The gang and I have just got back from our annual Christmas
visit to Waddesdon Manor and, as always, there cannot be a better
way to kick-start the festivities than a tour around this glorious
(if ridiculously over-the-top) house at its most festively
splendid.
My friend Heather and I first went when our sons were toddlers
and her twins had to be carried round. We were enchanted then, and
continue to be, by the imagination, the wit and the sheer effort
that goes into recreating Christmas from a bygone age. That year,
word hadn't really got around about Waddesdon Christmas decorations
and we had the house to ourselves. This year, with snow still
inches deep around most of Buckinghamshire, it was a similar story,
even if our little group has grown considerably.
The 2010 theme was a French Christmas. We had trees
echoing the great French painters, trees in honour of French
operas, even trees celebrating French cigarettes and, my personal
favourite, festive garlands of lavender and garlic. Afterwards, we
walk down through the woods to the old stables for hot chocolate
and cakes, to be greeted by staff who've known our children since
they were months old, and who, if they think: oh no, it's that lot
again, have never once let it show.
While we were there, Mr B was similarly engrossed in the ritual
that brings his year to an end: Shortest Day, Longest Walk, when he
and three of his mates, whose resemblance to Foggy, Clegg and
Seymour grows relentlessly with each passing year, meet up to spend
the morning walking the English countryside, preferably in snow,
and the afternoon in a country pub.
In the meantime, the last Christmas post is gone, Waitrose has
sold out of green vegetables and my two new Boden cashmere
cardigans have arrived.
Son and I have some serious sledging to do in the next couple of
days, we'll spend 24 hours in Hampshire with the horses and dogs
(and their house-keeping staff) and then, snow permitting, we're
off to the Alps on Boxing Day.
Have a very happy Christmas. Thanks for stopping by this year.
See you in 2011.
PS: Get better very soon, Finn. We need you with us in spirit,
as well as (very sick) body.