Post Christmas clear up

My decs went up on Dec 20th. I always move a lot of 'stuff' to a spare bedroom so that the place doesn't look too cluttered. 6 garlands with fairy lights and 5 nice wreaths. That's it. The family and close friends' cards are displayed and the rest go into a wicker trug on the hearth.

However, must admit to liking the feel of space when the decs are taken down.

Our decs went up on 20th Dec, as children we always had to wait until after my brother's birthday (18th) and the tradition has remained . They will come down on 6th Jan as I love them brightening up these dreary days . We had turkey soup for lunch , a few portions in the freezer for meals later and some delicious ham to eat up still . Still need to clear out fridge of other bits .I gave the left over cheese to DD and family as I can't control my cheese habit ! My washing machine has died at last,so will enjoy choosing a nice new one. After 15 years it owe's me nothing, never even gone wrong.

We still have 4 extras here. 5 have just left. You should see my house after 10 days of visiting young children ? It will take me until Easter to deal with all the stuff....and then it starts again.

The decorations are well down the list. First: strip 8 beds and launder bedding. Next: wash and dry all towels. And then clear a road through the boxes, paper, toys, games, bottles. Hoover up all the gunge on the floors. Return the entire house to its original layout (much building of forts and huts). Finally take down decorations by the 6th January. It takes about a week to return them to the boxes.

Well....at least I won't be bored.

Oh yes...and the food? Not much left of the £600 worth I bought on 23rd December. DH and I will live on nibbly bits until they are all gone. Most meals were feeding 14/15 so little left.

I used to love them up as long as poss as a child and when i had children at home but seem to have changed in recent years as they were away on the 29th!!

DD1 gave me a Christmas tree made of twigs and dotted with red berries, with twinkling lights (seems to have been my main Christmas present ) on Boxing Day ( again]). I may keep it out for the rest of the winter. Seems a shame to put it away when it was late to the party!

Still definitely Christmas in our house, although the ham is long gone due to the fact that daughter placed the Boxing Day pork in one oven, and lit the other one. Was a relief to be able to fall back on warmed up turkey and boiled bacon.

I may have to ice my second Christmas cake today.

second Christmas cake? I'm just relieved that one was edible