Category: Christmas-thoughts - Roaming Brit

From a new life in spain, to an old life in britain, 'roaming brit' documents uncertain times!

On 31st January 2016, my partner and I left Southampton to start a new life as Expats in Gran Alacant, on the Costa Blanca. This blog will document our journey, as we navigate the Spanish system, travelling a path untried and untested. With Brexit looming, political turmoil in Europe and an unpredictable future, harsh decisions have to be made. Illness, family bonds and a Change of heart all make for challenging times in a life of a 'Roaming Brit!'

My Perfect Christmas Day – Luke Martin-Jones!

18/12/2021

I haven't had too many memorable Christmases over the years, certainly since leaving home, so I have to look further back to my early childhood, for that perfect Christmas Day.

The bright glow from the artificial, tinsel covered tree, directed me towards the lounge. It was four O'clock in the morning, when I gingerly walked down the stairs, being careful not to wake a soul. I poked my head around the door, the darkened room was illuminated with multicoloured streaks of light, rotating back and forth in the darkness. There was a distinct winter chill in the air; I could see the steam rising from my mouth as I gasped at the mountains of presents, filling the corner of the room. The 1970s patterned Axminster carpet was barely visible under the wrapped gifts; the magic of Christmas, laid bare; a moment of silence, before the festivities began.

Carefully, I closed the door, and began to walk up the stairs, back to my bedroom. With the creak of the final stair, I was greeted by a bleary-eyed Mum and Dad, stood in the doorway to their bedroom, smiling ever so slightly, despite the unearthly hour ..... This was the start of the most memorable day of the year!

A short video below of my recollections of Christmas Day!

My Perfect Christmas Day – Angela Day!

11/12/2021

My perfect Christmas, would be to help out in a soup kitchen for the day!

Angela

My Perfect Christmas Day – Lucy Wilding!

9/12/2021

Christmas has always been my favourite time of the year. From the day the Argos Christmas catalogue came out, and I’d go through it with a pen, marking all the things I loved (but knew I’d never get them all) to the Christmas nativity, songs on the radio and garish tinsel in Woolies; I was beyond myself with excitement.

The stall at school, where you could take 50p in to buy a present for a loved one, was my first experience in the magic of giving. I remember I bought my dad a peacock keyring one year and was so excited to see him opening it and how touched he was by it. (He still has it in a drawer somewhere, although I don’t think his keys ever dangled from it)

Christmas Eve was singing ‘The stocking song’ as we carried our stockings up to bed, struggling to get to sleep and meeting my little brother on the thresholds of our bedrooms at 3 o’clock in the morning. Shivering with cold, whispering to each other with chattering teeth, we felt all the goodies contained within Santa’s sock and wondered what they could be.

Christmas Day was filled with warmth, family, wonderful food, games, the Queen's speech and seeing who could keep their cracker crown on for the longest. (my Dad and I were the champions at this, often keeping them on when we went to bed that night) Now, with children of my own, I have tried to carry the magic into their Christmases. We still sing the stocking song, they still stand outside the living room door while I go in and declare ‘HE’S BEEN!’ In fact, I am so lucky that my childhood Christmases have become theirs because we all spend Christmas at my Parent's house as an extended family and, instead of it being Mum, Dad and 4 kids, there’s now 18 of us. And a lovely Cockapoo called Denis, who was named after my Grampa. He loved Christmas too. Family traditions are so important. But the most important thing about Christmas to me is giving: gifts, homemade goodies and love. And being surrounded by the ones you love xxx

Lucy

My Perfect Christmas Day — Alex Albescu!

6/12/2021

My perfect Christmas day would be 12 years old — something as simple as my mum and older sisters cooking up a feast from morning. Pottering in and out from time to time to check on me and my brother, for their benefit more than ours, we watched the rocky movies. Half-heartedly, we offered a hand in the kitchen, knowing full well we would get laughed at. All the while, classic Christmas music is playing in the background, then hours later the shout would come from mum ''dinner's ready'' and we'd all meet up and chow down… The last family Christmas!

Alex

My Perfect Christmas Day — Lesley Ings!

2/12/2021

My perfect Christmas — When my husband was a little boy, he used to eat all the chocolate as soon as he opened his presents from Father Christmas. Consequently, he would not be able to eat his Turkey Christmas dinner. So his Mother thought of a way around this dilemma without spoiling the happiness of her son.

The family tradition became, that we just had the Christmas stocking to open in the morning; have our lovely roast dinner with family chatter and funny hats; listen to our dear Queen’s speech and then open our presents. We did this by age, with the youngest starting first and everybody watching and enjoying the shouts of glee and wonderment, that Santa knew just what they always wished for.

By the time everyone had opened their presents, it would be several hours later and tea time. As the grandchildren arrived, it took even longer! Now they are grown up, so tea is now late supper after watching baby videos of when they were little, taking us back to the love, hilarity, and cuteness of little children.

Then a whisky or two and silly games until we’re all crying with laughter. A family Christmas with love, memories and encompassing the birth of our Lord, alongside the mystical magic of Father Christmas, the pleasure of giving and receiving gifts.

Our thanks to my Mother in Law who set our tradition of a perfect Christmas.

Lesley

My Perfect Christmas Day — Sherry Johnson!

29/11/2021

My thoughts on Christmas day has changed so many times over the years. As a child, it was about family, community unity and goodwill. Christmas presents were usually small but meaningful. The tree always glistening with its pretty fairy lights represented for me, mankind and the hope for all to be kind and benevolent to each other. Now I see Christmas ruined by mass consumerism and greed. People have forgotten the meaning of it all. How many children know the wonder of Midnight Mass, then High Mass on Christmas day; Very few indeed. For me, this is a very sad occurrence in mankind's future. I find the loss of our spiritual pathway so very upsetting.

Sherry

My Perfect Christmas Day — Deborah Brown!

22/11/2021

My favourite memory of Christmas, was believing — best feeling ever. We never had much money, but when Christmas came, it felt like we won the lottery. Mum and Dad always made sure we had about 9 or 10 presents to open. They weren't 100s of pounds, but they felt like it. Always had a real Christmas tree when we were kids. And we were allowed one snowball on Christmas day. Lovely memories I will cherish xx

Deborah

My Perfect Christmas Day — Gemma Wooldridge!

18/11/2021

Everything else just has to stop for a while! It's when this event throws you together, to spend quality 'in the moment' time together. Sometimes it feels like you want to chuck family members out the window, but either way, the day means everything else can stop for a while.

Gemma

My Perfect Christmas Day — Anne Hinks!

16/11/2021

My perfect Christmas - being with the kids and making memory's with them.

We go to Butlins on the 27th every year, until the 2nd of January and spend Christmas day and Boxing Day with my dad!

Anne

My Perfect Christmas Day — Julie Crawford!

11/11/2021

It’s my birthday on Christmas Day, so I tend to celebrate this more than Christmas. I don’t spend it with family as I like to do my own thing, although I do cook a roast dinner, with beef, as I don’t eat turkey. I open my presents (birthday) in the morning and go back to bed after dinner to watch telly. My favourites are Corrie, Emmerdale and anything with Wallace and Gromit in. It might not sound like much of a celebration, but I like my own company, and it’s perfectly fine with me.

Julie