Sunday 29th January 2023

Not much to report on today.

Except to say, it was a day long in the planning. I had bought a cheap, huge (6.6Kg) chicken back in November to serve as a surrogate Christmas turkey for when Jen returned home from Oz.

And now she was back, we could have the second family Christmas dinner. Even if the first one was just the two of us. On Boxing Day, as we had gone out on the big day itself.

We had remembered to get the bird, stuffing and pigs in blankets out of the freezer on Saturday, and the chicken had its weight marked, so no need for me to weigh it again. And like all the best things, it pays to prepare: so worked out the cooking, resting times, as well as timings for the stuffing and pigs in blankets. Vegetables took half an hour to cook alongside the roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings.

With that all done, and satisfied that cooking would begin at twenty to eleven, meaning we had time for breakfast, coffee, second coffee and second breakfast. Then have a shower, shave and look all lovely.

We spent the morning, not only preparing ounch but cleaning the house, changing the kitty litter and vacuuming. So, by half ten both the house and us looked spick and span. I oiled and seasoned the chicken, wrapped the tin in foil and began the two and a bt hours cooking. And then peeled the potatoes, set them to boil and mix the Yorkshire pudding batter.

Soon the house was filleld with the fine smell of the chicken cooking.

The chicken was done at one, byt then Jen arrived, and then came Mike with his new partner, Helen. While they had wine and chatted in the living room, I went into the kitchen to begin the final stages, under so much control that there was little stress, until all stuff came together at the same time. I carved then dished up, Jools helped, and so at ten to two, we all sat down with refilled glasses, wished each other Merry Christmas, and tucked in.

Damn, that was fine eatin'. Even most of the extra roast potatoes went too, and most of the pigs in blankets.

Jools and Jen washed up, whle I tried to stay awake, then Jools, Mike and Helen told tales of their childhoods and schooldays in Kearsney, friends they lost contact with and thrills and spills they did.

They went home at half four, by which time Liverpool were already out of the cup, so I watched Wrexham play Sheffield Utd fight out an exciting 3-3 draw.

By the time that finished, it was half six, and the end of the weekend was hoving into view.

Sadly.