Day 16 - Charlie Cochrane
Wishing you a wonderful Advent, in anticipation of an even better Christmas!
So great to be part of RJ’s event – she and I are both very much family-focused girls and, for the Cochranes, Christmas is still just like it was when our daughters were little. In fact, they tell us it gets better and better.
Like every family, we have traditions. Obvious ones like stockings (despite my youngest daughter being 25!) and less obvious. Like the Christmas lunchtime quiz, which we complete between the main course and the pudding, allowing us to build up our appetites again. There is the one obligatory brussels sprout, which has had to be consumed with dinner, even when people have had to hold their noses to do so. And, of course, the precision engineering involved in making sure that everyone has exactly the same amount of roast potatoes.
Free Christmas Gift
In honour of the season, I’m giving you all a Christmas themed freebie, which features my Cambridge lads, Jonty and Orlando. My True Love Sent to Me.
Link: https://charliecochrane.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/charlie-cochrane_my-true-love-sent-to-me.pdf
Wild Bells
Two stories, one theme – the love that dare not speak its name
The Shade on a Fine Day:
Curate William Church may set the hearts of the parish's young ladies aflame, but he doesn't want their affection or presents, no matter how much they want to give them to him. He has his sights set elsewhere, for a love he's not allowed to indulge. One night, eight for dinner at the Canon's table means the potential arrival of a ghost. But what message will the spirit bring and which of the young men around the table is it for?
The Angel in the Window:
Alexander Porterfield may be one of the rising stars of the British navy, but his relationship with his first lieutenant, Tom Anderson, makes him vulnerable. To blackmail, to anxieties about exposure—and to losing Tom, either in battle or to another ship. When danger comes more from the English than the French, where should a man turn?
Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NA785ID
Competition
I’m offering a bag of Brit-themed swag, to be sent to anywhere in the known universe. Even Bognor. Winner to be drawn from the commenters to this post. Just tell me, what’s your favourite Christmas family tradition? Competition closes 31st December.
Getting together with family afer the large cold christmas diner discussing anything
Yes, all the chat – love it.
Wrapping gifts Christmas eve day while watching It’s a Wonderful Life and White Christmas. Wine is also often partaken 😉
decorating together
Oh, that’s such fun.
Every Christmas Eve the entire family gets together and watches White Christmas and Arthur Christmas. Prep & Landing next. Mthenit is a free for all of movies. Pj’s are optional. My coffee with Baileys is not.
Two of my favourite films. 🙂
Picking out the tree. When someone says Christmas, that and crisp nippy air is what comes to my brain.
Yes! This.
No tradition as such. But each year from the time I was small all preparations and decorating was done the day/night before Christmas.
That must have been magical.
When the kids were little we chose a bauble each year that was theirs, so now in their 20’s they have a box of mostly intact decorations for if they ever leave home!
Oh, yes. Same here. We still love going into all-year-round Christmas shops and choosing new decorations each. My youngest has at least four frogs and one Nessie on her tree. 🙂
playing video games with the family
Alas, we can’t do that as I’m rubbish at them.
We always share a big meal with my aunts, uncles and cousins on the 25th and open the presents together and I love it
That sounds wonderful. Do you have potato counting to ensure nobody has too big a portion?
Everyone in my family is very focused on work, so we don’t have much time for each other. But, Christmas is one day when we come all together and play board games for hours, and just talk to each other, catch up and laugh.
Board games very big here, too. Although our recent fave game is Arrogance.
Decorating the tree and the rest of the house – with the accompaniment of carols, mince pies and mulled wine.
I’ll be round in a minute… 🙂
Cooking traditional Mexican Christmas foods with family and friends.
Ooh. What sort of foods are they?
Driving around looking at Christmas lights.
We did something similar last night, in Lyndhurst. So pretty.
My daughter has started a Christmas eve tradition with my grand daughter. A Christmas bag. In it is pajamas have a new Christmas movie for everyone to watch oh and hot cocoa
That sounds delightful.
