sat around chatting and making plans for a visit to Hampton Court Palace tomorrow. I’m having a day off as the Hassells have invited us over to the cottage for dinner.

A lovely day which calls for a lovely photo.