LIFESTYLE: THE CHRISTMAS TAG

Christmas at Housing Units 2013

1. What is your favourite Christmas Movie?

This is such a hard question. One of my favourite things to do during this time of year is to snuggle up on the sofa with a hot drink and watch a Christmas film (or three). Of course there are the obvious ones like The Grinch (which I can pretty much quote word for word), Elf, The Santa Clause, Love Actually etc, but I think my absolute favourite has to be The Polar Express. There’s just something about it that makes me feel all warm and festive, and even makes me shed a tear or two!

2. Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

I open the majority of my presents on Christmas morning, but there’s been a little tradition in my family where my mum and dad give me and my sister one small present to open on Christmas Eve. It’s almost always a pair of festive pyjamas. I remember when we were younger we’d both have a bath and our parents would tell us to keep our bath robes on until we’d opened our presents, though we never clocked on it’s because they were pyjamas until it happened a few years in a row!

3. Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?

Each year we decorate the house after my dad bringing home the real Christmas tree to “The Christmas Album”. It is a bit of a tradition now, but I have some lovely memories of spending time with my family while belting out the Christmas classics. Another Rule family tradition that was kind of expected by family members when they came round for Christmas dinner were the quizzes. My dad is a huge quiz fan, and has appeared on a few TV quizzes himself, so on Christmas day after dinner we would all sit in the living room and play different kinds of quizzes in teams. We don’t really do that as often now, but it always brings a smile to my face when I think about it. A more recent memory that still makes me well up was from last Christmas. Usually my boyfriend begs me to tell him exactly what presents I want but last year I decided no, he can come up with a few surprises. Well surprise me he did! He had managed to buy things I actually loved, wanted and had mentioned to him in the past (so he does listen!). I ended up crying over his genorosity and the fact that he really does know me better than anyone.

4. Favourite festive food?

It’s not so much a ‘festive’ food but I love the soup and buttery bread rolls I have as a starter during Christmas dinner. There’s also the pork, apple sauce and stuffing muffins I get from the Manchester Christmas Markets! Oh and I can’t forget the brandy snaps, also from the Christmas Markets.

5. Favourite Christmas gift?

A Playstation 2 with The Sims. 100%. I can distinctively remember ripping open the wrapping paper with my sister (it was a joint present) and squealing and running around giving hugs and kisses to everyone. I’m sure my mum and dad had to drag me off the PS2 to get ready for our family coming round…

6. Favourite Christmas scent?

It has to be my mum’s homemade Christmas cakes which fill the house with the smell of fruit, brandy and homemade baking. We also have lots of Yankee Candles dotted around the house. Whereas I love the sweeter smells, my mum prefers quite woody and fruity fragrances, so I associate Christmas with a mix of smells. But, the smell of a real Christmas tree (a Christmas requirement in my house) is just the best.

7. Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

Aside from the pyjama tradition I mentioned before, this year will be my fourth Christmas that I have been with my boyfriend George. Though we don’t have Christmas dinner together, he always picks me up from work and comes round for a few hours on Christmas Eve to exchange presents and just relax together, before coming round to stay over on Christmas Day evening to get an early night ready to hit the shops early on Boxing Day before seeing family! 

8. What tops your tree?

Over the years we’ve had various homemade angels, made by either me or my sister in school. Some of them have been quite scary really… but now we have a more tasteful angel that my mum chose.

9. As a kid what was the one (crazy, wild, extravagant) gift you always asked for but never received?

I always asked for a horse. Like my parents would be able to wrap that up under a tree… Now I ask for a more up to date method of transport: a car.

10. What’s the best part about Christmas for you?

I love being able to relax, eating food and binge watching Christmas TV with my family. There’s just something about Christmas that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside; the Christmas music, the decorations, the cold nights while you’re tucked up warm inside. It’s definitely my favourite time of year.