Being an only girl in a family of three boys sometimes felt like a lonely place for me. I was the youngest and there was a massive age gap. Although I had brothers, I always felt like an only child. Don’t get me wrong I do have many happy memories but sometimes wished I had a younger sibling to play with.
Myself(Ann) and my daughter Rosie
Christmas for me has always been a magical time. One where you can let your imagination run wild and truly believe in the big man that comes once a year to make all your wishes come true. I was a little girl and now, I am an old sentimental at heart. I love to watch old movies and love all the costumes and dancing as well.
One film that I love very much is “Meet Me in St Louis” a film that features two great actresses. Judy Garland and the little child star Margaret O’Brien. When Judy sings to Margaret “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” it is a magical moment in film, and brings a tear to even the toughest of hearts.
I can remember one year writing a letter to Santa and asking for a girls world. On Christmas morning I received all my presents but not the girl’s world. The best thing about this was Santa had written a letter to me. Dear Ann, I am sorry that I could not get you a girls world but have left this little vanity case instead. I hope you like it. Love Santa. I didn’t really care about the doll anymore but cherished that letter and gift forever. Such a thoughtful thing.
I have always loved music and one year Santa brought me a tape recorder. We got back from my aunties house just after midnight and to my surprise, santa had been. I didn’t know how it worked but my dad showed me how. You could also record yourself on it. My dad tricked me into blowing a raspberry and recorded me. He then played it back and I was embarrassed and laughing it was so funny.
My mum always made Christmas special. She loved to decorate the house with the decorations and we always had a real tree. I loved the smell of the pine tree and the really old-fashioned baubles that went on it. Streamers and balloons hanging from the ceiling. She always made a Christmas cake. It started around November and she kept adding brandy to it right up to Xmas. She iced it with spiky icing and when she cut it I had a piece with thick marzipan on it. Her Christmas spread was to die for. She loved having all the family around and ran about looking after us all. She even let me have a snowball drink with advocaat in it. Funny Christmas is not Christmas without this drink.
One of my favourite things she did with me was to buy me a new dress for Christmas. I have never forgotten this and I always do this with Rosie my daughter every year.
Back then in the late seventies, we had lots of snow and it was was very heavy and thick. I played outside for hours. We had an old back lane that became like a glass bottle as my mum put it. Very slippy and great for skidding along. I used to smooth it down with fresh snow and then slide on it until it was dark.
My favourite film is “White Christmas” and I love the song sung by Bing Crosby also.
My favourite Christmas song though is “Mary’s Boy Child by Boney M. I think it reminds me of my mother and the times we spent together at Christmas. She is no longer with me and this time of year is painful without her but I look at all the happy times above and you can see that I have lots of memories.
I was truly loved by my mother and my dad.
Merry Xmas to you all. I hope you all have a wonderful time and a Christmas filled with love, wishes and memories
Ann xx
