Day 9. ‘Tis the season for giving.

Many Christmases ago, my mum bought me two tiny bougainvilleas. This morning I repotted the second one. I love those hot pink blooms, which thrive in the Caribbean sun, and contrast beautifully against a turquoise sea. Knowing that I had a particular affinity for them, my mum gifted me the plants, having found them in a local nursery. I then left them in their original pots for far too long, so that the fronds grew larger than the base, and the whole display became top heavy. The weather has been lovely and breezy recently, and the wind blew one of the pot plants over, off the pool deck, and it fell into many broken ceramic pieces. Now I have no excuse, and need to repot the plant into a more suitably sized container. The roots are all coiled in circles, evidence that this relocation is long overdue. Now the bougainvillea looks fantastic in its new large pot, and reminds me of my mum’s thoughtfulness so many years ago.

This morning, we received another delivery of warm croissants from Amber at Kaibo Espresso. A is the only one in our house who likes chocolate croissants. I have a weakness for the plain ones. To my surprise A eats one of the plain croissants, then explains her strategy, she figures that no one will touch the chocolate ones, so all the more for her. If I wasn’t secretly grateful, that she has saved me from a few thousand calories I don’t need, I’d be hopping mad. 

This afternoon I put highlights into A’s hair with a home dye kit. The colour says light ash blonde. Her hair is a natural warm chestnut brown. Personally, I don’t think she should dye her incredible hair. But since when did a teenage girl ever listen to her mother about hair advice? Anyway, the colour has come out a lot warmer than the picture on the packet. Now she says I have given her ginger hair for Christmas.

D and I take the dog for her daily walk around the house 5 times. She is starting to get really fed up now, and keeps looking longingly down the road where real smells and other dogs reside. D tells me he read an article, about dog-owners who are purchasing animal scents from hunting stores, to place around their garden, so that dogs during lockdown can at least get an interesting olfactory experience. What a shock to give your dog – the smell of bear in the garden!

B and I enjoy a sunset drink together on the deck. I am still just about getting used to the concept of having a drink with my child. But he is great conversation, and a joy to have at home. Time with my teens is the best Christmas gift ever.

D prepares the most impressive gourmet burgers for dinner tonight, with literally have every fixin’ one could wish for, and that’s even accommodating the vegans and carnivores amongst us. Just as we are about to sit for dinner, we get a text from Brian the Maître’D of Upstairs at Kaibo, saying he has left us a gift on our doorstep. D brings inside a Christmas tin, full of spherical ice and gold glitter baubles. Each bauble contains a rum cocktail, and comes with instructions. We each pour our cocktail from the bauble, over ice in a glass, and sir in a rum-soaked cherry, and slice of orange peel with a large cinnamon stick. They would have tasted amazing in any setting, but all the more delicious for having the surprise drop-off on our doorstep.

After dinner, I bake a new batch of rum-soaked mince pies. I text Brian that I will leave some on the doorstep for him to collect on his way home. I throw in some gingerbread cookies for good luck. I set the package down by outdoor Christmas tree and fairy lights. Later, it is gone. It is a magical time of year.