Once more, I have been lax in posting. I beg your forgiveness.
This is the time of year in which I find myself tremendously pressed for time. Thankfully I have completed my gift shopping but there still remain other preparatory tasks in anticipation of the coming festivities.
Ms hosts two parties in December. The first is in honour of the Winter Solstice which Ms refers to as our Yule Celebration. This is a fancy dress occasion and rather informal. A meal is served, usually buffet style, and gifts are exchanged, many in a humourous vein.
There is much emphasis placed on the lighting of the Yule Log to give brightness in the shortest day and the placing of mistletoe to remind us that life remains present in winter.
It is a smaller scale party to the Christmas celebration, being a dinner party with invitations for approximately 40, Mistresses and their boys included.
The Yule typically stands as the Network's Annual Seasonal Play Party as well. A time for pronouncements, and occasionally ceremony, as will be the case this year with Michael. I think I shall fully faint with relief when his vows are at last completed.
On the other hand, the Christmas Celebration is a formal, evening dress occasion. Entirely vanilla, as many of the guests are family and business associates. At this function I am strictly the butler and household manager and Michael is strictly Mistress' personal financial advisor and accountant.
I find this particular event most stressful. It was curtailed a bit last year, but this season it will be a grand stage. Nearly full attendance is expected. As is my nature I am highly concerned that all the linens are perfectly pressed, the centrepieces exquisite and well placed, the food and wine perfectly delightful and the entertainment impressive and pleasing to most if not all.
It is my duty to deliver a successful event, especially as the fruit of my labours is a reflection on Mistress Herself. There are only a few little niggling items to sort, but be assured I will be tweaking and touching up right to the last minute before the guests arrive.
Also, my parents are hosting a family gathering at their residence this year. I shall see numerous persons I have not encountered since childhood. Curious though I am, my feeling is still somewhat shy when reuniting with people. Mother will quite naturally pull me to the centre ring and make much of anything and everything she can think to boast about. On cue I shall go deeply red and wish for the comforting underside of the nearest large stone.
Father asked that I invite Michael. I question the wisdom in this as the boy's very presence as my guest will start a whirlwind of gossip and supposition, both of which I would most like to avoid. Nonetheless I have asked him along and he has consented with glee.
It was nice of father to think of Michael. As he knows how Michael grew up without paternal leadership, I think Father would like to take the boy under his wing. I do question if Father might still retain these sentiments if he knew about the boy's strong tendancy to compare him to a zombie butler, aka this character, Lurch.
This year as well as volunteering at the shelter I have scheduled a little concert tour of sorts to a few of the nursing/care homes. A few evenings will feature a woodwind quartet composed of my friends, these being the nights they had available in their diaries. Others will feature myself on piano, playing Christmas selections arranged to accompany voice so the residents may sing along, if they are so inclined.
I have included Michael, writing in parts for triangle, wood blocks, sleigh bells, and perhaps a light bit of snare and brushes on the Guaraldi piece. I have also suggested he lead the singing on carolling evenings, but he feels that British people will not accept his American renditions. I told him this is foolishness and, I believe, an excuse on his part. The very idea!
At any rate, He smirked at me when I made the proposal of the instruments, almost as if I were purposely putting him in a backseat position. I explained that next year it is my hope that he will play a more prominant part, perhaps piano accompaniment to my flute or oboe. His response? 'Fat chance, Ryan.' ![]()
He was a bit more enthusiastic once I presented him with the instruments. In fact Ms felt that after an hour or so the enthusiasm was running a bit too high for Her tastes and thus confiscated the lot. She states that he will be allowed possession of his kit for specific practice times to save wear and tear on both Her ears and Her nerves.
I would so love to natter on, but I've chores to attend to and a bit of practice with our budding percussionist this evening.
Be well all, and may your holiday planning go smoothly.
Faithfully,
Ryan
