Confessions of a reluctant cook

Health, Beauty and Lifestyle with Denise McNamara

When I won a Christmas dinner dining set at a school raffle a few years ago, there were some wry smiles among those who knew me. Of all the prizes I could have won, this was about the most redundant.

I never cook Christmas dinner.

After I first moved back from abroad after 12 years, I found the wet and cold at Christmas time the hardest to bear. And then when my mother died at Christmas, it was the final straw.

So, we started going away for our annual family holiday and have never looked back. Apart from the years I was pregnant and couldn’t fly we have jetted off to sunnier climes every year.

Depending on deals, we have generally opted for one of the Canary Islands – before the revolution Egypt, when childless we even stretched to Australia once when friends were able to put us up.

We get to take in a bit of sun, soak up the fresh air and take advantage of the only time of the year when my husband’s garage is closed. For the last few years my whole family has joined us, making it a very merry Christmas indeed.

Santa arrives on the beach, gives the kids a little gift taster and delivers the real presents under the tree at home. Only Santa brings pressies – we did away with all other gifting to help fund the holiday.

And mom and dad get to relax. Not the tiniest bit of cooking or cleaning – none of this self-catering lark.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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