Shout from the rooftops, it is December and all the festive fun can begin in earnest.
Historically, I would never have anything ‘Christmas’ before the 1st of December and I would not put the tree up until around the 15th. However, the kids have shared their excitement/ground me down this year and we have watched several Christmas movies since October.
Festive Movies
We have watched all the cheesy Hallmark movies in the run up. Isla and I watched ‘The Holiday’ last Friday. I hadn’t seen it in years and really enjoyed it. My all-time favourite has to be ‘Die Hard’ however I’m saving it for nearer the time. We decorated the house on 2nd December and the Christmas tree went up last night. This is all super early for me but has stopped the kids nipping my head!
Ed and I share favourites, we make a perfect pair at Christmas! He also loves ‘Die Hard’ and we both love ‘Fairytale of New York’ by The Pogues. Ed detests the busy shops and long queues, so will try to do it all early in December.
A Grinch or Fun?
Jen, our office Manager, is a complete grinch until December…no Christmas music is allowed in her house until the 1st. If she is in a garden centre before December, she will avert her eyes from the displays. Nevertheless, on the 1st day of advent, the calendars are prepped and ready. Jen will be playing Phil Spectre’s Christmas album, a firm family favourite. She has added another couple of artists to this though. Her family now sings Kate Rusby’s version of ‘Santa Never Brings Me a Banjo’ at top volume.
Gemma, our Housekeeper and Barista, is a super organised gal. For her, Christmas is in full swing by the 1st of December. Santa has done all his shopping by this time so there is lots of time for Christmas movies and Christmas baking (with a cheeky wee Baily’s for the grownups!). Gemma’s favourite Christmas song of all time is ‘Rocking Around the Christmas Tree’ which she has promised to dance to at the team Christmas party.
Roy, one of our Barista team and former guitar band member, loves listening to Slade’s Merry Xmas Everybody. He is not ready to embrace Christmas until the 24 December, but for a quiet life will be putting up the deccies this weekend.
How many Christmas Lights?
Hazel, one of our Barista team and expert baker and owner at ‘The Bake Project’ might pretend not to like Christmas, but actually really embraces the fun once December is underway. Her tree is up already as well as 27,000 sets of lights. Her favourite festive song is ‘I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas’ by Gayla Peevey – look it up, it’s worth a listen!
David, our Groundsman also loves Fairytale of New York, he is not big on Christmas movies but Tom Hanks is slowly thawing him with Polar Express when watched with his little girl. He is taking the aversion to the festivities to the nth degree and won’t be putting up deccies until after Christmas when his little girl joins him to celebrate.
The festive fun can begin
What will you be doing this Christmas? Have you got your favourite tunes on yet, or are you waiting until ‘nearer the time’? Whatever you are doing, from all of us at Duffus Estate, have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Caroline, Ed, Isla, Samuel and Sula.
