Linda Hall: Why the mad rush before Christmas?

Linda Hall.

Why does everything have to be done before Christmas?

It's funny how we all get in a flap about cleaning windows, cleaning the oven, making sure the gardens look nice and a million other little jobs, all in time for Christmas Day.

Is it to impress Santa in the hope that the man in red will leave an extra present under the tree with a sticker that says "this one's for your nice sparkly windows"?

Probably not because he can't see the sparkling windows at night and he's hardly likely to open the oven to check for baked on grime or to stroll round the garden looking for weeds.

He really doesn't have time for that. All he's after is a carrot or two for his reindeer and some kind of refreshments for himself.

So who is it for then? Family and friends perhaps? The same family and friends that rock up to your house on a regular basis all through the year.

I don't know about you but if any of my family call to say they are coming to my house (most of the time they don't even call they just arrive) I don't rush around and clean windows. I might vacuum, although I have learnt that vacuuming before the arrival of little people is a total waste of time. Especially when the first thing that comes out their mouth is "we're hungry".

Of course they aren't hungry they just know I have a lolly jar and chippies in the cupboard and find it hard to say no to them.

Just like Santa my family doesn't comment on the windows or the oven.
I'm as guilty as the next person.

Oven is cleaned, windows are almost all done and I spent the best part of Saturday morning pulling out half dead Calendula (why I ever planted these I don't know, they took over the garden, looked nice for a short while before they went all woody and dead looking), putting down compost and buying new plants.

It all looks lovely now and hopefully will stay that way if the wind stays away. Hasn't it been a pain this year? Our tomato plants were blown over on Thursday night. Hopefully it's blown itself out.

This time of the year is about the only time I find myself writing to-do lists at home.

I guess the reason we do it is because Christmas Day is just so darn special. More so now than ever I think. People seem to be so busy these days, me included. Rushing here and there and putting pressure on ourselves to make sure we go to the gym or go for a walk or a run, make sure the beds are made and the bathroom is clean.

On Christmas day there's none of that pressure ( well not for me anyway ... won't catch me running on Christmas Day).

I know Christmas isn't a happy day for lots of people. There are people out there that have no one to celebrate with or others that can't even afford a roast chicken for lunch.
However thanks to the kind generosity of Hawke's Bay people who have donated to, not only Hawke's Bay Today's Christmas Cheer Appeal but loads of other good causes, families struggling to make ends meet will have something to smile about on Christmas Day.

So whatever you are doing next Sunday I wish you a very merry Christmas. I hope you get the chance to relax and enjoy the day in a way that makes you feel good.

- Linda Hall is assistant editor of Hawke's Bay Today.