Twelfth Night

The next best moment to trimming up the house for Christmas is definitely that when all decorations and lights are taken down and packed away.

The tree which has dominated the deep window bay since early December has been systematically undressed.

The high flying Angel and neighbouring star are removed first followed by the methodical unhooking of the most treasured of the baubles from the now brittle boughs. Streaks of tinsel and long chains of icicles are extracted from a tortuous route through the foliage. Three strings of lights follow. These are intentionally looped and wound to avoid tangles and snags but you can guarantee that in 12 months time they will somehow have become intertwined and inseparable.

The non-drop attraction of the tree, when bought, stands for nought with the dragging of the prickly growth across the room and through a series of doorways to reach the garden. The small fragments of green pine will turn up on a regular basis through the rest of the year in the far recesses of the connecting rooms. I hesitate at the thought of loading what remains of the tree into the car for its last journey to be re-cycled at the local tip.

That splash of colour and ornament is, don't get me wrong, a wonderful thing to behold what with all the accompanying tradition, sentiment and reminiscence but as soon as the celebrations of New Year are over there is a feeling of such things being somewhat out of context.

The first few days of January are a realisation of normality. Everyday life and activity resumes, appearing to be in a sober black and white but with a sense of anticipation and excitement about what is ahead.

As a family we do stretch out the lifespan of the trimmings to the very last moment, twelfth night on the 5th of January,(I know, it can also be on the 6th) This coincides with our eldest daughter's birthday on the 4th and everything is kept in place to mark this occasion.

She was expected on Christmas Day some 23 years ago which caused us, as prospective parents to keep our Festive plans on hold. On the due day we ended up having our turkey dinner and plum pudding at the neighbours rather than dashing to the delivery room.

It was strange time in limbo but in wondrous anticipation of receiving a great gift- the first of three blessings for us in the following 5 years.

We will soon be up the rickety ladder into the loft space to carefully stow away the boxes and bags containing our Christmas but we will keep and cherish our memories from this and previous years at the forefront of our minds and emotions.