Cold meats and pickles

Merry Christmas to you all.

I trust you are getting stuck into some smoked salmon and scrambled eggs and climbing over wrapping paper and not reading this first thing on Christmas morning.

I’m spending Christmas at home this year, just the three of us, although I think Santa may have possibly delivered next door and the door after’s presents down our chimney as well. We could be unwrapping for a while.

My Dad was always a big proponent of staying at home Christmas Day, as is my brother, whereas I have done many years spending Christmas living out of a suitcase and sleeping on pull-out sofa’s. But last year we were at home with my parents (who this year are at my brothers), and I loved it, and was determined to do it again albeit not quite the same without a houseful.

I hope my elf pyjama-wearing other half and my daughter, who has her head in a stocking, are hungry because I’m cooking up a feast later. Turkey, the trimmings plus vegetables to satisfy a year’s five portions-a-day diet. I was in the supermarket yesterday with other folk thinking that the shops were never going to open again. Our fridges, we have more than one, are stacked and my other half and daughter leave for Orlando tomorrow for a swim camp, whilst I stay to get some end of year work ticked off.

That’s if I get time in between stuffing food down my throat. I’m secretly looking forward to it because me, cold meats and pickles are going to be bedfellows together for a few days. Chuck in a Yule log and a ton of cheese. I think I’ll be alright.

Meanwhile Charlton are getting sent to Coventry tomorrow. Hardly a local derby, although looking around all the divisions there are very few local games and many real bum journeys without any public transport. In our division Plymouth fans have to get to Wimbledon, Peterborough to Barnsley and Luton to Scunthorpe. They seem the worst examples but none look less than 100 miles apart, except for Portsmouth and Gillingham where Pompey fans have to make a 9am kick off!

Maybe the old bill prefer it that way, but seems ridiculous on a traditional family and friends football day out. Of course Sky Sports have also dictated that Wolves fans get up before Santa arrives and drive to Fulham.

I hope you and your loved ones have a great Christmas, and for those of you going to Coventry tomorrow, I hope it’s even better than that.