Christmas Day started with presents. Glen, Donna and I sat around the tree exchanging gifts. I was pleased that the ones I got Glen — two games, chocolate and a bottle of Bailey’s — were well received. I also liked the two pins/badges he got me, as well as a book — Prince Lestat — and the nude vet calendar from Donna.

Presents done, we guilted each other into going to the gym in the building. I did legs, Glen jogged, Donna did something else. As a reward for going, we had homemade crepes, and they turned out just the way mum used to make them (even if they were made with almond milk).

After breakfast, I started preparing food for our lunch with Bec and Alastair. I was glad I’d made the sticky date pudding (which turned out perfect) the night before, which meant I only had vegetables and Yorkshire puddings left to do.

Everything was ready for lunch at 1pm so we went downstairs to Bec and Alastair’s with everything (including an extra chair), wished each other a merry Christmas, poured some drinks and exchanged gifts. They gave us a new card game called Sushi Go, and we gave them chocolates from Soma.

Then it was time to eat. There was a great spread. Plenty of vegetables, a roast chicken, soft Yorkshire puddings (I was worried about them as the batter was a bit thick and I’d made them with gluten-free flour and almond milk, but they actually turned out great) — we had plenty to eat. We cracked some crackers, put on our Christmas hats (Mum would have been proud) and tucked into a feast.

After the main meal we opted for a rest before eating dessert so we played all the new games we’d received as gifts. Sushi Go was by far the favourite as we played round after round until our tummies rumbled and we dug into the desserts.

My sticky date pudding went down a treat. I’d also brought along a panettone, which was really good, especially for only $7. It went by the end of the night.

Full of sugar and a bit tuckered out, we kind of went into our own little head space after that for a bit of quiet time, before Julian arrived at about 9 after spending Christmas with his family. We hung out for a little while longer before leaving at 10 or so.

I find Christmas a bittersweet time. All that excitement for one day that’s over so quickly. I also think about all the great family Christmases we’ve had and then the last one we had with Mum, and how much she enjoyed her Boxing Day parties. I also thought about how lovely the day we had was, and how unlikely it is that we will ever have a Christmas like it again. Sad thoughts to have after such a wonderful day, but I am grateful that I will have such memories to look back on.