Norfolk

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/christmas-survival2.jpg" alt="Woman relaxing with hot drink surrounded by Christmas present wrapping" class="wp-image-46023" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/christmas-survival2.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/christmas-survival2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/christmas-survival2-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/christmas-survival2-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Hands up who feels the tiniest bit of pressure to be a turbo-charged domestic goddess at Christmas, wrapped head to toe in tinsel, toting a platter of home-made, warm mince pies at all times? And we&#8217;ve not even started on the beautifully decorated house, the delicious feast and artfully wrapped presents. 



If the mere thought of festive finesse à la Kirstie Allsopp brings you out in a cold sweat, then you&#8217;ll need our easy breezy plan to get through the holiday season unscathed, from managing expectations and avoiding futile housework to quick ways to jazz up the leftovers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-keep-your-cool">How to keep your cool </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/christmas-tree-people-unsplash.jpg" alt="Christmas tree in foreground and people in background" class="wp-image-46016" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/christmas-tree-people-unsplash.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/christmas-tree-people-unsplash-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/christmas-tree-people-unsplash-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/christmas-tree-people-unsplash-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



From Nadia, <a href="https://norfolk.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/nadia-hayes-counselling-services/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nadia Hayes Counselling Services</a>:



&#8220;Christmas is a time with so many expectations, and when families come together they can bring all of these with them! Remember, it does&nbsp;not have to be your job to meet these, no matter how they are phrased or hinted at. Let family members and guests know that if they have a tradition that is important to them, they can bring it with them in whatever format this works.&nbsp;



&#8220;Meeting emotional expectations of how Christmas might go is another one that can add to the pressure around the holidays. It does not have to be &#8220;the most wonderful time of the year&#8221; to be good fun. Allow emotional room for things to fall as they may, as in doing so we take the pressure off ourselves and so trickier moments along the way can feel&nbsp;less significant.



If that pressure is building up, find a way to sneak off for a second, stop and breathe. Breathe first, think second! Next, ask yourself &#8220;How do I want to feel in this moment, and what do I need to do to achieve it?&#8221;. If that looks like letting go of frustration or upset, however reasonable, in that moment, then you are not letting someone off the hook but supporting yourself. Focus on your own goals for your Christmas and give yourself permission to prioritise this first.&#8221;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A tangle-free start</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/christmas-lights-tangle-stock.jpg" alt="Woman on sofa holding tangled Christmas tree lights" class="wp-image-46018" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/christmas-lights-tangle-stock.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/christmas-lights-tangle-stock-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/christmas-lights-tangle-stock-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/christmas-lights-tangle-stock-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



From Amelia, <a href="https://norfolk.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/the-bell-brisley/">The Brisley Bell</a>:



&#8220;When packing up your Christmas lights at the end of the year, wind them plug-first back around the box you bought them in (or some cardboard if you’ve thrown the box away). Next year they will be a dream to unpack and put up, leaving plenty of time for a relaxing drink. Another tip looking ahead to next year&#8217;s festivities, book large Christmas party meals before November if you want to guarantee a table. Lots of venues start taking bookings in September, if not before.&#8221;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Candlelight means less housework</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/Candlelight-joy.jpg" alt="Candle in lantern and fairyliphts with Joy sign" class="wp-image-46019" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/Candlelight-joy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/Candlelight-joy-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/Candlelight-joy-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/Candlelight-joy-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



From Libby, <a href="https://norfolk.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/niche-flowers-norwich/">Niche Flowers</a>:



&#8220;My top tip is to remember that you can&#8217;t see grime by candlelight, so don&#8217;t go berserk trying to keep on top of the housework as well as everything else on your list.&nbsp;First impressions count, so make sure you&#8217;ve got a beautiful botanical door wreath to welcome you and yours every time you arrive home. It will ensure instant festive cheer and convey to all visitors the idea that they are crossing the threshold of a particularly well-run, hygienic and hospitable establishment &#8211; which deliberate impression you will not instantly dispel with protestations and/or proof to the contrary.&nbsp;



&#8220;After your arrival home and a moment to admire your wreath (just a moué of smugness is permissible), hang up your coat and without missing a beat, mix up a hot spiced punch from stuff you&#8217;ve probably got hanging about in your cupboards. (Booze is optional and the mulling recipe is below). Switch on the fairy lights, fire up a few judiciously placed candles, sink back into the sofa with your drink, and enjoy your filthy house at its atmospheric best! Inform other residents kindly but firmly that any urgent queries will be addressed once your cup is empty and your batteries replenished.



&#8220;Once fortified and relaxed, you can tackle all those wrapping/catering/retail chores with renewed vigour. And remember, when you&#8217;re inside the holiday zone proper (not just the run-up), any housework other than a quick wipe over the table to get rid of the cheese and cracker crumbs before you get out the games is, in my opinion, a thoroughly short-lived achievement and, therefore, pretty much futile. Concentrate your endeavours on enjoying your delightful family and presenting a relaxed, happy (and possibly slightly rosy) face for the duration of the festive season!&#8221;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Liven up those leftovers</h2>



From Matthew, <a href="https://norfolk.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/owsley-brown-catering-company-west-norfolk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Owsley-Brown Catering Company</a>:



&#8220;I’ve got a top tip for livening up those grey Brussel sprouts my grandma used to cook seemingly for days. Shred the sprouts finely with a chopping knife. &nbsp;Heat some rapeseed oil, ideally in a wok, with some lardons of bacon, add the sprouts and stir-fry for about 2 or 3 minutes, adding a dash of water if they start to catch too much. &nbsp;Remove from the heat and add a dash of soy sauce for seasoning and serve. Very heatlhy too! (Leave the lardons out for an all-veggie side dish).&#8221;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Plan a recharging festive escape</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/03/The-Harper1.jpg" alt="The Harper" class="wp-image-40465" style="aspect-ratio:1.5015015015015014;width:640px;height:auto" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/03/The-Harper1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/03/The-Harper1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/03/The-Harper1-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/03/The-Harper1-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



From <a href="https://norfolk.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/the-harper-langham/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Harper</a>:



&#8220;Our top tip is to break convention and take your loved ones to celebrate where the cooking (and the clearing up) are taken care of for you. We know, of course, where the best place for that is. But really, what can be better than a&nbsp;5-course-menu&nbsp;cooked for you and plenty of bubbles in the elegant and cosy setting of The Harper or The Langham Blue Bell? We dare you to come up with a better alternative!



