Did the Grinch steal Christmas?

Every Christmas Eve, we usually read The Night Before Christmas …

But this year, Mum said it would be more appropriate to read How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Looks like he finally did it! He disguised himself as COVID – and made many hoomans feel sick. So very sick. And we all had to go into hiding from the COVID monster. And just last week our Prime Minister announced that we had to cancel Christmas plans.

In short, we know it’s you, Grinch! You are still trying to steal our Christmas once again.

But Aha! There is no stopping Santa from coming to bring pressies to all the good girls and boys, and especially us pooches.

We made sure he and his reindeer have sustenance – and this year, you guessed it, Mum said we should introduce Santa to matcha.

So we made him a large mug of matcha latte – served in the mug that saw us through Lockdowns. And we’re sharing these delicious “wee matcha shortbread” from Harvey Nichols! And along the green theme, we had a bowl of Brussel sprouts for the reindeers. That’s a lot of sprouts, Rudolph, Dasher, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen! I think Santa’s face mask will come in handy after you’ve all feasted on this! LOL!

But then just like “every Who down in Who-ville” … we soon realised that COVID “hadn’t stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME! Somehow or other, it came just the same!”

“It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes of bags!“

So even though all the stores were closed he hadn’t realised that Christmas doesn’t come from a store. “Maybe Christmas … perhaps … means a little bit more!” he had realised.

However, this COVID GRINCH learnt that the Who likes to sing – and though he stopped them from singing, we new generations of Who have Apple Playlists and we just tell Siri to play Christmas songs all day long!

And just in case you haven’t heard, you COVID Grinch – there’s going to be bell ringing on Christmas Eve at 6pm, the Worldwide Christmas Eve Jingle will take place! So we are going to ring our bells and maybe the collective vibration of bell ringing will be annoying to the virus ! Not been tested but the scientist hadn’t thought of it yet.

P.S. Did you know that the Grinch has a dog? Do you know it’s name.

May’s comment: When London was in the second Lockdown, we had already cancelled our plans for Christmas in the Cotswolds and thought it might be safer to celebrate Christmas at a London hotel along the theme of our staycations. At least we won’t be home alone and the Claridges Christmas sounded divine! We were excited.

And then came the news that London was moved up to Tier 3 – at least till the second week in January. Claridges cancelled Christmas celebrations altogether. And since we’re not allowed to move from Tier 3 to Tier 2, meant we cancelled our New Year’s plans to be at the Lake District. What a bummer! We wouldn’t be able carry on our tradition of being by water on New Year’s Day.

Then last Saturday came the blow! They moved London and the south-east region into Tier 4. That cancelled Christmas. The Government had been trying hard to save Christmas but complacency and the virus becoming more infectious got the better of us.

It really felt like the Grinch finally stole Christmas. And then this had been an unusual year, an unexpected year, unprecedented in so many ways – so why should I be surprise that Christmas this year will be different?

After the initial disappointment and thinking back to all those messages that were circulating through social media. Messages about how the virus had stopped us in our tracks, reminded us about things that are truly important, to appreciate all those who we have taken for granted, and to be grateful for all the little things we have forgotten. So now more than ever, we must remember why we celebrate Christmas.

No matter which tier we’re in, Christmas will come. We will still sing Silent Night, and the Angels will still proclaim the birth of baby Jesus. The lights have stayed on

The trees will still be lit …

Santa will still come down the chimney.

and there will be presents to open.

And as long as my two besties are with me – all is well. Only some of the self-fabricated traditions won’t happen this year but they are the extras we add on.

So now, what are we having for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners? Now that’s important! LOL!

Of course, like everything else, I have never noticed dogs till I had Darcy – whether in films or books, etc, etc. So I was nicely surprised to learn that the Grinch has a dog called Max! LOL! Now he cannot be such a bad guy after all.