No one can deny that 2020 has been a tough year. We’ve had national lockdowns, restrictions on who we can see and how we can spend our time, events have been cancelled and I’m fairly sure that we’ve all felt afraid at some point  - but does that mean that we have to write Christmas off or could we plough ahead, enjoy the season but take it back to basics, making it different this year whilst still keeping the cosy, warm feeling in our hearts that the season brings?

Normally, I like to have open house all day on Christmas Eve – it’s my favourite day of the whole year – not because I have food and drink on the go all day and welcome people at any time, but because I find Christmas Eve is the day that people are most likely to be kind to each other. I’ve thought long and hard about how I can change my Christmas Eve to make it still feel good to me and the secret ingredient for me is going to be kindness. I have decided that my Christmas Eve will be a quiet affair, still with food, drink and Christmas music, but just for our household – however, I am going to make some home baked goodies and distribute them to our neighbours like a grown up secret Santa. I will leave them on their doorsteps and knock and run-away like a child and leave them to guess who they are from, hoping it brings a smile to their faces.

Below are some other ways that we can still bring the warmth of Christmas into our hearts this year;

- Christmas Eve boxes for children to make their Christmas a little more magical – these could include a Christmas film or book, some new pyjamas or fluffy socks, hot chocolate sachets, marshmallows, and something crafty. The only limit here is imagination.

- Writing out Christmas cards – take it old school this year, set the scene; Christmas lights, a Christmas film or music and a nice glass of something extravagant and write messages in Christmas cards to people you care about or have missed throughout the year.

- Zoom games – with many of us finding video calls the best way to keep in touch, it only seems fitting that we find a way to make this festive. Try playing games like Charades, Hum that Tune or a Christmas quiz to bring the fun back into video calls.

- Home Baking – whether its cinnamon spiced cookies, Christmas cake or minced pies, there is a recipe for everyone. Not only will your baking taste delicious, you’ll have quality time with your household baking goods and it will make your house smell amazing.

- Virtual Wine Tasting – Now I haven’t tried this, but apparently you can get some friends on a call and each have a variety of the same small bottles of wine to ‘taste’ and give each other the challenge of describing them.

- Board Games – those Christmassy evenings by the fire can be turned in to real quality family time by playing those old board games you haven’t touched in years.

Personally, I am looking forward to getting back to basics this year. Slowing down with nowhere else to be and appreciating spending time in my own home without a lot of the usual stress and business this time of year brings. Whatever you get up to, I hope it’s a good one.