Something about the Jolly Season's unsubtle attempts to tug at heartstrings just leaves me feeling edgy. Perhaps compounded by the way it highlights my inadequacies in the family/community department. The "being with friends and family" aspects of Christmas remind me of how fragile my own safety net is, especially here on the far side of the world. And as for being around children...
I'm not sure which disturbs me most - the children, or my own lack of empathy for them. Will I ever make a good parent if children just annoy me? Why do I even want to?
So all in all I'm glad the season for uncomfortable introspection is ending. As a tonic, I ducked out of the Boxing Day seaside trip (with kids; I wouldn't have been allowed if Ross hadn't realised how depressed Christmas makes me) and stayed in my veggie garden to harvest parsley. It's my third batch and I've no idea what I'm going to do with it all, but I still delight in its pungent greenness.
I suppose it's time for New Year's Resolutions. Having been indoctrinated in the SMART objectives ideology of 90s businesses, I may have to give this some thought. Six days to work it out. Any suggestions to the comment box below please! (And any parsley recipes gratefully received too!)
