It’s Christmas!!!

Isn’t it funny blink and it’s gone but the run up starts in October? Yes people I’m talking about Christmas!

Over the last few weeks everyone I talk to is rushing around like nutters to get ready for that one day that comes and goes so quickly every year.

I start early; I have so many people to buy for and want to make sure those presents my kids want are not sold out. I currently have a cupboard full of presents that hopefully won’t fall on top of me when I open it. But really and truly it is just mad! I admit I love Christmas, I love doing the father Christmas thing my daughter who’s 9 still believes which makes me happy the her innocence hasn’t been lost. This year I did the letters to Santa and today I did portable North Pole click the link it’s a must for all mum’s to do for their kids. Portable North Pole

I can’t wait to see their faces, see them open their presents and be all festive. It’s been a mad few weeks with school discos, plays and class parties but the other day it dawned on me that the real meaning of Christmas may have been lost!

A few nights ago my son asks” Mum what happened to the bay Jesus?” So I explained who grew to a man and was killed by some people who didn’t like him and now he is in heaven. To which opened up a can of worms and questioned continued up until bed time!

It did make me wonder how many people fully know the story of Christmas and understand and remember on Christmas day why we celebrate. Christmas is supposed to be a religious holiday but most myself included are not particularly religious.

So Mary travelled to Bethlehem on a donkey with her husband Joseph to give birth to the son of God. They were turned away from every inn and finally were offered sanctuary in a stable where the baby Jesus Christ was born. So at my son’s nativity this week they re-enacted the animals in the stable from cat to camel and told of how Jesus came to be in their barn.

I then thought back to my school days and my memory is good I never remember doing the nativity once! Christmas songs yes but no Mary or Joseph in sight

So I decided to go to the schools church service and embrace and remember the true meanings of Christmas. I guess if you ask most people adults and children alike what things they think about when you say the word Christmas the following would be in the list:
Brussel sprouts, presents, tinsel, Christmas trees, lights, dinner, mince pies and Christmas pud!

Christmas is a big money-maker in the UK in October food is stacked in all the local supermarkets, in mid-November the adverts start and before December hits people are christmas crazy. The weather has gone cold and the shops are full of people bulk buying like there is a war on its way. I’m not one of these people, shops only close for two whole days over christmas and to be honest my local news agents are always open so if I’m desperate I’ll go there.

I remember being small and loving christmas and still have very good memories of christmas, new year and everyone being together and happy. That for me is what Christmas is about a time to think, reflect and be truly grateful for what you have as there are others less fortunate than you out there. Imagine how cold it is at present, now imagine sleeping rough in these conditions! Things might seem bad for you, you may have had a bad year but the point is you have a safe place to stay and a roof over your head!! That is something to be thankful for.

I guess people need to remember it’s not how many presents are under the tree and it isn’t about how much food you can stack in your stomach it is the season to be jolly and for peace and goodwill to all man kind (This includes woman kind too) Remember those you love, those that have been taken from us and be thankful for whatever you receive.

I’m just saying he does it better!!!!!

Some people call me a feminist and I’m not going to lie I strongly believe in equal opportunities for men and women in all respects, may this be in the work place or at home or any other place men and women come together. Whether you believe I’m a feminist or not I am pro independent woman as much as I am for the “New Age Man” (For those of you who don’t know what the new age man is, in brief it is he who works, cooks, cleans and looks after his children on par with his female companion)

So here’s the thing there are some men and those of you who banter with me about this on a daily/weekly basis know who you are who believe I can’t cook.  The fact is I can cook I just don’t like cooking!!!  I love food probably more than I should, my eating out habits over the last few weeks have made me worried about how addicted I am. (But still I continue to eat out I’ll worry when I’m size 14 +)  For me cooking is something I have to do in order to feed my kids, I usually cook from scratch and you will rarely see a microwave meal or packet food in my fridge if there is it’s a very busy week! Cooking is just another chore for me amongst washing, ironing, cleaning etc etc. Sometimes it can be a military operation remember food doesn’t magic its way into the fridge someone has to go and get it, pack and un pack it. In between the school run, washing, afterschool clubs and getting ready for work I have to cook. So whilst I’m cooking I’m multitasking doing homework, washing up as I go along so not to leave the biggest mess, taking calls, looking at the pile of paperwork I have to go through.  Just a typical day in my house and by the time I sit down to eat I’m shattered!!! I’m going to declare now I’m a woman who doesn’t like cooking, I don’t find it fun and if I can get out of it I will.

