Looking forwards to Christmas

The LJ zeitgeist at the moment definitely seems to be towards a Christmas where "less is more".

How many of us really need more STUFF? How many of us actually look at our mound of gifts on Christmas Day and say, "Gosh, I really needed that novelty chicken bookmark and matching photo-frame set!".

Well, maybe you do, but I certainly don't. I've got too much stuff already. I have three garages and part of a storage unit full of excess stuff that I can't fit in my house. Why on EARTH would I require more stuff?

I don't intend to spend much this Christmas. I will (as a practising Christian) go to church quite a bit and think about my religion and what it means to me. I will eat well. Possibly the poultry of choice on Christmas Day will be one of the two fresh-shot ducks that my friend just gave me from a game shoot last Saturday (Tim needs to pluck and gut them first, obviously). I will give some gifts to my children, and the children of my immediate family. I will give something small to Tim. I will drink well (elderflower champagne and elderberry wine - maybe some mead if there's any left). I will enjoy the company of family and friends and share my food and drink with them.

I can't really see how novelty slippers or amusing books about cats could possibly improve on that...

The joy of ducking.

The phone rang and Sarah-Zak's-Mum was on the phone.

"My husband just brought home two brace of ducks, which have already been hung and really need to be plucked and dressed tonight. Would you like a brace? I only have time to do one myself, and it seems a shame to waste them..."

Hooo yes, I think we could probably find a use for a pair of ducks :-)

Which is why Tim is teaching Jared how to pluck a duck, and Ellie is wondering where boy-ducks keep their willies...

I love living in the countryside. Just wish I could figure out a way to disinfect duck down so that I could use it in a pillow or cushion... Any suggestions?