What do you call someone who is scared of Father Christmas? Claus-trophobic. Well, it made us laugh. Daughter had her first encounter with the red-suited one last week, and by all accounts it did not go well. Big man, huge beard and booming voice are not a good combination for a 17-month-old, and she wasn’t that impressed with the present either. FC gave her a “Pasty Peep” – that’s a soft toy pasty with arms, legs and little pink bows in her hair. Pixie and Penrose are characters in a series of books which aim to teach children to take care by the coast. I thought they were incredibly cute; Daughter viewed it as a major irritant and flung it over her shoulder in disdain.
I know it won’t be long before we are leaving mince pies and brandy out for Santa, and racing downstairs at 5am to check he’s been. In a few years’ time, we’ll be taking Christmas lists complete with Argos numbers, but for the time being, Daughter’s brain is uncontaminated by the greed and consumerism that all too often pervades the festive season.
As such, I’m not intending to spend vast amounts on her, as I’m only too aware that the things she finds most fascinating are the everyday objects that barely register with adults. A few months ago, it was my shoe laces, which were lovingly stretched and stroked. She’s since graduated to her own shoes and socks, which she tries, endearingly but without success, to put on by herself.
Loo rolls need to be hidden, lest they be shredded and strewn; pens, mobile phones, remote controls, all offer limitless entertainment possibilities. I’ve even considered buying Daughter her own purse, filled with fake debit and credit cards, but suspect my own will still be more appealing.
I can recommend fridge magnets for toddlers – we supplemented our collection with an alphabet train set from the Early Learning Centre. This keeps her occupied when I’m busy in the kitchen, and was used to great effect during a visit to the estate agent, where we commandeered a filing cabinet in a bid to divert attention from the irresistibly hazardous window display. She’s also very fond of stacking building blocks, and can spend hours turning the pages of board books and babbling to herself.
Food is her biggest obsession right now – what she’s eating, what we’re eating, what someone on the other side of the restaurant is eating. Nothing makes her happy than a sweet little tangerine. Left to her own devices, she’ll eat it like an apple, peel and all. So I’m going to go all Victorian, and stick one in the bottom of her stocking.
I love Christmas, and have already sung four concerts around Devon and Cornwall with Resonet Choir (check out our Facebook page, which will soon have a link to a recording of our concert at Plymouth’s Christ the King, with its divine acoustic). As for presents, I like to buy local where possible. Cornwall has so many fantastic crafts and foodstuffs, and I love poking aroundTruro’s Christmas markets and mouth-watering delis. Without giving away any secrets, there will be some Cornish booze under our tree, and a hamper for a lucky friend. It’s also a great way of discovering new products – I bought some medlar jelly for the Christmas table from Cornish Meadow Preserves (apparently it’s lovely with foie gras or a French cheese like Camembert).
But occasionally, I find myself guilty of buying presents that would make me happy. When one friend showed an interest in my winter spiced tea, I bought her a tin – then she asked me to make her a “plain old Tetley” brew, and I realised I’d be better off going back to the drawing board and drinking the Whittards stuff myself.
It’s the same story with the Pasty Peep, and the RaggyTag I bought my daughter last Christmas, with fond memories of the quilt I used to cling to lovingly during my childhood. Apparently, I even used to stand under the washing line and rub its fringes, although it was never so comforting as when it was well used. Daughter has showed little interest in soft toys or the RaggyTag, which I intend to wash and give to the next available newborn.
The adults of our family have resorted to asking for presents – a term of yoga lessons, a DVD. My main present will be a pendant bearing Daughter’s fingerprint, made by my friend Suzi at Saved in Silver. You could say we should just keep our money and treat ourselves, but Christmas is a convenient excuse.
Whatever we find in our stockings, it’s being with friends and family that’s the most important thing, and I wish you all a very merry Christmas.
Pasty Peeps books and dolls are available from Waterstones Truro or at http://www.thecornishstore.com
Saved in Silver: http://www.savedinsilver.com/
