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Preparations
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=8912

Author:  Eilidh [ Fri Dec 24, 2010 12:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Preparations

If I have to work on Christmas Eve, I may as well do something productive. Merry Christmas!

Philippa Maynard looked at the huge pile of presents on the table in front of her with a sigh. The downside of coming from such a large family was the sheer number of presents that needed wrapped, tied, labelled and packed into a box every year to be taken to the family Christmas celebration. This year, the entire family were descending on Freudesheim - something that hadn't happened since Helena's wedding five years before - so at least she could just wrap them and move them into the Salon. The smell of Christmas baking floated through the house from the kitchen, where Anna was hard at work. Somewhere overhead, Philippa was sure, her mother was fluttering around, getting under Rosli's feet and generally making a nuisance of herself. Thankfully, she'd managed to escape to the relative peace of the dining room, but that meant she had to wrap presents.

"You might as well get started. They're not going to wrap themselves, no matter how long you stare at them for," Claire commented from the other end of the big table where she was occupied with candles, sprigs of holly, and other greenery, creating table decorations for the following day.

"They're only going to get un-wrapped again tomorrow."

"So don't bother then - put them in paper bags and go and help sort out the room plan." Philippa shuddered and set to work.

"I'm so glad that we got so much knitting done at school last term. I suppose that was the benefit of such early snow - plenty of time to make Christmas presents."

"I love those jumpers you made the triplets," Claire agreed, nodding. "You've got nothing there for Ben, though - have you forgotten him?"

"No, apparently Geoff has something for him. And the hats and scarfs you made for the boys are just as nice."

"Ah, there you both are!" Joey whirled into the room, carrying a large sheet of paper, a pen, and the angel for the top of the Christmas tree. "Both busy? Good! Did Papa get away ok?"

"Well he hasn't come back," Philippa pointed out, with an inward sigh. Sometimes, she reflected, it would be nice to feel less grown up than her mother.

"And where's Fliss and Cecil?"

"Cecil is in the kitchen helping Anna, and Fliss went to see Lucy," Claire contributed. "Mamma, would you use the red or white candles here?"

"White, I think. But then, I never was very artistic. Poor old Herr Laubach used to pull his hair out over me. Now, what did you want?"

"We didn't," Philippa reminded her patiently, as Claire put the white candle down and insterted the red one into the holder. "You came looking for us."

"Did I? Oh yes! Do you think you two could share for a few nights? I've been trying to work it out and I need one of your rooms for Steve. I've had to put Charles and Elizabeth into the boys old room - thank goodness we got it colour washed last summer! - and that means I've got nowhere for Steve."

"What about Roddy's room?"

"Well Roddy will be in it." Claire and Philippa exchanged glances, then Philippa shrugged.

"OK, Steve can have my room if you need it. I'm sure we worked it out so you didn't though."

"Well yes, we did, but Adrienne phoned yesterday to say that she's going to be here after all so I can't put Steve in her room after all." Philippa kept her eyes firmly on her wrapping so she didn't catch Claire's eye.

"I see. That's fine then, we'll share," she said quickly. "Is that Felix and Geoff coming back with the tree? I heard a noise."

"Oh, is it?" Joey darted off again to peer out the Salon window, and the two girls glanced at each other and giggled.

"Would it be really nasty of us to blackmail Steve again when we catch him sneaking about in the middle of the night?" Claire asked, grinning evilly.

"Yes, because Chas will be here this time and he'll shout at me," Phillipa replied, tying another bow and putting the parcel to the side.

"He won't, he spoils you horribly - always has!" Claire protested.

"No more than Steve spoiled you." Phillipa replied. "We really just have a wonderful pair of big brothers, don't we?"

"Very glad to hear it," said an amused voice behind them. "Are you going to come and say hello to your wonderful big brothers?" Both girls spun round to see Stephen standing in the doorway, with

"Where are the girls?" Claire demanded, hugging both of them one after the other. "And where's Mike? Weren't the five of you coming together?"

"Mike got waylaid by Felix and Geoff and a giant tree," Charles grinned. "And Elizabeth and Adrienne got grabbed by Mamma when we came in the door. When are the trips arriving?"

"They'll be here at lunchtime, and so will Ruey and Roger." Philippa replied. "And Mamma seems to think Roddy will be too."

"Roddy?"

"So she says." Stephen and Charles exchanged glances.