Cue the new age man!!!! Lucky for me my husband is a great cook, someone who takes pride in cooking and enjoys trying new recipes from Jollof rice to birthday cakes you ask him and he will give it a go. How it works in our house is if his at work I’ll cook but if his off he will cook, dinners are probably nicer and the way to my heart is to feed me so I’m not going to complain!!

Cooking brings people together and those from big families know weekends at the grandparents houses growing up was where you had the best meals and times of your life. But we need to face facts here not all woman can cook and as hard as we try some of us just haven’t got it. I’m not saying give up ladies as this is not an option but I fully admit my husband (My friends will tell you too) is a better cook than me. Cooking is like an art and I was never good at anything artistic, I’ve tried and yeah I have my signature dishes but I have no patience or eye for attention to detail!

There are some men that believe it is a womans duty to cook daily for her man as this is what women are made to do!!! So why do men always brag about being the best cooks?

A few weeks ago I was told by a friend in a conversation/debate she had with a man who appears to be living in the dark ages that he doesn’t care if his partner works all day it is her job as a woman to come home and cook for him. Even if he gets in from work first he will wait for her to cook the evening meal. Cue hand in face action wailing and screaming.

Men with this kind of attitude deserve to be given dog meat mixed in with their stew, some men would rather go hungry than lift their hands to a pot or pan. There is a lot of debate about women not or being unable to cook amongst men they are saying its unattractive if a woman can’t cook, I honestly believe it’s not the be all and end all. There is a lot more important things in life than if your woman can’t cook!!! There are always going to be things in relationships that one person is better at than the other it’s finding a balance and working out what works and what doesn’t.

I was approached in a club a few months back by a guy who asked me can I cook chicken, my reply was yes can you??? This guy was asking me if I could cook when he couldn’t drive and still lived at home with his mum AND I swear he didn’t have a job too!!! He thought I was joking when I asked him if he wanted to cook for me!!! I was the only one laughing the word WASTE sprung to mind!

When I asked some males the question: “If your womans been at work all day and is too tired to cook what you going to do?”

“I would shrug and ask her what’s for dinner! Or get myself a take away! Too tired to cook what nonsense she saying she to tired to live! Haha!”

“I’d cook myself.I don’t expect it if we both worked !!!”

“What if your wife/partner died what you going to do? If a man can’t cook for his partner or kids what kind of  man/father is he?”

“I’d cook for her but a thank you would be nice…”

When I asked the ladies the following question: “Some men believe it’s a woman’s job to cook ladies what are your views?”

“I don’t think that view is no longer the case nowadays both are willing to compromise on every day duties cooking being one of them.    I think that women themselves naturally take on the cooking duties so men tend not to complain they like all that, but nevertheless women like when men take over and do the cooking once in a while, its nice when men can cook and do so when needed.”

“I’m a trained chef, working as a part time cook/cake baker. Whether we like it or not women  are expected to take lead in the kitchen and I admit as others will too, the kitchen is my domain, my space, even a sanctuary but its sooooo boring always cooking and eating your own food! I love a man that can and will cook (no my partner isn’t doin this at present) you wouldn’t be surprised that most famous chef’s are actually men… So why is it that women are the main cooks at home?
I think women cook because we got hungry bellies to feed, where as a man will put his heart into it and perfect that dish!”

It is said as women we take on the role of the nurturer, men look for women who can look after them like their mums, aunts or grandmothers who have for years. I exist only to be a mother to my children and will cook when cooking needs to be done, I’m not here to be a slave in the kitchen to no man so after a hard days work I would like to think my man has the sense to cook for me! (Which he does very well may I add)

It’s all about a little bit of give and take so men stop taking and start giving! Ladies if you can’t cook at least learn or get a man that can but know you have to be good at something else in return!! (I’m not giving suggestions on what!)

To play you out a new favourite song of mine by Sean Paul and Alexis Jordan Got 2 Luv U (I’m not sure about the cooking for you bit!!!)