Almost Christmas
The weekly commitments that have wrapped up, leaving space for contemplation and celebration. This temporary pause in routine activities offers some free time. Time to lift our heads from the daily grind and look both backward, forward and up.
As thoughts turn to the festive season, I find myself reflecting on past Christmas celebrations and the culinary adventures – both triumphant and disastrous – that accompanied them. Here’s a piece of wisdom earned through experience: December is not the time to debut an ambitious new recipe. The pressure of preparing a feast for eager family members, while juggling multiple dishes and timing constraints, is not the ideal scenario for culinary experimentation.
Instead, I advocate for what I call the “December Dress Rehearsal.” Take that tempting new recipe – whether it’s a complex main course or an elaborate dessert – and give it a trial run now. Not only does this approach help refine your technique and timing, but it also provides an excellent excuse to invite friends over for an impromptu pre-Christmas dinner. After all, someone needs to help you evaluate that test turkey or sample that practice pudding.
However maybe try more forgiving things like beef in a slow cooker!
Also the TPEX Future Thinking 2025 report was completed on time.
This quieter period also offers an opportunity to consider our approach to the festivities themselves. Try church this Christmas, see what the reason for the season is, it’s a history that is more fantastic than you might imagine.
So here’s to strategic planning, culinary practice runs, and the satisfaction of completed projects. May we all find joy in these December days, as we navigate the delicate balance between reflection and preparation, celebration and contemplation.