There were two weddings in the family this year, thus the need for two Christmases. On December 25th the two new brides spent the day with family in Somerset and Warwickshire while the rest of the family waited in Norfolk, postponing the inevitable for an extra two days. The plan is therefore that today will be our Christmas Day, complete with present-opening, a proper dinner and all the TV trimmings. Meanwhile on the big day itself we pretended it was just a normal Thursday, woke up with no seasonal commitments and drove to the seaside.
Instead of opening presents we braved the onshore gales in Cromer, parked on the promenade and watched huge waves rolling in from the North Sea. We walked down the pier where local residents in festive garb were sheltering in the lee of the theatre with the occasional bottle of champagne. We climbed up to the boating pond and sat on a blowy bench outside the Hotel de Paris as it cast a midwinter shadow onto half the pier below. And because the Greggs at the garage was open we took the opportunity to grab a few bagfuls, then ate them in the car while staring out at the breakers. My lunch on December 25th was thus a Festive Bake fresh from the hot counter, and if that isn't an achievement unlocked I don't know what is.
On the way back we went hill climbing in Sheringham and checked that the art deco bus shelter is still standing, which it is, then drove home for a cracklerless meal of toad in the hole. Yesterday was then our Christmas Eve when we watched The Snowman and Carols from Kings, wrapped presents and prepared all the vegetables. And today should involve pigs in blankets, the ripping of paper, a delayed King's Broadcast and a full family gathering with all the trimmings. It's one of the most unusual Christmases I've ever experienced, and all to make sure two other families could sit down for turkey on 25th December as usual. But inevitably a decree has gone out that Christmas 2026 should be normal for Norfolk, so if you're reading this in Leamington Spa sorry, it's your turn to delay everything next year.
