This Christmas, well, talk about Topsy, that cliché for things that 'just grow'd' at a rate beyond what you thought possible. Now, through his Uncle Peter, LHG has acquired a sort-of aunt (Aunty K) and a sort-of step cousin (Cousin B). Through Aunty C he now has a sort-of uncle (Uncle S), along with a further three sort-of step cousins (who thankfully for clarity's sake, don't come into this particular story!).
I say 'sort-of' as no weddings have taken place, but then, how many do these days? Things are more complicated now than they were forty years ago and we have to create new definitions of 'family'.
But this isn't a thesis on modern family dynamics. Getting down to practicalities, a growing family makes Christmas a whole new ball game. To put things in proportion, let me just mention that, as a child, there was invariably only me and my parents every Christmas and Pa's family yuletide wasn't much bigger.
With Uncle Peter spending the day time with Aunty K's parents, there were eight of us this year to unwrap presents, including little LHG, who arrived with his mummy and daddy just after 9.30.
Hurrah, present opening and champagne cocktail guzzling could begin!
We have a tradition amongst the Burgi (our family joke plural of Burgess) that the youngest collects the presents from under the tree and they're given out in age order. The tender age of our newest member along with the Ben Nevis of gifts precluded both of these customs. What we did preserve was the ritual of opening only one present at a time so each could be appreciated before moving on...
...Several hours later, with lunch cooked and eaten in the middle of it all, we finished. Not only were there presents from the eight of us to the eight of us, but there were some from at least half a dozen other relatives and friends. Even the two dogs, belonging to Aunty C and Uncle S, had several gifts. Dear little LHG definitely had the record for the most pressies. I guess people just love buying stuff for a new baby. Giovanna had been particularly excited about this before Christmas, and I had spent hours on-line looking at different toys with learning potential (once a primary school teacher, always a primary school teacher!).
LHG, with his love of tearing up paper, soon got the hang of unwrapping. With a couple of naps and feeds, plus lunch in between, he finally got through his stash at 5pm.
Time for a break, dessert (we never manage it after the turkey) and a snooze, before the whole thing kicked off again at 8pm with the arrival of Uncle Peter, Aunty K, Cousin B, and their doggie. Imagine it: eleven of us, plus three dogs, sitting in the living room, already crammed with a big Christmas tree and the already opened presents. And cheese and biscuits.
Little LHG went to his other grandparents' the next day, to do it all again, but their family isn't quite as big as ours - yet.
Actually, I think this ultra big family Christmas thing might become quite fun, especially for little LHG. But the 'one present at a time' custom might have to be revised...
