Friends and Festivities at Christmas

On Christmas Day, Elliott and I hosted lunch for a few friends. The sun was shining, which I wasn't happy about, since I always want the fairy lights to be gleaming and twinkling in an overcast light, but there was still a few patches of snow outside on the grass from a snowfall a few days before, so that was something. I'd spent the evening before prepping and laying the table, a task I love. I had cracked open a bottle of Harvey's Bristol Cream, the only time of year I drink it, and wrapped up a few last minute presents with Christmas music playing, and then knuckled down to the best part, the dining room table.

I'd been scouring local antique and thrift stores for table decorations, and had managed to procure a high end table cloth, a runner, gorgeous napkins, some new chargers, and a few glasses and candlesticks for tealights and candles, and even found a gorgeous vintage tree topper star. All this for less than $30. The dining room itself, including the mantle piece had been decorated a couple weeks before, and all the Christmas lights cast a cozy atmosphere. I was very happy with the result, and looking forward to our guests arriving.

Elliott had cooked a wonderful paella when his parents and brother had visited a few months ago, and we decided we'd do this again for the lunch. It was easy to prepare, and I'd shopped for the best ingredients, Spanish bomba rice, and all the seafood from Wegmans, including fresh tuna, cod, octopus, clams and oysters, with chicken and kielbasa. I'd made brie, asparagus and prosciutto bundles in pastry to munch on while we were waiting for the paella. Bill and Nick were the first to turn up and then Jason arrived from D.C. Another friend had cried off sick, which was a shame, but more for the rest of us! The drinks began to flow and we laughed and chatted, catching up on everyone's news.

Lunch was demolished rapidly, the paella was a huge success, and we even had English crackers that were fun, with everyone wearing the gold paper hats that were inside. We had diamond reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from Trader Joe's, which was amazing. Trader Joe's have only given 3 of their wines this award, and it's well worthy of it. I had brought a few English Christmas puddings back from our last trip, and cooked one, setting it alight with flaming brandy, and served with Ambrosia custard. Our guests were tentative at first, but soon demolished their small portions, so I cooked up the other 3, which also swiftly disappeared down the hatch. Coffee was served for those who had room for it, while Jason took the opportunity to grab 40 winks.

I have to confess that I was relieved when nobody had any room at all to even taste a small mouthful of my Marks ans Spencer's English Christmas cake. This would be all mine, to enjoy with a large mug of tea in the next few days.

The cats were also treated on Christmas Day. They had top of the range cans of cat food, mixed in with kibble and treats, and were also each given a bag of catnip, shaped like bottles of wine, with labels reading, 'Catbernet Sauvignon', 'Cat's Meow' Chardonnay, and 'Feline Fine Champagne'. They were greeted with enthusiasm, embraced, squeezed, pummeled, licked and chewed, each cat in a separate area of the house, as though not wanting to be shamed by each other with their shows of reckless abandon. But soon their eyes began to glaze over, and the house became quiet as they gradually succumbed to sleep. It wasn't long before Elliott and I followed suit. We all had full bellies, and the best remedy for that was a good sleep!