Sunday 26 December 2010

The Aftermath of Christmas,

Photos Copyright: Maggie May

Wherever we try to go in our house, there are toys everywhere. We are finding it difficult to move from one place to another because of the clutter of new presents.
This is only to be expected when there are four children in the house.
We live in quite a spacious home but now it seems that there isn't room to swing a cat (or a rabbit) for that matter, though why anyone would want to do that, I don't know.
My rabbits had a few toys for Christmas, bought by various friends and members of the family. They appeared to be quite excited about the new things and immediately set about to destroy or eat them.

I walk into the front room to be greeted by lego every where but my grandsons are very good at making models from scratch and very soon the mess is made into an aeroplane.


There are railway tracks every where and the girls have left great heaps of toys in the hall and the bedroom and the attic.

Boxing Day in Britain is a strange day. A sort of relaxed day........ eating leftovers and recovering from the stress of all the cooking on Christmas Day.
I have often heard different explanations of the name, Boxing Day but today some one suggested it was the day when the church boxes were emptied and the money distributed to the poor. I quite like that one.
This year, Boxing Day was on a Sunday. We didn't get to Church on Christmas Day because we were expecting a visitor, so we decided to go today. There were only a handful of people there, though there were many people at the morning service on Christmas Day, so I was told. I expect many people have gone away now Christmas is over.
The side roads and the pavements are still treacherous and somewhere on the short walk to church this morning, I lost one of a new set of earrings that my daughter had bought me. I am very dismayed about that.
I have a boxful of lone earrings and wish I had the nerve to wear odd ones. It seems such a pity.


Anyway we had a very pleasant time and I hope you all did too.





34 comments:

cheshire wife said...

My grown up child/husband still leaves his presents all over the place.

I hope that you are able to enjoy the festive season this year. A belated Happy Christmas to you and your family.

Irene said...

Four children in the house is a lot of work, plus all their presents. I would have a minor nervous breakdown. I do hope it doesn't bother you too much.

Too bad about the lost earring. It's a shame when they have no backing to keep them in place. It's a shame that you can't retrace your steps in the snow. Isn't it caught in your clothes? Sometimes that happens.

I hope you had a good Boxing Day. My day was filled with sleep. It was very pleasant.

XOX

CiCi said...

I have never had a problem wearing different earrings. Sometimes a long one on one side and a shorter hoop on the other side. Try it, and let me know, okay?

Hilary said...

I like TechnoBabe's suggestion. I'll bet you could carry that off beautifully!

I remember the Lego days.. and how painful it is to step on a piece. I'm glad you had a nice Christmas, Maggie. Hugs to you.

Jeni said...

When the kids were opening their presents on Friday nite, Kurtis received yet another set (and a much larger one than any he and Maya had before) of Play Dou - a substance I would rather not see more of this stuff! That and "Lite Brite" -which my son had when he was small and I hated it for the mess it made too! The living room floor is still a bit on the messy side, although we did much better this year in trying to keep control over the ripped up papers and such by simply having the kids push the wrappings into a trash bag as soon as they opened a gift. Helped immensely plus less risk of smaller things getting lost and tossed in the garbage by accident that way too -like last year when older daughter managed to lose a gift certificate for a meal at a nice local eatery! I hate having to walk so carefully though so as to avoid stepping on small toys or sharp objects and at this time of year, it's often much more dangerous just walking around the house than it is to risk life and limb outdoors with the snow and ice, isn't it?
Now, have a Happy New Year too, Maggie!

Rosaria Williams said...

Time to kick back and enjoy some time off, without visitors and cooking and picking up after everyone. Those legos can expand to every room. So glas my only grandchild has outgrown legos. They are fun; but oh, they make so much mess.

Pauline said...

Having to avoid stepping on toys makes one slow down and enjoy it all more, I think. Your Christmas sounds wonderful!

Mimi said...

You've four children in your house, how wonderful! And sounds like you're very patient with the clutter (it used to drive me mad!, but now they're teens it's all electronic stuff).
Paths are treacherous here too, I went for a walk around the streets today, and was very disappointed that shops hadn't bothered to clear snow/ice from their front to allow customers get in. It makes me think that I'll remember and support the ones who did bother!
Here Boxing Day is usually called St. Stephen's Day, but it's the same, relaxed one that you have, and i love it!

Unknown said...

I have a lot of those lone earrings too. Most of mine went down the drain. I remember the days of tripping over toys and stepping on lego's......Thank you for bringing these memories back.

Ayak said...

Glad to hear you had a good...and quite hectic...day!
Shame about the earring..maybe it will turn up. xx

Anonymous said...

Hi Maggie
Yes my home is looking like post Christmas hell lol.
But its lovely it means the girls are home, it means food that only get bought as treats, it means we were cooking goodies yesterday , it means love and family and friends
Nadolig llawen xxx

Bernie said...

Ah toys, messes on the floor only mean that the children were there for Christmas and had a great time.
I had a lovely Christmas as well, seems I have been in church all week.....well it really was only 2 Masses and 1 reconciliation......I am now ready for a day off.....hope you are well my friend.....:-)Hugs

Mickle in NZ said...

