Mum loved Christmas!! That is probably an understatement! For us it would begin in August with a shopping trip to Southampton, armed with our lists and an eye for a bargain. From October there would be weekly updates of what had been bought for whom and suggestions for those 'tricky people'. We would then swap advent candles ready for the 1st December and 'Christmas Eve' presents (because we could!!) for under the tree.

Our visit to mum's with the Evans family would start with a glass of mulled wine on arrival and enough party nibbles to not need a meal later. Despite being 50, I would be presented with a huge sack of presents, beautifully wrapped with beads, ribbons, Christmas ornaments ....... and each one with a written gift tag giving cluesof what was inside or sending love. Mum's much smaller pile would always have to include a calendar, a magazine subscription to 'Homes and Antiques', something for her Christmas tree and a poppy present. Pete would cook a delicious meal, now legendary in the Evans household, and all of us would wear fetching cracker hats. In the evening we would play games and laugh and laugh!

Mum's house would be full of cards..... Every flat surface, both horizontal and vertical, would be covered. On behalf of Mum, Happy Christmas to you all xx🎄