december 24th
10.05 – I read this from Tom and it made me feel all Christmassy and nostalgic and stuff.
For me, Christmas Eve usually means a trip into town (where town = Dublin) in the late morning. Walking down Grafton Street, shopping in all those little shops I go to every year, buying a little cuddly toy for my daughter’s christmas stocking like I do every year, looking at the crowds of people in HMV desperately trying to buy last minute presents and laughing at their tardiness, then realising I’ve forgotten somebody and joining them in the 50 yard queues to buy a CD, having lunch in Davy Byrnes or Judge Roy’s, meeting friends, meeting my brother, pints of Guinness in The Bailey and always managing to get seats and a table despite the fact the place is always packed, getting dark, lights coming on, walking home up Grafton Street, the smell of Dublin, stopping to buy flowers from the ladies on the stalls on Harry Street, looking at all the people queueing for a taxi on St. Stephen’s Green, bit jarred, the lights at Christchurch, big open fire, wrapping presents, dinner, a glass or two of wine and eventually it’s time to hit the sack.
This year, we’re not in Dublin, my brother is on the other side of the world, there’s no Guinness, but my daughter is as excited as ever, I’m off to pick up the turkey now, my folks have just arrived in Spain and I reckon it’ll be all good.
Wishing you and yours all the very best for the festive season.
Merry Christmas everyone.
