opinion
Robbie Savage's mum Val will miss the little things in the build up to Christmas
In this week's column Val, the 72-year-old mumof ex football hero and Mirror columnist Robbie Savage, is missing all the usual December festivities but knows it's for the best
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This time of year is making me feel sentimental. I filled up at the John Lewis ad because the lovely music got to me.
I’ve accepted I’ll have Christmas Day on my own because that’s the safest thing to do. But I can’t help missing all the things I usually do in build up.
Until this year, December days are always filled with festive lunches, chats with friends over mince pies with a dollop of cream and a fancy-flavoured hot chocolate on the side.
I love hearing everyone’s plans for Christmas, seeing families out shopping with bags full of treats and wrapping paper, and feeling the excitement in the shop’s music and crowds.
Things we might not even realise we enjoyed, like listening to buskers entertain shoppers, now seem like big treats.
My favourite thing to do is visit garden centres with my friends to browse through the decorations and lights which make me feel all tingly.
Last year there were four reindeer heads on a wall which sang carols. I found a seat nearby and kept giving children pennies to make the reindeers sing again because they were so magical.
They’re little things and of course there are much bigger things to worry about. But I think we’re all entitled to feel a tiny bit sad for the pre-Christmas things we’ll miss this year.
So to brighten my run-up to Christmas, a friend bought me a Lindt chocolate advent calendar.
She didn’t know I’d never had one in my life. And she didn’t know it’s my favourite chocolate... so I don’t want her to know I’ve eaten more than half of it.
The December 1 door had a little chocolate the size of a Subbuteo ball. Door 18 looked bigger, so I stuck my fingers in and found a little chocolate bar. Then I couldn’t stop. I demolished number 11 and number ten had a chocolate teddy.
Then I got the taste and pressed the cardboard until my fingers were numb and I felt naggy if the sweet didn’t pop out. Before I knew it, there were only six unopened doors.
I keep looking at the big teddy at number 24. I’m considering eating just his head and wrapping him up again. I can’t help myself - it’s as if I haven’t seen chocolate before.
This weekend I’ve written Lindt chocolate on my shopping list. Otherwise the number 24 teddy is a goner.
Happy birthday Corrie
It’s hard to believe Coronation Street is 60 years old - and hard to believe how much it’s changed.
From the first episode I loved it, not just because it was a novelty as we’d never seen a soap opera before. But also because it really reflected life in Britain at the time: the gossips people had across their washing lines, over garden fences and in the snugs of cosy local pubs.
I loved Ena Sharples, Martha Longhurst and Minnie Caldwell. But glamorous Elsie Tanner was always my favourite.
I don’t watch any soaps now because they’re all sex, drugs, violence and murder. I wish they were like they were in the old days.
Vaccine has given us hope
On the day news of the Coronavirus vaccine broke, my grandson Charlie FaceTimed me at 8.30am. It was so kind of him to think of me.
He said: “You are going to have the jab, aren’t you Nana?” I was worried about the speed of how the vaccine has come about but I will have the vaccine for Charlie. And I am delighted the news has given us exactly what we need: hope.
Let's look out for one another
It’s hard to know if older people are feeling lonely because we’re the generation who don’t like to burden anyone.
If I’m feeling a bit down and one of the family calls me, I always crack on that everything’s fine and I’m grand. I’d never say the fact I haven’t been to Robert’s house for a year, and I’ve only been out six times since March, sometimes gets to me.
That’s why it’s important to be open and honest with good friends.
My friend Beryl and I phone each other every day, but one day I rang and said: “I’m sorry I didn’t call yesterday - I was feeling a bit weepy.” Beryl, who has also lost her husband, said: “Don’t worry - I know where you’re coming from.”
If my late husband Colin were still here I wouldn’t care if I never celebrated Christmas again. People who still have their husbands and wives can’t understand what it’s like for those who are alone. So to all of us missing our life’s loves, let’s try to call in on each other and really share how we feel. It helps a lot.
This week my friend Sheila sent me a text which I think says it all: “Friends are like big knickers - full of comfort and support.”
Lockdown has brought out hidden talents
People have found all sorts of hidden talents during lockdown. My good friend Ceri worked at H Samuels in Wrexham but the branch didn’t reopen after lockdown.
She’s not the kind of lady to sit around so she started making the most beautiful Christmas plaques from wood, sequins, delicate bits of mirror, pearl and glitter. They’re so much nicer than cards because they double up as decorations and can be kept for years.
I bought some for my friends, who then bought some for their friends. Ceri is delighted (although her husband Jason isn’t because he says there’s glitter from one end of the house to the other). And we are only too happy to buy unique gifts from a local lady who is talented and hard working.
I'm A Celebrity's been a God-send
I haven’t missed an episode of I’m a Celebrity and can’t believe it ended so quickly.
Jordan made me laugh a lot. After almost starving in the castle he looked in the mirror and was surprised to see a six pack, whereas I look in the mirror and am surprised I don’t have big yellow spots as I look like Mrs Blobby.
Giovanna has been lovely too.
She’s just what we need to see on telly after the year we’ve had: someone who is genuine, kind, warm and helpful.
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