The parents at Sophie's school launched a
ReGift market this year. The idea is that each family donates 1-3 good quality, unused or lightly used items that they just don't want. The parents sort it and then lay it out for each class to come and examine. We had so much "stuff" that the children were allowed to select something for each member of their immediate household and then on day 2 (yes, we had that much stuff) they could take something for the wider family.
The parents quickly wrapped each present and put it in a bin that had the teachers' name on it. The kinders (4 & 5 year olds) cut up old art work to make gift tags, so we could track of who was giving and to whom. As you can imagine, it was a bit tricky steering the younger ones away from "ohhh I like that" to "oh, my father would like that". Plus some wonderful moments of youngsters picking children's picture books for mom. Why? because she reads them all the time. One student picked a "chapter book for mom". "I know you like chapter books" Subject? sparkly unicorns!
With a bit of apple cider and some seasonal tunes, it was a load of fun! Sophie picked up some lovely things for her Nana, Dad and even one of her cousins.
This was year. We were going to treat ourselves to a quick trip to London at Christmas. The main draw? To visit the Geffrye museum's Christmas-decorated rooms. Despite the accommodation fiasco (which ended rather well), we had a marvellous time. I got to see mum's pal, Carol for a divine lunch at the National Portrait Gallery. And we had brunch with Roberta and Auntie Dorothy at St Pancras.
