The smells of Christmas

Ever since I was a child (and yes, I can remember back that far!) Christmas Eve has always been my favourite part of Christmas because of the awesome array of enticing smells that find their way from the kitchen and all the bustle of last minute preparation.
Although I am not cooking for No 2 daughter and three grandchildren this year, (I'm going to lunch with them) I still had to go throught the ritual of preparation so that I can really get into the Christmas mood. My middle grand daughter will be coming home with me tomorrow and she, like me, enjoys bubble and squeak, a dish that makes Boxing Day when served with cold cuts of poultry and gammon and smothered liberally with HP sauce. So today, as well as making the mince pies and sausage rolls with a few cheese straws from the leftover pastry, I cooked a chicken breast and a couple of thighs and roast a small smoked gammon joint. I also cooked the usual array of vegetables, trimmings with stuffing, bacon and small chipolatas and made bread sauce.
The smell of the various herbs including thyme and sage, together with the rich warm aroma of the cloves mingling with the onion in the bread sauce, cinnamon and nutmeg in the mince pies and the mouth watering smell of the smoked gammon have filled the whole house most of the day. Add those smells to that of the fresh sharp zesty clementine that I had after lunch and you've almost got the full house. All that was missing was the smell of pine needles but as I don't have room for a real Christmas tree, only an eternally green artificial one, that was the one thing missing.
After all the preparation (which is done to the accompaniment of Radio 4 or sometimes to a CD of Chrismas carols) I can relax sitting down with a nice cuppa to watch the kids films on television. Then for supper I will be enjoying a cold sausage roll with salad, washed down with a glass or two of mulled wine!
Another perfect day! mmmmm.