You’re not going to believe this, but, for once, I actually feel as though I am set for Christmas.

Aren’t we all ready for a bit of relaxation, time spent watching movies we’ve watched countless times and arguing with your nearest and dearest as to whose turn it is to put the kettle on?

This year is going to be a little bit different for us. My mother-in-law took a tumble a couple of weeks ago and so has been delighting those attending church on a Sunday morning with an electric pink-coloured plaster cast. So, with her out of action, I’ve taken on the responsibility of cooking Christmas dinner.

My mother-in-law is devastated – not because she’s going to have to eat food I’ve prepared, but because nothing like this has ever happened to her before. I’ve tried to make her feel a little better by getting her to focus on the positives; she spends the whole year looking after others so it’s time now for everyone to repay her kindness.

I’ve told her that things could be worse – we didn’t have a choice when this happened to us when we were younger. All we had was a white pot, so heavy that the muscles on your upper arms made you look like Popeye when it was removed. The new ones are much lighter and, as our daughter discovered, make for an impromptu musical instrument, should you feel the need to run a pencil up and down it.

It’s taken a while, but I think she is starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and, over coffee the other day, she actually admitted that it hasn’t been as traumatic as she first feared and dare, I say it, I think we’re more or less ready thanks to everyone lending a hand.

Hubby has helped decorate the Christmas trees – both hers and ours – the shopping is done and the cleaning is under control. One thing we didn’t have to do was write her cards and wrap her presents, she’d already done that… in October!

Even my father-in-law has mucked in, running the vacuum around and cooking. I’ve heard a rumour that someone called by the other day and found him at the kitchen sink, but until I’ve witnessed this myself I’m not 100 per cent convinced.

Mind you, if you asked him – and providing none of his friends were there at the time – I suspect he will claim he’s enjoyed it. If nothing else, he has brought a smile to his wife’s face.

Well, wouldn’t you laugh if you found out he’d dropped his dentures in the washing machine!?