While the house on the hill is usually Ground Zero in the storm that surrounds the holiday, this year, the house is quiet. With only one out of four grown children in town for the holiday, no houseful of guests, no whir and whirl of breakfasts and large dinners to prepare. No chaos of grandkids tearing open presents and laughter over spilled mimosas and silly gifts. This year, no stress. Nancy and I even had the opportunity to take in a movie Christmas Eve.
A quiet Christmas is rare.
For the first time, Christmas Day activities will be celebrated at Daughter #1's new home. She is excited to host and the grandkids will be happy not to bundle up and haul all of their presents to grandmas. Later, the Christmas Dinner Feast will be held at a nearby resort.
With most holiday responsibilities removed, there will be time for reflection and even an opportunity for a quiet painting session if I choose.
No matter how this day is spent, I wish you all a Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Jonathan...
ReplyDeleteMy Christmas actually starts properly tomorrow... when my daughter comes over and gives me the traditional annual wargames thrashing .
All the best Aly
An annual wargames' thrashing? I look forward to reading your battle account. It will be funny, as always.
DeleteMerry Christmas!
Sounds wonderful, Jonathan! Meanwhile I am stealing precious moments away to read Norm's Christmas Bumper episode, in between all of the craziness in my house! :) Merry Christmas sir!
ReplyDeleteNorm's Christmas work is a tour de force on a variety of topics. I enjoyed his Christmas tome very much!
DeleteAnd to you also Jonathan!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteMerry Xmas to you and yours Jonathan. For the past 10 years or so we've had non-standard Xmas' due to a variety of reasons. Not having to do the standard large meal with family has meant it has been much, much more relaxed and enjoyable, especially for my wife. We enjoy the day without any pressure whatsoever, which is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Steve! This Christmas is beginning much more relaxed than Christmas' past, for sure. Usually, we have house guests for a week or more during the holidays.
DeleteMerry Christmas Jonathan!
ReplyDeleteChristopher
And to you, Christopher!
DeleteHave a wonderful Christmas, Jonathan
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy your Christmas as well!
DeleteMerry Christmas, Jonathan! The quiet and calm sound lovely.
ReplyDeleteBest Regards and Compliments of the Season,
Stokes
Thank you, Stokes! Merry Christmas to you!
DeleteHave a great Xmas and New Year!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ray!
DeleteMerry Christmas Jonathan! Put your feet up, let the middle generation do the heavy lifting and enjoy the grandkids.
ReplyDeleteSound advice, Peter! Merry Christmas!
DeleteMerry Christmas, Jonathan. It is a quiet Christmas here as well, going to our daughter's to celebrate. Best of both worlds, you'll see.
ReplyDeleteYeah, this approach is much more relaxing! Merry Christmas!
DeleteMerry Christmas Jonathan, I hope that your quiet is equal in enjoyment to the former frenzies (I am still in that stage...)
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas! Not having to prepare a major dinner feast with assorted dietary wants is a plus.
DeleteMerry Christmas to you and yours, Jon. Funny how Christmas evolves as the years pass - sometimes I remember wistfully the riotous family gatherings of yesteryear - if I were honest, I don't think I could handle it now, so maybe the biggest changes are in me! Whatever, it's a time for reflection, and the peace and quiet are welcome!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Tony! I had not really thought about a Christmas evolution until now and you are quite right in your observations.
DeleteI could use more time for reflection during the hectic holidays. If this is more than a one-off change of pace, I could get used to it.
Meery Christmas
ReplyDeleteAnd Merry Christmas to you!
DeleteHope you're enjoying the calm...
ReplyDeleteIndeed! Although watching the grandkids tear into presents or helping assemble toys is anything but tranquil.
DeleteA quiet dayat our house too Jonathan, with just two guests. We deliberately did Christmas lunch to give us the opportunity to unwind in the evening an sleep off the excess food and wine. We have long since abandoned Christmas presents although the Foundry Christmas discount is looking attractive for a self present.
ReplyDeleteI commend you in your holiday civilities and practicalities. Merry Christmas, Mark! What is on your Foundry Wish List?
DeleteA very Merry Christmas, with at least some Tin men under the tree!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you, Peter! No new tin men yet but I did receive a voucher for figures, a new painting lamp, and a number of excellent books.
DeleteMerry Christmas to you and yours. See you in a week!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Jake! Hope you are enjoying the warm sunshine of Southern California.
