'Tis the Season...'

Today was a bit like a Christmas marathon. First up the nativity at St Martins, James stayed in a the temporary creche laid on by the school, clutching an apple and my ankle. Finally wrestling my way free, Sonya and I made a break for the stage and were swiftly enveloped in a sea of parents, clutching a plethora of digital recording devices all pointing in different directions.

As ever, being at the back, the wrong side of the room and small, I couldn't see William at all. But all of a sudden, the backs parted and through the tiniest chink we caught each other's eye, grinned and waved. Suddenly it was all worthwhile.

Onwards and upwards, back to the creche to pick up James (who was sabotaging the school computers) and have a coffee in the hall. Packed with parents and hyper-active children we didn't get very far in the queue and fled to the safety of home and superior coffee provided by Nespresso.

Sonya went home, leaving James and I to our own devices; small boy with his lego and small Mum with a mountain of ironing and macaroni to make. Everything prepared, Grandpa arrived to take charge and I returned school for Christmas lunch. Such great fun, especially with William on the table next to me, brandishing his fork threateningly at the grown-ups next to him. Bless...

Time for another, post-lunch coffee in the staff room while we craned over the photocopier to watch our little darlings fighting each other in the playground before we went home again. Grandpa and James were glued to 'Return of the Jedi', James having eaten 3 Squash 'ems' for lunch - he was in heaven.

I'm afraid I quiched out of carols completely, it was a Christmas activity too far, and after lumbering through tea, bathtime and putting James to bed I finally crashed in front of 'It Takes Two' with William waiting for Eddie to come home and take charge. Turning the TV off, I was asleep on the sofa in seconds.

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