Christmas Is Concluded

Christmas is all packed and put away.

The goose carcase is boiled and the stock used to make soup.  It includes all the vegetables unused, or left over, from Christmas dinner as well as pulses, pearl barley and rice.   

The bones were stripped and any meat or skin minced and added into the mix.  There are now fourteen portions in small chinese takeaway boxes in the freezer.

Thunderthighs has cut the tree up for firewood.

The choir of angels, baubles, tinsel, socks, Santa hats etc are in  boxes and bags in the top cupboard in Ferretfingers’ room.

The cards have all been listed for next year, backs cut off and fronts in a bag to take to LDNE for next year's Christmas crafts.   

The Xmas labels list document has been updated; with changes of address, some names taken off and a couple happily added.  Next year’s cards have been bought, at reduced rates, from the charity shops on Shields Road, Byker, and put away, with the list, in a big biscuit tin in the Christmas cupboard.

The candles and candleholders are back in the drawer or on the delft-rack in the hall.  Mrs Quilt has gifted me some lovely glass candlesticks which are in the glass cupboard for next year.  The redundant glass tea-light holders are washed and with them.

The angel chimes are back in their box, in the drawer.

The mantelpiece has been dusted and polished.  The clock and ornaments have returned, dusted and polished, from their holidays on the piano, the windowsill and the top of the corner cupboard.

The wicker basket of dollies to be dressed is back on the Christmas tree (and coffee) table, soon to be accompanied by the different bags Ferretfingers and I use for going to Ouseburn Farm, his day centre, knit’n’natter and the WI.

There’s even been hoovering.

The chocolates have almost all gone.

All that’s left is half the cake, denuded by Ferretfingers of any icing and sweeties.