WHAT I'VE LEARNT ABOUT... Christmas Day

I've had one of those years. The kind where every week feels like a marathon, every weekend another set of logistics, and every “day off” quietly fills itself with jobs I’ve been putting off since April.

- CHRISSIE SWAN

By the time midyear rolled around, I realised something: I wasn’t tired, I was done. As cooked as the crackling I’m famous in my family for. And the thought of hosting Christmas this year felt less like joy and more like another task on a never-ending list. It was time for a shift.

Christmas Day also falls annoyingly right in the middle of my big break. Because I’m the one with the longest table and the dinnerware obsession (So. Many. Plates!), I’ve always been the logical choice to host The Big Day. Plus, I’m MAD FOR CHRISTMAS!

But because I’ve always needed to be home to peel the prawns and place the Christmas crackers, my family has never really been able to take off anywhere for a proper, long stretch of time. It’s always been maximum 10 days ... or not at all.