20/12/2024
Ah, Christmas - the season of joy, peace and goodwill. Or so the Hallmark movies say. In reality? It’s a battlefield of grumpy shoppers, tangled lights and that annual vow: “This year, I will remain calm!” Spoiler alert: I didn’t.
Let’s start with the backdrop. My teeth, the rebels they are, staged another protest. Another extraction looms, but hey, what’s £6,000 on dental implants? I’ll think about it...in 2025. Meanwhile, Storm What’s-Its-Name turned my garden into a mud wrestling ring for chickens, ducks and goats. But no worries - Christmas is about love and peace, right? Let’s focus on that.
Except, our house had been a quarantine zone for weeks, thanks to a school virus that hit us like a snowplow. Three weeks of coughs, sneezes, and sleepless nights. To top it off, our Bengal cat’s kittens were turning the house into a nocturnal racetrack. Majority of kittens left on the 15th and we thought, “Finally, peace and good night sleep!” NATURALLY, we celebrated by rescuing chickens.
One hen in particular arrived looking like a plucked Thanksgiving turkey, barely breathing. The poor thing literally fainted at the sight of my kitchen. She fainted again when she saw the state of our living room. My husband stood frozen, while I frantically apologized to the chicken about the mess. I was mid-CPR (yes, I considered mouth-to-beak) when she gasped for air. Wrapped in a blanket, than and there, she became our new indoor chicken pet.
That night, my dog Snow had a stomach upset after eating something he shouldn’t have. Between bouts of diarrhea and pleading looks to go outside, we were up and down like a yo-yo. His sisters, Bella and Lucy, took turns offering moral support - or maybe they just wanted in on the midnight potty parade. Picture me stumbling around the garden at 2, 3 , 4 ,5 AND 6 a.m.!!!, half-asleep, with three dogs in tow. Sleep? A distant dream.
Monday came - a day that already feels like life’s prank. My teenage sons, as per tradition, couldn’t find anything for school. Outside, the storm had left quail coops in ruins, with injured quails aplenty. Inside, Lucy the dog and our cat went into heat, turning my house into an awkward episode of Animal Planet.
By Thursday, the chaos peaked. Kitty returned from her spay surgery with the energy of a caffeinated squirrel. Instructions were clear: rest, minimal food and no touching stitches. Kitty’s response? Scratching, hissing and turning me into her personal pincushion. To make matters worse, she refused to keep her protective cone or overalls on. In seconds, she’d wriggle out of them like a supernatural spy cat, defying all my efforts. Sweat poured down my back as I cried, feeling like the worst cat mom ever.
Just as I was about to wave the white flag, our other cat, Scarlet, appeared with a limp and a scratch. At that point, I collapsed on the couch, staring at the flickering fireplace, feeling utterly defeated.
This was it. Christmas was officially cancelled. Forget sugarplums and holiday cheer - I was ready to stuff myself into the pet carrier and flee to a quiet cabin somewhere, preferably one with no chaos, no poopy chores and absolutely no cone-dodging, mission-impossible spy cats with super long, razor-sharp nails that feel like tiny swords dipped in lava. My bandaged hands and fingers are all the evidence you need.
And then, it happened. In the dim fireplace glow, I saw my family. My boys, my husband, the dogs, the cats, even the chicken - yes, the chicken is alive and well and still lives inside, thank you very much - all gathered together, snuggling. For a moment, I just sat there, utterly drained, my heart as heavy as my eyelids. But then, in a split second, something shifted.
I felt overwhelmed with a wave of joy so strong it could’ve powered the Christmas lights I never got around to putting up. Life doesn’t have to go my way to be perfect!
Sure, my house still looked like it had hosted an after-hours party for the wild animal kingdom and Christmas prep was about as complete as a snowman in July. But this was it: love, laughter and the sweet madness of being surrounded by my wonderful family and our quirky, lovable pets.
In that moment, the mess didn’t matter and neither did the unbaked cookies or undecorated Christmas tree. What mattered was this beautiful scene in front of me. Christmas is back on and it’s officially the best one yet!!!
This morning, a kind couple delivered packages and admired our animals. When I handed them fresh eggs and wished them Merry Christmas, their joy was contagious. It reminded me: kindness costs nothing, but its rewards are priceless.
So this Christmas, let’s embrace the chaos, find joy in the unexpected and remember that love is what makes life truly picture-perfect. Merry Christmas, from my wonderfully wacky family to yours!