My husband and I watch Love, Actually together.
Will you hate me if I say I’ve never seen that?
Opening stockings filled with candy and small gifts before breakfast on Christmas morning. Mom always said that Santa would continue to leave gifts as long as you believed in him, so everyone gets a stocking including my husband, my parents, and me.
That sounds my kind of Christmas.
I love getting together with family if we can or just our nuclear family if we can’t. It’s all about the little ones & being together
Yes, being together. So important.
Since the kids were tiny, we’ve always spread the gift-opening out over the full day so they have time to try out and appreciate each item before opening another.
I’m impressed. There’d be a riot here if I suggested that. 🙂
we got to open one present on Christmas Eve to tie us over until the next day 🙂
Ooh – that sounds exciting.
Christmas Eve church service. Full of music and candlelight
Yes. Absolutely magical.
When I was little, my Dad’s side of the family got together on Christmas Eve. Now everyone going in different directions means we usually have it the Saturday before Christmas. But there was something about those Christmas Eve gatherings in particular . . .playing with my cousins and nieces and nephews, then going home to eagerly await Santa.
We had something similar in my family when I was little. I remember lots of games of cards!
Baking cookies.
Which sort?
Christmas buffet style dinner where we munch and hang out all day
I’ll be there. 🙂
Sleeping later and reading a good book
That sounds great. Our daughters still insist on stockings at 7am if not earlier.
My brother’s Christmas eve feast.
What sort of things do you have?
Ham is the big thing. Rolls. I have to have lots of rolls. Lots of candy. A white elephant game. The continuity is just really nice.
We live in Northern Pennsylvania and my nephew lives in Southern Virginia and every year we would drive 8 hours one way and pick him up to bring him home for a week long visit for Christmas. That is my favorite tradition. This year he started varsity wrestling and has a tournament over Christmas break and was going to miss our visit, we just want him to be happy though, but he decided to skip his tournament to come visit us instead because he missed all of his visits for a year and a half because of Covid. I love that boy so much. He’s 14 and will still hug me and tell me he loves me in public. 🥰
That’s so lovely. Well done for bringing him up so well!
In my family, we typically start Christmas morning with opening our stockings while enjoying hot cocoa and orange-glazed cinnamon rolls.
Those rolls sound amazing.
My family and I always decorate the tree together while listening to our favorite Christmas songs.
What sort of ones do you listen to?
opening one present a piece on Christmas eve
What a good idea.
When my grandma was alive, we’d open 1 present Christmas eve and we’d choose it… so we’d try to choose well lol so we would have something to do, cuz if we opened socks then that’s what we got lol
Aaargh – the dreaded Christmas socks. 🙂
My favorite tradition we could even do last year during lockdown, we get a bunch of cookies and hot cocoa in a thermos, then we all squeeze into the van and drive around singing along with the radio and looking at lights, eating and drinking ourselves into a sugar coma! Merry Christmas to you!
And to you, Tammi. I love the sound of your drive-a-sing-a-long.
Baking cookies with the whole family.
We’re having a curry making session on Christmas eve – I hope it will be equally fun.
Decorating the Christmas tree with all the ornaments we’ve collected or made over the years.
That’s my kind of tree decorations.
Mr Grandmother would hide a tiny pickle ornament somewhere in her tree every year. Everyone else would try to be the one who found it first. I could never find it without help though lol
Oh, what a lovely idea.
We celebrated my Dad’s Christmas Birthday every year… His favorite cake, plus Birthday present & card!
My dad was a Christmas Day baby, too.
Our family tradition was waiting until after midnight Mass to place the infant Jesus in the creche. My mother’s father had built a wooden structure, painted red with pale blue and white insects, that was the base for our Nativity scene. It was placed next to the tree, under the baby grand piano. (I think my sister took it to California when Mom died, for her grandchildren to start a new tradition.)
That sound wonderful! And apologies for delayed reply – didn’t get notified.