Dear Maggie - your home is looking like my bedroom floor used to when I was little. I'm so pleased that you're all having a happy time.

Do take care with all the ice - my sister and her partner called into the partner's parent's place in Lincolnshire in early December for a night. They were there for 6 nights as they got snowed and iced in!

Sending care and love, Michelle xxx

(The word verification is "rablib" - I hope Ash and Lily aren't planning a takeover, lol)

Sueann said...

We try to clean as we go on Christmas morn...but it is an endless task!!
I had a wonderful Christmas celebration with family and friends. Good times!
Looks like you had some great times as well! So sorry that you lost that earring. That really sucks!
You should wear the mismatched earrings. It would look cool!
Hugs
SueAnn

mrsnesbitt said...

Our snug carpet is currently covered with wires - hubby bought me an outside video camera so we can make films of visiting wildlife - well once it is loaded up! Watch this space!

Rose said...

This is what my house looked like, too, after all the presents were opened:) Reading about the rabbit toys made me remember I had a present for Rusty, Granddaughter's guinea pig, that I forgot to give her--darn! I always seem to forget something.

We don't celebrate Boxing Day, but since we had our Christmas celebration yesterday with my parents, I'm taking today as my lazy, after-Christmas day.

I'm glad you had a good Christmas--maybe you could start a trend by wearing just one earring, Maggie:)

Happy Frog and I said...

Shame about the lost earring but I am glad that overall it sounds like you had a very busy but happy Christmas. x

Akelamalu said...

I'm always losing one earring - it's so annoying isn't it? I did cash in with my box of odd earrings though, the gold ones that is, by sending them to one of those cash for gold places. :)

Our 5 grandchildren all turned up here together on Christmas Day to open their presents.l The place was chaos but it only lasted a couple of hours when they packed all the presents up and went home.

Working Mum said...

Sounds like our house, but we only have one child!

Looks like you had a lovely time and all that stuff is much better than being alone.

All the best for the New Year.

WM x

RNSANE said...

Next Christmas will be very special for me since my first grandchild will have arrived and should be three months old by then. I am going to go out to the crafts store to find a Christmas stocking to make as a surprise shower gift for him/her. I did new stockings for all my sons and my new daughter-in-law last Christmas as the boy's had grown pretty threadbare over the years. They kept them, though, to hang for sentimental reasons.

RNSANE said...

By the way, Maggie, one of my nurse colleagues always used to wear two different earrings. I'm not sure why - but you could start a new trend.

Lakeland Jo said...

That's what Christmas about- children, toys, mess..... brilliant. So glad you had a good time XXX

Eddie Bluelights said...

Hi Sis. Glad you had a good Christmas even with toys all over the place LOL. Weather is much better here and we are having the big thaw. Hopefull of getting over to see you now the snow is dying down. Thisnkl it's all gone Stateside!! . . . . poor things ~ Luv Eddie

Wendy said...

How nice to have a housefull of children and toys! Yippeee! I love watching the little ones unwrapping their gifts.

Too bad about your earring. I once lost an earring while crossing the street to go to a restaurant. Noticed it only after being seated. After dinner I crossed the street to get back to the car, and one of my friends found it! I hope you find yours.
Hugs

What About The Girl? said...

I've missed Ashley!

Gone Back South said...

Hiya Maggie, I have a second earring hole on one side (due to an impulsive piercing moment in my early twenties) so I always need an odd stud earring to match the pair I'm wearing. Happy new year to you, I hope 2011 is a good one for you, my friend.

Gail Is This Mutton? said...

Glad you had a good time Maggie. Yes Boxing Day IS a strange one, isn't it - it's one of the many things that makes us unique!

rosecreekcottage-carol.blogspot.com said...

Maggie....It looks like the PERFECT Christmas!! xoxoxoxox Carol

Suldog said...

Ah, a house cluttered with toys is a treat, my dear. Wherever you go, something fun to do! Enjoy it while it is there.

Anonymous said...

Ah yes - I recognize this aftermath.. although I must admit that the living room looks like this nearly all year round!

Have a wonderful New Year!

Jules~ said...

Oh boy the aftermath of opened presents. But the giggles and smiles of the children make it all worth it.

Bummer about the earring. You know what? When I read about your missing earring it made me think back to the bracelet you had lost and prayed back. I am trying to remember now. It was something of a retirement bracelet and very pretty.

Hadriana's Treasures said...

Maggie - sorry to hear about the earring...it's so irritating when that happens. Hope it turns up for you. Wishing you and yours a very happy and peaceful 2011! Hugs Hadriana xx

Suburbia said...

sounds lovely Maggie, glad you had all your lovely grand children around you.

Wishing you a healthy and happy new year x

MARY G said...

My daughters solved the one earring dilemma by getting one hole done above one of the original piercings. Now they wear a pair and a spare.
We had a lovely peaceful boxing day playing with our presents.
I had heard the explanation that Boxing Day is when the food left over from Christmas was boxed and distributed.
And yes, that is some neat lego construction. Nice.