All I want for Christmas … (in no particular order)

• A happy family      
• A book I can’t put down
• A sunny Christmas Day (for once) so when I ring Ireland I can mention it!
• Good friends to share a laugh
• Not to burn the turkey – happy if it’s just cooked properly, but if it could be golden and moist – perfect!
• To watch a great movie with a good ending, that I haven’t seen before
• To laugh until my tummy is sore
• To shed a tear at a beautiful moment
• Some nice chocolates – without the guilty feeling
• An extra-long squeezey hug
• To relax in the warmth of the evening sun without the dog jumping up to check I’m OK…..I’M OK!
• My plum pudding to taste as good as last year
• To believe this world will become safe
• To win at Twister, just once, I’m just not flexible
• No injuries or illness
• Days of tasty leftovers
• A decent joke from the Christmas cracker
• For the ants not to get at my gingerbread house
• Time to think and relive special memories

What I don’t need this Christmas … but could happen

• Stress                                              
• Arguments, although a heated discussion can be stimulating
• To have to brave the shops when I forget something we can’t do without like milk
• Unexpected expenses
• Mozzies, snakes and spiders – not welcome here
• Food poisoning especially if it was from something I cooked L (hasn’t happened yet J)
• For sad news                                                                                  
• To be still wrapping presents at Midnight on Christmas Eve
• For time to pass too quickly                                                
• To have every possible salad, sauce and dressing trying to please everyone
• For the dog to knock over the tree again and make off with a present       
• To miss a photo opportunity
• A bushfire
• For the dishwasher to break down, I seem to love using every pot, pan and dish in the house
• To forget someone I shouldn’t have – upsetting
• To have to peel all the prawns, because I’m ‘good at it’
• For the West Indies to beat Australia, yes I know it’s highly unlikely

Looking at this list I realise that I can control at least some of the things listed.

So this Christmas I will be positive, organised, flexible, patient, good humoured, chilled and if by some stretch of the imagination it doesn’t quite go as planned, there is always next year.

And that’s Okay, if everything was perfect what would we laugh about next Christmas.

Wishing you a very Happy Imperfect Christmas

Sister Margaret Bates
College Nurse