Christmas puds, festive prints and even a touch of witchcraft – tin dog style
Spice in the kitchen, ink on my hands, and nostalgia on the screen
Today has been super-Christmassy, which has been very welcome as the last week has been challenging for various work, health and family reasons. That was why we missed Stir-up Sunday last weekend – the traditional day to mix the Christmas puddings.
But this morning, after getting soundly soaked on the walk to pick up the Sunday paper, I dried myself off, put Diana Krall’s Christmas album on the record player and mixed the pud with Clare.
Fruit, nuts, spices, flour, eggs, breadcrumbs and rum!
The smell just screamed Christmas.
At the time of writing this, it’s been simmering on the stove for four-and-a-half hours. Only two-and-a-half to go!
The pot bubbling, I popped on one of my festive favourites, right up there with The Box of the Delights for nostalgia.
First broadcast 28th December 1981, K9 and Company brings us witchcraft, human sacrifice and everyone’s favourite robot dog. What could be more Christmassy? Say after me: “Hecate, Hecate, Hecate.”
Is it any wonder I’m obsessed with folklore when this was my childhood?
Christmas craft
After slipping on School Reunion to continue the Sarah and K9 love-in, it was time to get crafty.
Yesterday, I carved a little Christmas tree using a material called Speedy Carve rather than regular lino. While I have to admit I prefer the real stuff — Speedy Carve was a little too rubbery for my taste — I was pretty happy with the result.
So, today I went to work, printing what will become gift tags for Christmas. I wasn’t too precious about the amount of ink on the roller, or making them identical. I wanted these to feel a little rustic.
The next job will be to cut them down, punch a hole in each and add ribbons.
To add to the festive feel, I listened to crime writer Val McDermid read her new book Winter: The Story of a Season. It’s a great read/listen, as Val shares her personal musings and memories of the coldest of all seasons, taking in writing, festivals and even soup-making. I can definitely recommend it, preferably with a cup of Christmas tea in hand.
Val makes much of Christmas and other winter festivals being a promise that the light will always come back to illuminate the darkness.
That's exactly what I needed today.