Published on [Permalink]
Reading time: 3 minutes

Home Diaries #3

This week in Home Diaries, Christmas was in full swing and our family’s arrival on the Sunday before really kicked off the festivities. We had a lot planned for the kids, starting with a lovely cold walk on an empty beach. Afterwards, we enjoyed hot chocolate and cakes which everyone thoroughly enjoyed. We also warmed up a bit at the beach restaurant where the stove was on.

A person is standing on a sandy ground, wearing brown shoes and green pants.

A trip later that same afternoon to see Santa at the Model Village was a surprisingly good time. We even got a ride in the tourist train around the town and wished onlookers a Merry Christmas. Then we went back to the house for some homemade pizzas.

A miniature village with detailed model buildings and streets is observed by two people. Auto-generated description: A sign on the grass warns people to stay off, featuring an illustration of a boot stepping and a bee flying nearby.

On Wednesday, we ventured into the city to see the Christmas lights. I tied a ribbon for Mum on the Tree of Remembrance outside Brown Thomas. There was a buzz around town as we did some last-minute shopping before heading to the indoor food hall we’d been wanting to visit. It was packed but after a quick bite we dashed back to the Opera House just in time for Aladdin, the Panto. It was fantastic! I can still hear one character shouting “Who’s in the house?!” and over five hundred kids shouting back “Wishy’s in the house!”. The stage setup, lighting and production were all amazing and the two kids absolutely loved it. The sing-a-long to Kingfishr’s ‘Killeagh’ was great too.

Auto-generated description: A tall Christmas tree adorned with yellow lights stands in a busy urban street, surrounded by people. Auto-generated description: A lively indoor market scene features a festive ambiance with numerous people gathered under string lights and colorful decorations. Auto-generated description: A person standing next to a Santa Claus figure in a festive market setting, holding a red shopping bag. Auto-generated description: A vibrant stage performance features a group of dancers in colorful costumes against a lively, painted urban backdrop.

Christmas Eve arrived and I visited Mum. This year’s Christmas was the first without her. I popped in to see Dad and dropped off some presents for him and my siblings who’d all be there for Christmas dinner. Back home I helped prepare a cheese board for Christmas Eve nibbles and Harry put out the statue of the ‘baby cheeses’.

Auto-generated description: Two small figures made of red wax and toothpicks are creatively arranged on a plate.

The big day came and Santy had managed to find our house in the countryside, which our little niblings were surprised with and they unsurprisingly got loads of presents. Harry and I went for a Christmas Day swim at our local beach and it was achingly cold! The sauna was available for us to jump into before hyperthermia took hold, and it was back home for a breakfast of pastries. Harry and his sister helped prepare the dinner whilst the rest of us relaxed.

Auto-generated description: Two people wearing Santa hats, one shirtless and smiling with sunglasses, and the other in a jacket, stand on a beach with a car and the sea in the background. Auto-generated description: A child in a plaid shirt playfully covers their face with one hand while seated near wrapped gifts and a Christmas tree. Auto-generated description: A plate filled with a variety of foods, including roasted meats, vegetables, potatoes, and a creamy sauce.

The rest of the week was week was relatively quiet as everyone relaxed, ate pastries from the local bakery, the kids played with their toys and we all went for walks. I had one day that I needed to be online for work, so that wasn’t too bad. This meant our steps count was up which helped to alleviate the constant eating of sweets.

Auto-generated description: A person dressed in outdoor clothing stands in a wooded parking area with two cars in the background.

I managed to watch a few movies #lastfourwatched:

letterboxd.com/film/twis…

letterboxd.com/film/satu…

letterboxd.com/film/the-…

letterboxd.com/film/the-…

Finally, we’re thrilled to finally have matched with the lady we’ve been speaking with. She’s agreed to be our surrogate and we’re hopeful about having a baby in 2026!

RMx

22nd - 28th December, 2025