The shortbreads are cooling, the plum pudding is gently steaming, and the church choir on CD is singing Christmas Carols. “Mmm… says my 14 year old daughter downing a couple of the shortbreads, “it’s a good thing you got the shortbreads made Mums. I mean Chuch and I were concerned that Santa might pass on by without some type of reward,” she giggles. Then she eyes the Sherry bottle, which I had just pulled out and adds, “Perhaps we should leave Santa some Sherry this year? We think he likes that better than Scotch,” she adds with a twinkle. Then from behind the computer my 10-year-old son bellows out: “Santa likes white wine, champagne, and coffee in the morning”. They both laugh waiting for my reaction but I am deep into reading a letter from my Mother written to me at Christmas in 1989 shortly after her mother, and my “Nan” passed away. It is the story of her childhood memories of family Christmas dinner in St Catherine’s, Ontario where she grew up and the history of the Plum Pudding recipe.

“It was the war years..” my mother writes “I can remember our Christmas dinner table being full of uncles and cousins in uniform – Army, Air force, and Navy. While the Aunts were making dinner we would be outside playing Lacrosse. It was a wonderful time but emotions were high. War, as we know is a monster, a tragedy that I pray my children and grandchildren will never experience”.

She then goes on to share my great grandmother’s Plum Pudding recipe, which of course originated in Scotland.

So to all my clients, colleagues, and friends, wherever you are, I wish you a happy holiday season and a joyous celebration of your family traditions.

“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” – Norman Vincent Peale