&#8220;If a family meal at home is inevitable, then you best book yourself for a Twixmas treat at The Harper &#8211; to unwind and shake the excess-relative-closeness. Picture a Norfolk escape idling over a late breakfast, pottering between coast path and pub for a favourite tipple by the fire, and sinking into the bubbles&nbsp;of a jacuzzi beside a private pool. After all, it’s the season to be jolly.&#8221;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Keep it simple and let others help!</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/christmas-film-popcorn.jpg" alt="Women reaching for popcorn whilst watching movie with Christmas tree nearby" class="wp-image-46022" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/christmas-film-popcorn.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/christmas-film-popcorn-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/christmas-film-popcorn-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/christmas-film-popcorn-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



From Kay, <a href="https://norfolk.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/victoria-goss-nightwear/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Victoria Goss</a>:



&#8220;If you don&#8217;t spend the other 364 days of the year in the kitchen rustling up meals that could pass muster in Masterchef&nbsp;then don’t try to achieve culinary miracles on Christmas Day.&nbsp;Stick to cooking food that you can do confidently and comfortably, and plan and prepare as much as possible well ahead of the big day.&nbsp;



&#8220;Use simple decorations such as ribbons tied into pretty bows and sparkly baubles in shallow dishes to trim up your rooms &#8211; they&#8217;re quick to put out, look effective and will leave you with more time for other things.



&#8220;Have ideas for the day which include some things for grandparents and the children to do, and also allows a bit of quieter time after the main event. Plan your meal around things your family does at Christmas &#8211; maybe you go to church or like to watch the King &#8211; be sure these things are fitting into your day.



&#8220;Let others help!&nbsp;It sounds obvious but I know one person at least who has to be in control of every minute detail &#8211; it won&#8217;t matter if the carrots are cut in perfect slices or the napkins aren&#8217;t arranged just so. Relax and remember it&#8217;s a fun, family event so let everyone muck in. They will enjoy helping too.



Wear an apron over your chosen outfit!&nbsp; Nothing will ruin your day faster than splashing gravy on your best cashmere cardigan.&#8221;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rent a festive retreat </h2>



From Faye, <a href="https://norfolk.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/the-norfolk-farmhouse-felmingham/">Norfolk </a><a href="https://norfolk.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/the-norfolk-farmhouse-felmingham/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Farmhouse</a>:



&#8220;I would recommend renting a venue, big enough for all the family. It’s a neutral space, comes ready decorated and means everyone is involved in shopping, cooking and cleaning instead of the chores falling onto one host. Making Christmas a real holiday. We know just the place!&#8221;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Give the gift of time</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/children-christmas-cuddle.jpg" alt="Children cuddling in front of Christmas tree" class="wp-image-46020" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/children-christmas-cuddle.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/children-christmas-cuddle-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/children-christmas-cuddle-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/children-christmas-cuddle-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



From Josie, <a href="https://norfolk.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/love-tate-photography-norfolk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Love Tate Photography</a>:



&#8220;When it comes to older relatives and even the younger family members, time is the most precious gift you can give. I have learnt from doing family photoshoots that that quality time together is priceless. A ‘time voucher’ makes a thoughtful Christmas gift &#8211; for, say, &#8216;“&#8217;let&#8217;s go for a walk&#8217; or &#8216;“&#8217;cake and coffee on me&#8217; &#8211; it&#8217;s a win win! Or for a cheeky shoutout for photographers, book a family photoshoot to make some fun memories and have the pictures to treasure. Won’t be too expensive if everyone chips in!



&#8220;If you are on your own at Christmas then make sure you reach out to people, get your favourite food in and a great movie!&#8221;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Libby&#8217;s Never-Fails Warming Weeknight Livener</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/christmas-punch-mulled-wine.jpg" alt="Christmas punch or mulled wine with presents in background" class="wp-image-46021" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/christmas-punch-mulled-wine.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/christmas-punch-mulled-wine-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/christmas-punch-mulled-wine-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/12/christmas-punch-mulled-wine-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



1 part rum/ whisky/ cognac/ red wine or whatever you have knocking about (or cheap boxed apple juice if you prefer your punch non-alcoholic)



1 part sugar syrup (that&#8217;s 1 cup any sort of sugar dissolved and boiled up with 1 cup water)



1 part lemon juice (from a bottle is fine)



1 part hot water



A couple of teaspoons or so of ground spices, such as mixed spice, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, half a dozen cloves or whatever you have in the cupboard that vaguely fits the bill.



Sling it all in a saucepan on the hob to warm right up, but ensure it doesn&#8217;t boil.



Serve in cute little glasses or mugs with a slice of apple, cut thinly crosswise to reveal the star at the core, sliced starfruit, kumquats, or clementines, or whatever you have in the fruit bowl floating on the top. You can also wedge a star anise on the rim of the glass if you are feeling super boujie, for extra festive flair!

Your 2023 Christmas survival guide

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