Our Christmas Day Diary 2006

9.00am

We begin the day with our usual Christmas Day breakfast of smoked salmon, toasted bagels and Buck's Fizz for Joe and me. Calum and Lola have chocolatines and fresh orange juice. It's the perfect way to start the day!

9.30am

Present Opening. Once again. Santa has been very generous! The children are delighted with everything and so are Joe and I.

11.15am

Finally finish opening all the presents. Dash upstairs to get ready before our neighbours and close friends Ken and Shirley arrive for Christmas drinks.

12.00pm

Champagne with Ken and Shirley. The conversation flows and so does the champagne!

2.00pm

Stop to pose for a photo with Joe (at the children's request) before starting preparations for Christmas dinner. I'm wearing the beautiful blouse Joe bought me for Christmas. We've decided to eat late as we're still full from breakfast.

4.30pm

Christmas dinner in the dining room which looks very pretty with all the Christmas lights and candles. We have the full works. Eat so much food we feel our stomachs will explode, but that doesn't stop us.

Thank goodness it's only once a year!

5.00pm

Pull crackers and put on our party hats. Lola enjoys blowing bubbles at the table!

7.00pm

Dishwasher loaded and everything put away.

Crash onto the sofa to watch Love Actually, one of our favourite Christmas films. As usual I cry, even though I've seen it several times before.

9.30pm

Watch Little Britain Abroad, but none of us find it that funny - just the same old jokes re-hashed. Still, there are a couple of laughs.

10.30pm

Slope off to bed, feeling full and tired but also very happy.

It's been the first Christmas Day on our own as a family since the children were born and we all agree it's been a huge success.

Looking forward to a long lie-in on Boxing Day!