1. wrapping paper or gift bags?

i FAR prefer bunging stuff in gift bags ‘cos it’s quicker, easier and usually looks a lot better, too. i used to be all about brilliantly intricate, highly personalised and super time-consuming wrapping (we’re talking taking mini polaroids to use as gift tags; feathers; top-quality paper with unusual prints…) but not anymore! bung it in a bag.

2. real tree or artificial?

we had a real tree in 2003. once we finally got it out of the house, it rotted in the garden for three years cos we never knew what to do with it. it was still there when we moved out.

so: artificial.

3. when do you put up the tree?

in my dream world, december first. in real life, about a week before the 25th.

4. when do you take the tree down?

after a couple of weeks or so.

5. do you like eggnog?

i don’t think i’ve ever tried any. it sounds revolting, i have to say. festive, but revolting. it seems to be much more of an american obsession. but then they didn’t have the salmonella scare of the 1980s.

6. favourite gift received as a child?

my bike i think. it was a bluebird and i still remember the excitement of coming off the stabilisers for the first time - woooo! i also remember getting really, really excited about a new plastic sledge. it was blue. (and yes, my favourite colour is… red.)

7. do you have a nativity scene?

we’re not christian, so that would be a bit weird. (christmas was a pagan holiday first and i have no conflict about not being christian and celebrating it to the hilt, so there).

8. hardest person to buy for?

my grandad. he doesn’t do much, need much or like christmas very much.

9. easiest person to buy for? 

my mum. she is almost TOO easy to buy for, she likes so many things!

10. worst christmas gift you ever received?

i can’t think of one. i’m sure i’ve had one or two things i didn’t like that much, or didn’t use, but they were so minor i can’t remember specifics. i’ve always been lucky at christmas.

11. mail or email christmas cards? 

real ones are SO much better, but i’ll take or send an email one in a pinch; they can be fun! (someecards.com is hilarious).

12. favorite christmas movie?

it’s a wonderful life. i know that’s a cliche, but show me a better christmas film.

13. when do you start shopping for christmas?

it varies. i usually pick up bits and pieces throughout the year, but if i haven’t done some major shopping by september, i panic.

14. have you ever recycled a christmas present?

i don’t think so…  i’d feel too guilty. i’m sure i’ve given one or two to charity, though.

15. favourite thing to eat at christmas?

food! hahahaha.

it’s the only time of year i eat after eights, so that’s pretty special, but basically i love the whole big dinner.

i won’t eat sprouts, stuffing, cranberry sauce, christmas cake or christmas pudding, though… it’s xmas dinner, my way.

16. clear lights or coloured on the tree?

both! duh.

17. travel at christmas or stay home?

i’ve never travelled to foreign climes and i’m not sure i’d want to. unless it was somewhere very snowy and cosy.

i’ve also only experienced xmas at home once. we usually go to relatives (and i take my best pressies with me, so you can’t burgle us!)

18. can you name all of santa’s reindeer’s?

[why the apostrophe?] 

dasher and dancer and prancer and vixen, comet and cupid and donner and blitzen…

and rudoph.

19. angel on the tree top or a star?

used to be a star, now we’re angelic.

20. open the presents christmas eve or morning?

oh in the morning, has to be.

21. what’s the most annoying thing this time of the year?

that there aren’t more hours in the day. what’s all that about?

22. what you love most about christmas?

the build up to it; the smell of christmas in the air. ahhhh.

i love it all.

hope you all got everything you wished for - best wishes for a wonderful christmas and a phenomenal new year!