"Hasn't said anything to me," Charles said. "But you never know with Roddy, and I haven't had a card for a while. He'd probably forget to mention it. Should we get all this upstairs?"

"And then maybe go and help Mike?" Claire suggested, giggling wildly as she looked out the window. "That tree is a monster!" The rest joined her, to see Mike and Felix struggling to pull the giant tree into the garden, while Geoff stood on the fence and shouted directions to them.

"I suppose we better," Stephen agreed. "Or it looks like we'll have no tree until New Year!" They both ran upstairs, and a few minutes later could be heard coming back down and disappearing out into the garden.

By the time the midday meal had been cleared away, the entire extended family - including Roddy, who insisted that he had certainly told Stephen and Charles he was joining them for Christmas - was gathered in the big Salon, admiring the tree that Geoff had chosen and his brothers had dragged back to the house. Con had the big box of decorations at her feet, and in a corner Claire and Erica were patiently untangling huge lengths of paper chains. Roger, with help from Stephen and hindrance from Charles, had managed to get the big old radio to play carols, and the entire family set to work to decorate as much of the house as they could.

While the triplets, accompanied by Adrienne, Felicity and Philippa and directed by Joey, set to work on the tree, Stephen organised Mike, Felix and Geoff into climbing onto the furniture and fastening the paper chains to the corners of the ceiling. Charles found the step ladder and fastened the other ends of the long chains to the center of the ceiling, while Roger, Roddy and Ruey took the rest of the greenery into the hall and garlanded the stair railings until Joey complained that it looked more like a forest than a hall. Cecil was happily by herself at one side of the fire, carefully placing the Nativity figures in their places. Finally, they all gathered together in the Salon again. All the odds and ends had been cleared away, and nothing was left except the angel.

"Claire's job," Felicity said, sitting down thankfully. Claire grinned at Stephen, who shook his head.

"You're far too big!" he protested.

"I can't put the star up by myself," Claire said, pouting. The rest of the family watched, grinning, as Stephen slowly weakened. By the time Claire's lip was trembling, he'd given in.

"Fine! Come over here then - but I still claim that thirteen is too old for this!" He gripped her waist firmly, and then lifted her up until she could reach the top branch of the tree, where she carefully balanced the star. Stephen lowered her to the ground again.

"Merry Christmas!" she cried cheefully.

Author:  cal562301 [ Fri Dec 24, 2010 12:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Preparations

That was lovely, thanks Eilidh. Hope there's more to come.

Author:  Alison H [ Fri Dec 24, 2010 12:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Preparations

Lovely, thanks Eilidh. Glad someone's being productive at work: I just keep checking Santa Tracker to see where he's up to :lol: .

Author:  Minim [ Fri Dec 24, 2010 12:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Preparations

Thanks Eilidh :D

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Fri Dec 24, 2010 3:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Preparations

Yay! What a wonderful Christmas surprise :D Thankyou!

Author:  shazwales [ Fri Dec 24, 2010 3:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Preparations

Thank you really enjoyed that family scene :)

Author:  chris84 [ Fri Dec 24, 2010 5:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Preparations

Thank you, that was lovely. :)

Author:  PaulineS [ Fri Dec 24, 2010 10:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Preparations

Thank a lovely surprise on Christmas Eve. Thank you.

Author:  Fiona Mc [ Mon Dec 27, 2010 2:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Preparations

Thanks, am looking forward to seeing more of this

Author:  roversgirl [ Tue Dec 28, 2010 8:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Preparations

That was lovely, thanks. Looking forward to the next bit! :)

Author:  cestina [ Wed Dec 29, 2010 10:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Preparations

Now how come I didn't spot this sooner? Just the thing to brighten this very dreary day......I'm not even bothering to draw the curtains, it's so dismal outside.

Thank you Eilidh :D

Author:  Eilidh [ Wed Dec 29, 2010 11:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Preparations

Thanks all. This is just a one-off (at the moment, anyway) but I have another long drabble to start posting once I get a bit more written.

Author:  jayj [ Wed Dec 29, 2010 1:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Preparations

Just found this - and liked it a lot!

thanks!

Author:  lindsabeth [ Sun Jan 02, 2011 10:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Preparations

I enjoyed reading this! Thanks :)

Author:  2nd Gen Fan [ Tue Jan 04, 2011 11:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Preparations

Brilliant, I love another view of this world from a different time and perspective.

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