A NaviStar Christmas

Jo

Jo usually has a big Christmas with all her family – her four siblings and the little ‘nibblings’ – at her parents’ house. Her mum cooks lunch and they all enjoy watching films in the evening – Santa Claus the Movie, the 1980s version, is Jo's favourite.

“Mum always packs a stocking for each of us with a satsuma and some nuts at the bottom. The nuts are Special Christmas ones that have been in the bowl since last year and always go back in the bowl. No one ever eats them. Probably for the best!”

Charley

A tradition Charley has established is the annual Christmas Pyjama Photo. The little ones love it, but her husband isn’t so keen, so Charley deploys a contingency plan. “I make sure we stop off for a big roast dinner on the way home, and that cheers him up.”

The good news is that the photos will carry on even when the children are teenagers. Charley says, “I’m going to force them to do it until they move out of my house - it’ll be a rule of their tenancy!”

Amanda

Amanda spent a memorable Christmas with her family in Spain when she was a teenager.

Her mother wanted a twenty pound turkey because she'd invited a lot of guests. So she looked up the Spanish words for 'turkey' and 'twenty', and went off to the butcher's.

"Un pavo de veinte kilos, por favor," (a twenty kilo turkey, please), she said.

The butcher, looking aghast, said he could only offer fourteen.

Her mother tutted about him not having any 'decent-sized birds' while he went to fetch it.

It was only when two butchers staggered out carrying the fourteen kilo turkey between them that she realised her mistake.

"There were a lot of leftovers that year," Amanda says.

Helen

“One of my most cherished memories was taking my two young children to see Santa at Harrods and playing with all the new toys demonstrated by the sales team dressed up as characters.  It was magical, and created such a sense of excitement and anticipation for Christmas Day.

"We would then head off to eat at the Rainforest Cafe (another favourite place) to talk about what they asked Santa to bring them! It was like being a kid all over again - what's not to like?  If only they stayed that cute for longer!

"Make the most of each day, because time really does fly…”