Know Your Elves 2023 - #1 TRS30

Stage fright 😂

Will get cracking on this later today.

1. What's your favourite childhood Christmas memory?-

Not sure if colleague counts as childhood however had my first decent paying job so was able to buy presents for everyone in my family for the first time. I felt so proud and it started one of life's lessons- giving it better then receiving.

1. Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?

Absolutely, 100%, will fight anyone who says different!

1. What's the best part of Christmas Day?

In the last few years, it has been the evening time. We have all got in our Christmas pj's, kids are doing Lego with Granny & Granddad, just milling around, having some crackers and cheese, glass of something nice and just feeling very content and happy.

1. Do you have any Christmas traditions?

The youngest child puts the star on top of the main tree (once they are old enough to be able to do it). The youngest will be nearly 5 by next Christmas so don't know how many more years I'll be able to lift them up!!

1. If you could change one thing about Christmas what would it be?

I would love to go back to when Christmas wasn't so commercial. Make it more about just spending time with family and friends and enjoying the wonder of Christmas. It's such a magical time and I seem to miss it as I'm so busy rushing around trying to get so much done, go so many places and never having enough time to properly enjoy it.

1. Brussel sprouts, yay or nah?

Love a good sprout, fresh of course.

1. What's your favourite Christmas song and why?-

Ding Crosby- White Christmas. Every year when I was a kid, we would come home from church, my Mum in the kitchen doing Christmas lunch and my Dad putting his Ding Crosby Christmas album on the record player. My sibling and I eyeing up the presents and trying to read the tags.

1. Favourite Christmas TV advert of all time, and why?

Guinness ad- it's an iconic ad for a reason, it captures everything that is special about Christmas and seeing it live each year is one of my Christmas milestones as such.

1. Real or fake Christmas tree?

I love a real Christmas tree. From picking it out to getting it in the stand so is straight. Arguing over which is the best 'side', to worrying will it last to the 6th. I love it all.

1. Favourite Christmas food?

Anything fruit based so mince pies, Christmas pud, cake etc. If I had to choose one, would be Christmas pud with ice cream.

1. Do you have a Christmas guilty pleasure?

Just between us..............I usually get an extra pack of chocolate biscuits and hide them away. One time over Christmas (usually when everyone has gone to bed) I will get the pack out and eat them all in one go!

1. What is your favourite Christmassy beverage?

Baileys with ice. Wouldn't really drink it any other time of the year however sitting with one in hand and chatting with family/friends with the tree lights twinkling in the background is heaven.

1. When do you put up your Christmas tree?

The fake ones (playroom, landing & kids rooms) go up on the night of the LLTS and real one in the main room around the 9th/10th. All stay up till the 6th.

1. Star or angel?

Star on the main tree and then we let the kids decide what they want on the others. We have a built up a bit of a collection over the years.

1. Do you have a favourite Christmas film?

Christmas Vacation. Even since I saw it for the first time I have loved it. All us Christmas nuts have a little Clarke in us.