DeleteSome life goals, right there ;) I figure we have another 10-15 years of chaos before we can tap in one of the kids, but I live in hope. Enjoy the peace, enjoy your family, and Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the chaos but look forward to tranquility. Tat sounds like a good plan. Merry Christmas, Markus!
DeleteBest Wishes Jonathan, thanks for a year of giving freely and encouragement to the world of blogs.
ReplyDeleteWe spent the day visiting the kids and grand kids, so our place was spared the usual epicentre of the family descending .... it was all a rather pleasant ramble. I did return home with wargamery things ..... so they are learning :-)
Best wishes and Merry Christmas to you, Norm!
DeleteI returned home with some hobby related gifts too. They can be taught!
Your Christmas post was an enjoyable read this morning covering a multitude of topics. Thank you for that.
I appreciate your kind words.
Merry Christmas mate,
ReplyDeleteHope you had a great day! We had the opposite a house full of friends, a six course hour lunch, a very enjoyable day.
All the best for the coming year
Cheers
Matt
Matt, Merry Christmas to you too! Was this a working holiday for you and your business?
DeleteSounds like a great way to spend the day Jonathan. I hope you all enjoyed each other's company. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !
ReplyDeleteThanks, Keith! Day is not over yet. Dinner is planned for later this evening.
DeleteMerry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!
Have a great Christmas Jonathan!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
You too, Iain!
DeleteMerry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
DeleteWhat a victory, kids who can walk on their own! 😀
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Jonathan... and good painting session! 🎅
A victory, indeed! Merry Christmas!
DeleteHave great Christmas Jonathan, whilst it was nice to have our kids back home for the festive seasons they are pretty grown up and less demanding. I managed a good session finishing off another SYW unit 👍
ReplyDeletePs managed to get out on my bike Christmas morning too !
DeleteThanks, Matt! This year was much more relaxing than previous years. Good to see you found time for a painting session. I managed a little painting myself. Nothing completed yesterday but hopefully two more units will be finished before year end.
DeleteMerry Christmas!
Congrats on getting out on the bike Christmas Day! I considered it with temps in the mid-30s F but there was a dusting of snow on the ground and I am still banged up from a fall two weeks ago.
DeleteAll the best Jonathan!
ReplyDeleteAnd to you, Michal!
DeleteMissus and I were home alone this year for the first time in a long time. Quiet day so painted some buildings and got half a King Tiger done :) Happy New Year when it comes.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a relaxing and productive day for you! I await seeing your work results.
DeleteSounds like a lovely day, and season's greetings Jonathan.
ReplyDeleteWe had ten over at various stages including the four children and their partners, but I still managed to sneak away for a couple of hours' painting and a nap which I think was a great result.
Happy Holidays to you, Lawrence!
DeleteGood to see you managed to sneak in a little respite in between all of your holiday activities.
Happy Xmas Jonathan, I hope it's a good one.
ReplyDeleteJJ
Happy Holidays, Jonathan!
DeleteA quiet Xmas! Priceless! Hope you enjoyed the day Jon. Merry Xmas to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteChristmas Day was much more relaxing than in the past although we did stay busy much of the day.
DeleteHappy holidays to you!
A belated Christmas greeting Jonathan. It’s great to get some quieter time.
ReplyDeleteNever too late for a holiday greeting! Happy Holidays to you!
DeleteMerry Christmas to you. Passing holidays to the next generation is all part of the cycle and should be embraced. 😀
ReplyDeleteHappy holidays, Stew! You are so right on passing the torch to the next gen.
DeleteI had not much of time to read your blog these days. But I approve such a Silent Night. We had great days from Christmas to 6th of January playing games including CCN and Age of Hannibal (with my now 5 years old son).
ReplyDeleteNow I wish you a very good new year and hope to read more of your excellent reports.
Cheers,
Andre, I am glad you found time to come back to the blog and leave a comment. Will we see reports from your CCN and AoH games?
DeleteI wish you a Happy New Year too!
I'm too much occupied with the writing of a book and the Posts about 18th century dancing in Germany and in fact these reports would not fit into the Topic of my blog.
DeleteBut you could find reports on that forum: https://sweetwater-forum.net/index.php/topic,24370.msg290269.html#msg290269
https://sweetwater-forum.net/index.php/topic,24086.msg290176.html#msg290176
I will continue to write in my blog reports about 30-years-war-games and maybe some 18th century games as well, as far as it is connected with Germany during the mid to late 18th century.