Hanging that big Christmas stocking that my mom’s friend Esther knitted for me in 1958
Oh, that sounds lovely. Good year, 1958.
We usually go to a Zoolights event (we live within an hour’s drive of two large zoos), but since COVID, we also discovered some fun drive-thru light displays. We try to go on or near the Solstice. If that’s not possible, we go the day after Christmas.
When our girls were little we used to do the local zoo lights. Something magical about seeing real reindeer at Christmas.
just getting to see my grandkids, which for the second year in a row I’m not going to be able to do due to covid restrictions.
So sorry to hear that, Pat.
Listening to Christmas music (medieval, sacred or instrumental–A Little Christmas Music by The King’s Singers is one of my favorites), watching favorite Christmas movies (Last Holiday with Queen Latifah, It’s a Wonderful Life and The Shop Around the Corner with James Stewart, and Bernard & The Genie with Alan Cumming, Rowan Atkinson and Lenny Henry). Driving around to see all the Christmas lights.
It’s a Wonderful Life and anything from the Kings Singers get a big thumbs up from me.
Baking with the kids and watching Christmas movies
Sounds delightful.
Years ago I heard about the Icelandic tradition of Jolabokafod. You gift a book on Christmas Eve and then get to spend the night reading and drinking hot cocoa. It combines two of my favorite things: reading and chocolate. When I set the table for Christmas Eve dinner, everyone has a wrapped book (and some chocolate)on their plate. It’s fun seeing everyone’s reaction to their book and sparks a lot of great conversations
That sounds such a great idea!
In our family the youngest person present always puts the Angel atop the Christmas tree when we decorate it. On Christmas morning the oldest person present always plays “Santa” handing out the gifts from beneath the tree. Traditions are all important.
They are indeed. We have a designated present giver and woe betide anyone who suggests otherwise!
Mary – I just did the draw and you won! Please mail me on cochrane dot charlie two at googlemail dot com so I can arrange to get your prize to you!
Merry Christmas Everyone, Cold turkey sandwiches on Boxing Day while we wait for my Moms homemade Turkey soup <3
I love a ‘cold cuts’ sandwich.
I loved it when I was little and my grandma and grandad stayed a few days. No matter what time it was in the morning we all used to go into their bedroom and open our presents sitting on their bed. As you can imagine there wasn’t much room. Our sacks were pillowcases and there was always a couple of clementines. My parents couldn’t afford a lot but we were always appreciative and happy. Everyone always ate too much and would either sit there groaning or would be nodding off. Alas that was over 50 years ago. Unfortunately this year it will be just hubs and me, friends and family scattered wide. Again my hubby’s parents will be alone like us so we’ll have to make do with FaceTiming everyone we can. Merry Christmas RJ ☃️
That sounds like my childhood Christmasses. BTW Our girls still pile into our bed with their stockings.
When I was a child, my sisters and I would help our mom decorate the tinsel tree. Once I had my own kids, we’d all dive in to decorate ours. On xmas day, the smell of pork roast permeated the entire house making us all salivate for a taste. Those were the fun days. I live alone now, they live far from here.
Those childhood Christmasses are so precious…
Watching holiday movies together
Nods. I watched Muppets’ Christmas Carol last evening – so good.
I like when our friends bring homemade tamales on Christmas Eve, and I give them the chocolate stout cupcakes I baked for them…
Tamales are a mystery to us Brits!
Growing up we would have a Christmas gathering with one set of grandparents on Christmas Eve and the other on Christmas Day. So we would basically have a Christmas meal and gift giving with family twice in addition to Santa’s gifts Christmas morning at home. Talk about spoiled.
Spoiled indeed!
Watching Christmas movies
Thumbs up from me!
cold ham, cheese board & bubbles somewhere in the waters of Litchfield National Park (almost our backyard), just the hubs & 1 before the crowds drive down from Darwin
I’ll be there for the cheese. (Is this my romsey connection Graeme?)
gathering together christmas eve and singing carols together.
