Ah, so we can blame the US for elf-on-the-shelf ? I don’t think house size swings it as an excuse. Yours is a large house by UK standards, at the very least you can string decorations across the ceiling, fairy lights round door frames and so on. Do you not even have Christmas Cards all around the house ?
Busted, Bob. Mr. Los Angeles and I were impressively disorganized as individuals and when we found each other, the Rodgers and Hammerstein of the shambolic was born. Yes, we do display our Christmas cards, though, wherever we can find the space, and are always most touched and pleased to receive them since I'll leave you to guess how often we get around to sending them ourselves. House decorations or none, we always have a lovely Christmas, and I hope you have the same!
I never even saw little elfy with all the rowdiness and festivities on Christmans day! Thank you for hosting the merriest of Christmases and I hope you enjoyed the leftover cheesecake :)! A very happy new year to you and Mr. Los Angeles and look forwrd to seeing you again soon in 2026 xxx
I think he was probably zooming back to the North Pole for an early tattle-tale, Meredith! Thanks for all your help in making us all merry, and your cheesecake was sublime. See you soon ... xx
I got a good laugh in reading about your antics in communicating with the family Elf on the Shelf. I hope.youamd.Mr LA enjoy cozy days until the end of the year in front of a nice fire in the fireplace and look forward to new stories in 2026
Next year maybe you could blindfold the little blighter Gabrielle....
Hope you have had a lovely time and are enjoying the post-feast peace. All the best for 2026 - I love reading your substack page and look forward to many more in the future.
What a very good idea, Sheena. And afterwards I can take a stick and beat some cushions and say things like "Take that, you ****," and "Wow, what a lot of blood," and "I wonder where's a good place to hide a dead body?" Laying plans for 2026 already ...
A happy New Year to you, thank you for your kind and generous comments on the blog, and I look forward to connecting with you in 2026 ....
Fink on the shelf, more like! I think the horrid elf is of Scandiwegian provenance. While on the subject, the whole Christmas thing is so protestant and judgemental--some poor child gets coal because he is unworthy in the judgement of a Puritan elder masquerading as a jolly old elf (pass the sick bag) perpetrating home invasion. Bah, humbug.
A fink on the brink, possibly? There's a very dark side to the American Santa, I have American friends who were scared of him as children, which seems all wrong. A merry and elf-free Christmas to you and yours anyway ...
Happy Christmas to you both Gabrielle and all the best for 2026… I have no truck with Santa Claus either but that’s what all the grandchildren call FC now… xx
Well, I hope the naughty and nice lists haven't crossed the Atlantic too, Caroline, because I find them awful. Merry Christmas to you and yours and maybe we'll meet in 2026 ...
Thank you for this, Barbara, I don't feel especially charming when I contemplate that little find on the shelf, but I'm glad you enjoyed the post! Yes, yes, let's find a time to FT or Zoom when all of our various guests have gone. Merry Christmas to you both meanwhile!
Happy holidays, Gabrielle, so happy to have found you! I loathe the horribly judgy elf on the shelf, who is also known to throw things around the place, and the idea of his beady eyes watching children go about their day is deeply disturbing. Maybe he needs to incur a terrible accident? In any case, have a wonderful break!
Oh, Louise, don't put ideas into my head! I'm happy to have found you, too, and look forward to reading more of your Love Story as 2026 unfolds. Happy holidays!
Thank you, Mary, I'm glad you enjoyed it! I hope you're having a wonderful Christmas season in Ireland and look forward to seeing you there one of these days.
Ah, so we can blame the US for elf-on-the-shelf ? I don’t think house size swings it as an excuse. Yours is a large house by UK standards, at the very least you can string decorations across the ceiling, fairy lights round door frames and so on. Do you not even have Christmas Cards all around the house ?
Busted, Bob. Mr. Los Angeles and I were impressively disorganized as individuals and when we found each other, the Rodgers and Hammerstein of the shambolic was born. Yes, we do display our Christmas cards, though, wherever we can find the space, and are always most touched and pleased to receive them since I'll leave you to guess how often we get around to sending them ourselves. House decorations or none, we always have a lovely Christmas, and I hope you have the same!
I never even saw little elfy with all the rowdiness and festivities on Christmans day! Thank you for hosting the merriest of Christmases and I hope you enjoyed the leftover cheesecake :)! A very happy new year to you and Mr. Los Angeles and look forwrd to seeing you again soon in 2026 xxx
I think he was probably zooming back to the North Pole for an early tattle-tale, Meredith! Thanks for all your help in making us all merry, and your cheesecake was sublime. See you soon ... xx
I got a good laugh in reading about your antics in communicating with the family Elf on the Shelf. I hope.you amd.Mr LA enjoy cozy days until the end of the year in front of a nice fire in the fireplace and look forward to new stories in 2026
... and maybe a candlelit feast of roast elf to set us up for the New Year? Happy New Year to you and talk soon ... xx
Next year maybe you could blindfold the little blighter Gabrielle....
Hope you have had a lovely time and are enjoying the post-feast peace. All the best for 2026 - I love reading your substack page and look forward to many more in the future.
What a very good idea, Sheena. And afterwards I can take a stick and beat some cushions and say things like "Take that, you ****," and "Wow, what a lot of blood," and "I wonder where's a good place to hide a dead body?" Laying plans for 2026 already ...
A happy New Year to you, thank you for your kind and generous comments on the blog, and I look forward to connecting with you in 2026 ....
Unfortunately I’ve just discovered that it has…eeek. Xx
not sure I should be "liking" this as such, but thanks for the intel. Happy New Year! xx
Fink on the shelf, more like! I think the horrid elf is of Scandiwegian provenance. While on the subject, the whole Christmas thing is so protestant and judgemental--some poor child gets coal because he is unworthy in the judgement of a Puritan elder masquerading as a jolly old elf (pass the sick bag) perpetrating home invasion. Bah, humbug.
A fink on the brink, possibly? There's a very dark side to the American Santa, I have American friends who were scared of him as children, which seems all wrong. A merry and elf-free Christmas to you and yours anyway ...
Happy Christmas to you both Gabrielle and all the best for 2026… I have no truck with Santa Claus either but that’s what all the grandchildren call FC now… xx
Well, I hope the naughty and nice lists haven't crossed the Atlantic too, Caroline, because I find them awful. Merry Christmas to you and yours and maybe we'll meet in 2026 ...
Father Chritsmas sounds lovely! Merry Christmas, Gabrielle!
He is, Kristi! Lovely to hear from you, Merry Christmas, and I look forward to seeing you next year in Concord!
As also, so charming! And we will find time to FT after Christmas when you are lolling about.
Thank you for this, Barbara, I don't feel especially charming when I contemplate that little find on the shelf, but I'm glad you enjoyed the post! Yes, yes, let's find a time to FT or Zoom when all of our various guests have gone. Merry Christmas to you both meanwhile!
As always…
Happy holidays, Gabrielle, so happy to have found you! I loathe the horribly judgy elf on the shelf, who is also known to throw things around the place, and the idea of his beady eyes watching children go about their day is deeply disturbing. Maybe he needs to incur a terrible accident? In any case, have a wonderful break!
Oh, Louise, don't put ideas into my head! I'm happy to have found you, too, and look forward to reading more of your Love Story as 2026 unfolds. Happy holidays!
You are on top form here, Gabrielle! Wonderful.
Thank you, Mary, I'm glad you enjoyed it! I hope you're having a wonderful Christmas season in Ireland and look forward to seeing you there one of these days.