Creativity Overdrive

Day 63

Been ridiculously busy for a few days and have now got a stomach bug, but very pleased to report that this is not stopping me. Went out yesterday and bought stuff to make the Xmas pressies with, and have completed the first one. Spent £36! Steve panicked at my wanton extravagance.That this covers - at the very least - four birthdays, seven Xmas pressies, two birthday cards, a sympathy card, and some stamps, is clearly by the by.

Over the years, my sewing and painting skills have been stretched to the limit as funds have been rather an issue. In the past people have received hand-painted silk cushions, personalised paintings, collages, note cards made from our best photos, handbags, tote bags, aprons, napkins, place mats, kimono dressing gowns, toilet bags with lace trimmed flannels, covered books and boxes, delicate beaded Xmas tree decorations, handmade jewellery, hats, scarves and scrunchies, to name but a few. I have had to think mighty hard, and scour the Internet this year, to come up with stuff I haven't already done.

Thirty year old nephews with well paying jobs and yuppie lifestyles are the hardest to make for, obviously, so I'm going to set Steve and Sam the task of learning how to make peanut brittle, chocolate fudge and peppermint creams. Food is never refused, is it. Well, not until January. We all go on a diet in January anyway, so that's ok.

I love making presents for people, even more than I like buying them. The giving of gifts is one of the great joys in life. Coming up with something new may have been a bit of a challenge, but it is exercising my creativity and expanding my skill set. Can't ask for more, can you. I once read that in the Scandinavian countries, it is traditional to take a handmade Xmas tree decoration as a gift to anybody you visit during the Xmas period. How lovely is that!

I like to think that there is still plenty of so-called Christmas spirit around at this time of year, that it has not all been subsumed beneath a frantic veil of dogged consumerism, greed, panic and over-consumption. I know there are still traditions that are honoured, acts that are generous and charitable, and times of peace that are bestowed, even if it is just saying how much you've always wanted a hand-crocheted purple ipod cover with pom-poms, to your Aunty Irene.

The finest Christmas tradition I remember from my childhood, was the one where my brother, my sister and I pretended to be asleep until after Dad had laid the stockings on the end of our beds and reached the bottom stair, whereupon we leapt out of bed and excitedly tore everything open. This was swiftly followed by that other tradition of Dad racing back up and barking at us all to go back to sleep, or else.

Another was searching the house in the weeks leading up to the great day, until we found where the presents were hidden. The trick was to make the hole in the wrapping you peeped through look small enough to be done by a mouse. Mice get very active at Christmas, it's a well known fact, and I've never been any good at all with suspense. If I buy presents too early I get so excited I give them to people in advance, and then have to go out and buy more.

What I really like for Christmas is contentment. A log fire, a film I haven't seen for years on the telly, no exercise thank you (not with my bad feet), plenty of good food, nice drink and a few treats, family around me, silly games to play, the cat purring and the kids happily occupied, a bit of a nap, a lot of laughs, and a working dishwasher. A small pile of presents that represents the kindness, thoughtfulness, and love of my family towards me is nice too, but it is definitely just a bonus. The real treat is having everybody together, feeding them well, and seeing them happy.

On that note, having got myself well in the mood, I shall go and make the next lot of gifts. See ya.