The road to Christmas is paved with good intentions

Country Living with Francis Farragher

Avery disturbing thought crept through my mind over recent weeks based on the notion that this year, I should contemplate enjoying Christmas, rather than embarking on my usual seasonal whine about the season of jollity, over-indulgence, shots of religion and trying to be nice to each other without really meaning it.

An unblemished record in failing to post a Christmas card for the past 25 years could come to an end as I will try to draw up a list of eight to ten people that could broadly come under the embracing as general friends. Even if I’m only 50% successful with this endeavour, at least it will mean four or five cards more than I’ve sent out over recent decades, and that will be progress.

A second key target during the first week of December is always securing of the Christmas tree and its erection in the sitting room, without any moans, groans or temper tantrums.

Over the years, this moody piece of spruce has tended to create household carnage with buckets of soil leaving their mark on floors through the house before inevitably the tree topples over amid shrieks of terror from all the assembled masses.

This time around the tree will be purchased at least three days in advance of its unveiling date; I will smile my way through all the spillages and then, when the lights inevitably don’t work, every bulb and electrical connection will be checked with all the stoic patience of Job.

I’m also not going to moan about the rising cost of the tree from the local jobber in the heart of Tuam town and vow not to mortify any of my offspring with 10 minutes of haggling in an effort to get a fiver off the purchase price.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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