We have asked all our Code of the Gentleman contributors to tell us what is special about Christmas for them, their family traditions, the eccentricities and the little things that make Christmas unique. We hope you enjoy them and maybe you will start a new Christmas Tradition yourselves this year.
Sarah Saunders
Don’t lose your signet, engagement or other rings when you stuff the turkey this year !
I did once…and no one confessed when they swallowed the family heirloom !!!
Take off all your jewellery before stuffing your bird !!! No one wants to find they’re ticking like the crocodile in Peter Pan, or getting indigestion during the Queen’s speech on Christmas Day.
My favourite thing to cook at Christmas is a proper old fashioned Sherry Trifle…it’s a family thing. My father soaks the sponge in more sherry than my grandmother would have ever allowed, I prefer to make the custard from scratch ( but Dad usually cheats and uses Birds) and we both always painstakingly position the split almonds in regimental rows in the cream on top. Not a glace cherry in sight ! I adore this pudding ! Sweet, creamy, alcoholic, fruity ( it’s one of your 5 a day) and crunchy all in one bowl !
And to drink?…..the essentials for me are a glass of Sherry or Port with the stockings ( YES…I still have a stocking !!), and bubbly before lunch. On Boxing Day…. a bucket of Bloody Mary !
For many years, I organised something called the ” Turkey Run”. It was a paper chase but using turkey feathers instead. It was my bliss time….setting off on Boxing Day at 11.00 a.m. on my own to run a 4 mile circuit sprinkling white turkey feathers along the way…. my family and 8 other families gave me an hour head start and followed the trail. Half way around, our local farmer would offer homemade mince pies, cheese straws and a glass of Sloe Gin or Damson whisky. The remaining 2 miles seemed easy! but I had to bribe the kids when they were younger with tins of sweets in the second half of the route.
I loved doing this event…it was a real community thing and didn’t cost anything either.
