Christmas Meme - Ami's Version

Wrapping Paper or Gift Bag?

Wrapping paper with beautiful ribbons and bows and lots of glitter!  What a silly thing to ask an Ami!

Hardest person to buy for?

Dan!  Notoriously difficult.  But he loves gadgets!

Easiest person to buy for?

The grandchildren - I am always given firm instructions at least a month before Christmas.

Do you have a nativity scene?

Not these days, but we did when the children were little.

Mail or email Christmas cards?

Mostly mail, and the more glitter the better - both inside and out!  I do send email cards to overseas friends though as I know they will get there.

Worst Christmas gift ever received?

I always do small gifts to place on the table settings on Christmas Day, and Dan, after prompting, always gets mine.  One year he made a big mistake.  HUGE! He bought me a pot of anti-wrinkle cream!

Favourite Christmas movie?

It has to be Elf.  I just adore it and watch it every year, now accompanied by a small grandson.  I do enjoy the occasional "sloppy" Christmas film though, and can be found curled up in the corner of the sofa sniffling and blinking rapidly.

When do you start shopping for Christmas?

About a week beforehand, and I happily strangle ALL smug friends who confide they bought their gifts during the end of summer sales! 

Have you ever recycled a present?

On the odd occasion I've had something that I have taken in to our local charity shop, but it doesn't happen often as people who know me simply buy me frilly knickers, or a massage, if they are stuck for ideas!

Favourite thing to eat at Christmas?

I loved smoked salmon and we often have Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon for breakfast with Buck's Fizz.  It feels very decadent!

White or coloured lights on the tree?

Well!  I like white lights very much, and I also occasionally like coloured lights.  But they went bang last year, so I bought some inexpensive new coloured lights from a large hardware outlet.  BIG MISTAKE! They are these awful ultrabright low voltage things that flash on and off in different combinations and give me a headache!  The kids love them for their vulgarity and Dan loves them because they cost virtually nothing to run - and I hate them!

Favourite Christmas song?

Bing Crosby singing White Christmas.  Sigh.  I know, but I am such a romantic!  (But I also love the Pogues!!)

Travel or stay home at Christmas?

I love Christmas at home with blazing log fires, family, friends and silly games.  My son in law is exceptionally good at Monopoly and I always lose and then have a big sulk!

Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?

I can even sing the song!  And did you know that Mrs Claus has a couple of reindeer of her own?!  Just ask Ana!

Angel, Star or ? as tree topper?

We have both and usually the angel which is smaller, goes a little further down from the star, but this year I have been forbidden to climb to the top of the step ladder (which is a big one) as Dan caught me wobbling last year and I nearly took the whole tree down with me, so this year the star is still waiting for a strong unwobbly man to put it in place.

Open presents Christmas Eve or morning?

Always on Christmas morning, and I so miss having mini tornadoes hurling themselves on our bed at 5am!

Favourite theme or ornament?

I still have some little filigree silver bells from when I was five years old and they go on the tree every year although they are now a bit the worse for wear.  I also collect Father Christmases made from tin.

Favourite for Christmas dinner?

We always have turkey and I cook it overnight very slowly, but we once had quite a lot of geese and there is nothing better tasting than a naturally and happily reared Christmas goose.

What do you want for Christmas?

To know that Dan will be with me this time next year. Good health is worth all the presents in the world.

Who is most likely to respond to this meme?

Everyone else as mad as Ronnie, Sunny and me!