The Christmas Spirit Has Finally Arrived

30 November 1999

This week I was roped into helping my daughters nursery with their nativity play. They needed backdrops made and painted and the stage needed a bit of work to make it look Christmassy. I found myself up till all hours getting it looking perfect, while some of the other Mum's were busy sewing costumes and sticking tinsel to every available surface. As I was the only bloke, it was me who was up and down the ladders and hammering the nails. Whatever happened to women's lib?

But I tell you what, if ever you need an excuse to get into the Christmas spirit then a nativity play involving 30 three to five year olds is the way to do it. I am not ashamed to admit that I blubbed all the way through it. I couldn't believe my daughter was up on stage dressed as a fairy (did they have fairies in Bethlehem – I wonder?) looking so perfect and singing so well. She even managed to “encourage” the not so interested boy next to her by digging him in the ribs and telling him to “sing louder!”.

I have also been roped into a bit of babysitting this week, as Claire has been manically shopping, wrapping and cleaning the house. She is like a woman possessed at this time of the year. She can't tell me she enjoys it. How could she? So the hopeful games of golf haven't yet happened. And as I sit here, snow is falling outside, so golf doesn't look like it is going to be on the agenda for the next few days either!

I did manage to get down to the pub with Darren though. He was telling me about a plumbing issue he had last week. He was due to fit some radiators and turned up at the job to find they hadn't been ordered by the client. Nothing new there then. But they were due to come in a couple of days so he was able to make a start on the pipe work. He confirmed with the client (twice) what the dimensions were and went ahead. The radiators come and they have weird fittings. They were central instead of at each end....so he has to start over.

Then the boiler decided to pack in just as he was refilling the radiators. Water pouring out of it and all over the clients kitchen. So as it stands, the client has no hot water, no heating and the cost of a new pipe work for the boiler to look forward to. I didn't know who to feel more sorry for, the client or Darren!

Thing like that remind me how lucky I am that I have this time at home with the kids and the wife. Yes, the in-laws arrive on the weekend, but I am almost chilled out enough to be looking forward to it. Sorry – did anyone hear me say that? Many apologies, I think the Christmas spirit has finally arrived in our house!