anneiskeepingbusy

Remembering Christmases past, the grandparents laugh and say, “Christmas is about having enough duvets. And avoiding the motorway.”

“Plus love, hope and Quality Street.”

Over tea and mince pies, the friends compare 2023 highlights. A son’s wedding, some bowel surgery, seeing the Caravaggios in Rome. Ups and downs.

Therapist, Mags, sees her final client for 2023. Despite her work, everyone is still mad. She doesn’t predict a fall in demand for 2024.

On the shortest day, they walk in the park. The London Planes are bare; it’s dark by four. But think of Spring, they say.

“The choir of children sing their song

Ding dong, ding dong, ding dong”.

Yeah, but nothing says Christmas quite like “The World’s Strongest Man.”

Danny, on hold to HMRC, wonders what else he could do with this time. Stop a boat, cut a waiting list, punch a PM.   

Her mother has bad eyes, so Beverley writes her cards. Clemmie doesn’t use postcodes and strikes through names of friends lost since last Christmas.

“Says here, the Home Secretary’s parents would have struggled to be together under the new rules.

“Can he look his mother in the eye?”

She hasn’t bought any presents yet, but the shops are rammed. Instead, she sides with the Devil and, from the sofa, fires up Amazon.

“Come for a drink,” they say after the work Christmas lunch. In his paper-hat, Alfie agrees but in truth, he just wants to sleep.