I love singing carols.
Decorating the Christmas tree
I love doing that.
We don’t have a fireplace, so we have a (Yule) log drilled to hold candles that we light each year.
That sounds lovely.
My aunt and I spend Christmas Day (and much of Dec.) watching Christmas movies. While we have our favorites, we try to get in as many new ones each year as we can.
It’s not a family tradition, I don’t have any family due to, (some years ago), bringing a family secret to light, which led to me being disowned.
This is a ‘me’ tradition: Every year I make Christmas ornaments for trees, etc, and donate them to local charity shops, some I make are made from scratch and some I buy and embellish. Small children like to buy them, especially, as a gift for a parent or other loved one as they’re a fraction of the cost of other handmade ones.
Ditto. A Boy Named Christmas was my newbie this year.
Making a gingerbread house with my daughter
Luvverly.
decorating + baking
And are you all decorated and baked?
Watching Christmas movies all day on Christmas Eve. I love a good mix of old classics and modern ones. My favorite old classic is Christmas in Connecticut so that is definitely on my must-see list.
Not seen that one.
I enjoyed hearing about your traditions, Charlie, particularly of the token brussels sprout! My favorite tradition is opening gifts together and sharing some chocolate nibbles. My daughter now lives across the ocean from us in South Korea; I’m grateful for video calls so that we can still chat and open gifts together.
Yes, video calls have been such a blessing.
I love that my family after opening our presents always put them all back under the tree. I lived on the same street as 2 aunts & uncles and cousins. We would go to each house and the mum would show all the gifts and thank whoever gave it to them (cause most givers were in the room). Then the gifts would go back under the tree. It kept the tree looking pretty just a bit longer.
Oh what a lovely idea.
Hanging out with family after opening presents. Playing cards or games, watching tv or just talking.
Sounds very like our house.
This seems to be a popular one – we make jam biscuits for Santa on Christmas Eve…..with plenty of quality control taste testing !!!
Ooh, send some down the internet… 🙂
Watching the Queen’s Christmas Message on TV on Christmas Day. It’s such a tradition in the UK, it reminds me of my parents and grandparents watching with us long ago. Merry Christmas!
Yes, “Ma’am” is very much part of our day, too. I can remember her in black and white.
I enjoyed the “mini-Christmas” of going through the stockings first on Christmas morning. It took the edge off and allowed for a more sane and enjoyable round of going for the presents under the tree. The big brunch that followed, where everyone sat together to enjoy the meal, was also wonderful. Then the food coma time of going back to sit by the tree and go back through the recently opened gifts was almost relaxing.
Sitting around together and catching up on the “news”.
I do like a good family gossip session.
I love decorating the tree and making Christmas treats! It just makes me so happy!
I think we all love doing the tree.
Helping my Dad put up his outdoor decorations – he made a full size Santa and sleigh with 2 reindeers that is currently on the roof of the car port! It used to have a motor from a windscreen wiper so that Santa could wave at the school bus but it very quickly burnt out the motor. Last year he decided to put a charity box outside and this year we’re raising money for the Devon Air Ambulance – he had to go into hospital not long after putting the decs up this year and it’s not definite he’ll be home for Christmas – Mum and I have had more lectures about making sure to turn the lights on for the schoolkids to see when they go past on the bus than anything else!
I can just imagine your dad doing that. Great cause though – the Hampshire/IOW air ambulance often flies over our house.
Decorating the tree
I get the impression that’s the big favourite!
Listening to Christmas music while decorating and/or cooking holiday food with my family. The togetherness is my most favorite thing.
Yes, This.
My boys come home for Christmas and help us pick out a real tree and decorate it every year
Watch Home Alone and National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. Decorating the tree and cookies.
What a cracking combination!
Watching The Queen’s Speech at 3pm.
Yes, de rigeur here, although sometimes on catch-up depending on how long lunch goes on.
