The End of the Festivities
Hilary has a very certain idea of when the end of the Christmas festivities falls. It is January 2nd. I plead, uselessly, about the "12 Days of Christmas" and that nobody else has this rule but she enforces this tradition with a rod of iron and will not be brooked on the matter. Lights must be taken down, and so must Christmas cards. And, worst of all, the tree must be thrown out - even though the Council won't be picking them up until the 11th of January.
So this year I decided to try starting a counter-tradition. For the first Sunday lunch after New Year I would attempt rib of beef. Now this is a rare delight; it ain't cheap. But last Sunday I cooked a rib for our lunch. Hilary used up some of an elderly bottle of port and some redcurrant jelly in making the rich gravy. Absolutely superb! Now I have to establish that as our new Christmas tradition. Even if the tree is lying on our front garden.