All I want for Christmas …

No, it isn’t you *narrows eyes*

I have been so wrapped up (excuse the pun)  thinking about what everyone else wants and organising the never-ending December birthdays, that I haven’t given it much thought.

What do I want for Christmas?

I’m pretty self-sufficient really, I buy anything that I need and there is nothing that I am desperate for. My mum bought me a heated airer from Lakeland last month as an early birthday and Christmas present and I have to say it is the BEST thing ever. No more waiting for the tumble drier, no more freezing kitchen in the morning, it even helps me prove bread dough. It is seriously fabulous and with it, my life is complete (and yes I know that sounds quite middle-aged).

If I had to write a list, a new iPhone would be nice, someone to paint my bathroom, Jamie Oliver coming to do the cooking for a week and maybe a trip to Paris? Anyone? No? Thought so, I would say those are all quite unlikely.  With four children to buy for and three of us with December birthdays, hubby and always agree with a sigh that we will buy each other a present next year.

So my mind turned to the less materialistic things. What could I have that cost little or no money at all?

There are the simple things of course; a hot cup of tea and time to drink it undisturbed.  A trip to the toilet without a child bursting in on you.  A child who says ‘yes of course mum’ when you ask them to come off a computer game.  To pick up my iPad and not find it covered in smeary finger prints or the contents of one of my children’s nose.  A night when the children all go to bed without arguing and go straight to sleep.  A morning where the children all willingly jump out of bed and don’t need nagging.  Ooh a day of no nagging, that would be awesome.

In fact, one single day without an argument, raised voice (mine included), minor disagreement, strop, slammed door or a death stare would be a fine present indeed. One single day of family harmony. That is about as likely as Jamie Oliver popping in to cook the turkey.

A personal assistant (or dogsbody) would also be a great present.  Just for a couple of days.  Someone who could fetch and carry, do a bit of housework, maybe some cleaning.  Answering emails, making cups of tea (maybe paint the bathroom).  Oh imagine how lovely that would be?

So how about something a bit more realistic then,; a lie in.  That would be rather lovely.  A proper lie-in, where I am actually sleeping. Lying in bed listening to the children running amok around the house does not count, nor does having to get up every five minutes to answer the phone or door.  As my husband has been off for a few days, he has offered to let me have a lie-in but I have been in and out of bed so many times, I have almost given myself a hernia, so a proper lie-in would be bliss.

I would quite like to go and watch a film at the cinema; an adult film.  And before you roll your eyes, not that sort of adult film.  Just a film designed for grown ups that doesn’t involve small blue people, puppets, fairies, Disney princesses or cartoon characters of any kind.  We do have a movies channel at home but by the time I have wrestled all of the children to bed of an evening, I manage about half an hour of a film before I am ready for my bed.  So a whole adult film would be nice too.

On fact whilst we are on that subject, a day of watching what I want on television would be nice too, instead of my usual viewing which comprises of Ben and Holly, Peppa Pig and the Simpsons, sandwiched in between whatever random sport my son wants to watch (and he does watch very random stuff at times).

To wake up with amazing hair!  That I would love;  to wake up with hair that doesn’t look like it has been through a hedge backwards, that with a brush and a dramatic shake of the head would look glossy and full of life, like in one of those shampoo adverts.  It is never, ever going to happen but I can dream, can’t I?

I would love to be able to have a conversation with someone (anyone) without being interrupted.  Whether it be with one of the children, without the others all trying to talk or shout their way in as they absolutely cannot wait for thirty seconds to say their piece, or with another adult.  Some days I am exhausted by the children (and husband for that matter) all trying to talk to me at the same time.  My brain can’t cope.  So uninterrupted conversation would feature highly on my list too.

So those are just a few of the things that I would like for Christmas, not too much to ask for are they?  What is top of your Christmas list this year?