When I was younger my whole family would go to our grandparents house and have Christmas Dinner with all our Aunts, Uncles and cousins. In my teens my family started having Christmas Breakfast then open up our presents. Now since it is only my two sister and my husband and I, my husband cooks lunch for us to spend time together.
So interesting how things evolve – and are still lovely.
Picking a child for the local charity gift giving tree and having a small explosion of presents and stuffed stockings after kids go to bed on the 24th with Santa and reindeer offerings. Even after 20 years…
Same here with the grown up children and stockings, etc. And thanks for supporting gift projects. They are badly needed.
My traditions have all departed. My birth family and my special Jack are all gone but many of my family of choice are still alive and well. I will be celebrating with a half dozen of them on Sunday and with four others on Christmas Day. I look forward to those occasions. Otherwise, a quiet day of memories for me. This will be my 91st Christmas!
We will raise a glass to you, Ted. I’ll be opening the bubbly about 8am your time (if not before) and young Ros can toast you in non-alcoholic gin. xx
Having our family Christmas on Christmas Eve so that we could spend Christmas day visiting other relatives.
That sounds a great way of spreading out the fun.
Getting together with family is my favorite thing about Christmas, especially since we couldn’t last year.
I hope you have a lovely time this year.
Driving around looking at Christmas lights then coming home to eggnog with bourbon in it.
Eggnog with bourbon. Make mine a small one. 🙂
Today we had our annual Christmas family tea party. It came out really great. After that, we watched Muppet Family Christmas which we watch every year.
I watched that on Thursday. Adore the film.
Every year I look forward to waffles and mimeosas with my parents for Christmas breakfast. It’s a tradition that predates me, and I have every intention of maintining it for years to come.
Hear hear!
I love the newish tradition my parents and I have for Christmas morning which is a Barbecue breakfast
Wow! That sounds amazing.
On the last weekend before December, me, my sister, and two cousins go to my Nan’s and spend the whole day putting up her outdoor lights. Christmas music playing, Christmas jumpers and santa hats worn, really gets us into the Christmas spirit 🙂
That sounds brilliant – and I’m a huge fan of Christmas jumpers.
We always stay home on Christmas eve and day, just our immediate family. I bounced around all over the place in my childhood Christmases, so I made it a priority for my kids to have that tradition.
I’m 100% in agreement with that.
my favourite tradition is to watch the kids open the gifts.
Yep. It never grows old
Decorating the tree with my family!
That has to be the favourite of favourites!
Making my grandmother’s cookies, and putting out the ceramic Santa my mom painted for my dad. They aren’t with us anymore, but he makes us feel like they’re both here in spirit.
Nods. Yes, I can see that.
Oh interesting prize! And thanks so much for the book! Happy Holidays
Favorite tradition is definitely the food. Tamales and sopes (Mexican) plus carnitas. It’s a feast!
Tamales etc all a mystery to we Brits. I had fun putting together the prize…
We play board games on christmas. Just music, games and be with the family. It so nice
Board games a must here, too.
Eating homemade Christmas cookies and decorating the tree.
Luvverly!
Our family tradition is very laid back. Since it’s summer time in South Africa. We have a family braai/ barbecue for lunch and have all the kids run free and play. So it’s less stress and more inter mingling and fun for the adults.
Sounds a delight!
A recent tradition, since moving to Florida, is to have Christmas dinner with family and friends at the clubhouse of the mobile home park where we live.
Ooh. That sounds good.
Watching Lord of the Rings trilogy is our family tradition since the movies were out.
Happy to report that no different endings had been observed so far.
LOL We love that, too. Extended editions…
Baking cookies while listening to christmas music.
An awful lot of cookies being baked. RJ and I should be there testing them.
Watching White Christmas.
We did that yesterday. “Snow, snow, snow!”
Baking Christmas cookies & Making handmade oremsments with my family.
Happy Holidays!!!!
And to you!
Watching the kids open their presents and dinner.
Thanks!
Oh, yes. Those faces!