Let The Games Begin: Christmas Countdown!

I take my hat off to all the amazing women who “wing it” over Christmas. The only way I know how to “do” the festive season is to organise it with military precision and stick rigidly to a to-do list from December 1 onwards. I have to adhere strictly to this list because if I don’t, everything snowballs and total chaos ensues. Christmas is a time for socialising and making merry but it’s not all fun and games, especially if you’re juggling kids’ activities and a full-time job in the leadup. Advance planning is needed to put you in the driver’s seat. Starting now means you’ll spend less money and keep the credit card from skyrocketing to Mars. A long lead-in to the holiday season also cuts out the frantic panic-buy on December 24, which sees you staring wide-eyed at empty shelves, alongside your equally frazzled neighbours. Keeping all that in mind, I’d like to share my idea of a strategically planned DB Christmas with you. DECEMBER 1 TO 3 Assuming you’ve already done your online shopping, you will feel a certain well-earned smugness in early December when you start receiving the parcels in the mail. Find time to wrap presents as they arrive, and pop them straight in the post if they’re headed overseas. Write and post your Christmas cards now too, remembering that Toysland has an excellent selection. Next up, take stock of your decorations. It’s always fun putting up the tree and decorating the house but after all the festivities are over, packing them away properly is often way down on our list of priorities. So check your “decks” now, and don’t panic if anything has weathered badly. You can find replacements at the DB Christmas Market on December 8 (more on that later) and if your fairy lights are bust, you can pick out some new ones at Japan Home Centre. This is the weekend to buy the ingredients for the Christmas cake to end all Christmas cakes, so get ready to make the first of many “festive” trips to Fusion. You’ll need the dry fruit and the brandy at this stage because the mixture has to soak for at least two weeks, more if you’re organised. While in the supermarket, you can also pick up your Christmas pudding, or the ingredients to make it. DECEMBER 4 TO 10 This week is “set up the Christmas tree week”. Remember the golden rule: two weeks before to assemble and two weeks afterwards to take it down. You may well have an artificial tree that you bring out every year but, if you like the real thing, XmasTreeOnline.hk delivers Douglas, Noble and Nordmann firs to DB, plus those essential baubles, fairy lights and wreathes. Forgotten a present, or three? It’s the DB Christmas Market on December 8, so you’ll be able to search for that perfect gift: an Angel Wong Image fascinator maybe, a singing bowl from Himalayas Craft or a personalised Christmas stocking from Vi Galerie. Wander the stalls in DB Plaza to pick up some extras for your Christmas table or decor, and be sure to drop by the House of Fine Wines booth not just for a couple of cases of first-class wine but also for some imported gourmet goodies – the truffle sauce is to die for. To save yourself the possible disaster of either a tough or too pink turkey, order a pre-cooked one this week. The Auberge is providing takeaway turkeys, and as many trimmings as you like, right through to December 27, and Epic Foods’ annual festive catering menu is also well worth a look. If tradition is what you like and cooking your own is a must, then you’ll want to pre-order a turkey or ham. For holiday meats (and treats), I’ll be looking to European Touch and Market Place, and I can’t do Christmas without Il Bel Paese’s deli/ party snacks. DECEMBER 11 TO 17 By now the festivities will really have kicked in and you’ll have neighbours dropping round for celebratory drinks, so be sure to head to Watson’s Wine to load up on Prosecco and your Christmas spirits of choice. Don’t forget the rum for the rum balls (Bundaberg rum is fabulous) because this week is “rum ball week”. Make them now and they’ll be even yummier in a week’s time, having soaked up the rum in a sealed container at the back of the fridge. This week too, it’s DB Christmas Wine Walk, running December 13 to 15 at DB North (Auberge main entrance). Pick up a HK$180 pass for exclusive wine-tasting privileges, and shop over 30 stalls packed not just with wine but with gourmet treats, Christmas-themed products and local crafts. This one always gets pushed to the bottom of the to-do list but try to find time this week to pamper yourself. My guess is you live in walking distance of either Spa Botanica or DB Bay Spa. Hopefully you can spare an hour or so for a much-needed facial or massage, but at the very least you’ll want your nails looking their best on the day. Have them done now (Dream Nail does a grand job) or book an appointment for the 21st. Think about your hair this week too. Will you have time to squeeze in a blow dry on December 24? Make your booking at Afflatus Hair Workshop or Salon De Coiffure now to avoid disappointment. DECEMBER 18 TO 24 Things are starting to heat up now but take it easy, you’re well ahead of the game! All of your presents are wrapped, your cards are on their way to family and friends back home and your tree is shimmering and heavy with ornaments in the corner. There is however a downside to being so prepared. You’ll probably find that the case of wine, the chocolates and the rum balls that you made last week have disappeared. You’ll need to find time to replenish your stock. Four days to go: book a table for Boxing Day lunch, somewhere fresh and al fresco like DBrasserie or Pasha. Head for your pre-booked mani-pedi, buy some flowers at Bloom or Gillian Florist, and dash home to do any last-minute wrapping and to recharge the camera. Two days to go: now’s the time to shop for fresh fruit and vegetables. There will undoubtedly be others like you, madly waving their lists around, so be prepared for the long haul. After that, start defrosting the turkey and… OMG, make the Christmas cake! One day to go: if you weren’t already doing it, panic! Make the stuffing, locate the kids’ Christmas stockings, leave a mince pie out for Santa. Oh, and buy more Prosecco (and Alka-Seltzer) because someone’s bound to drop by for a nightcap. CHRISTMAS DAY Just breathe. Laugh a lot and enjoy. Of course, some of you will have opted to head down to the Auberge on Christmas Day for a fussfree festive lunch at Café Bord de Mer. In that case, the same rule applies. Laugh a lot and enjoy. Merry Christmas everyone!