Christmas Genius

My special thanks go to illuminating inventor Thomas Edison for suggesting that genius equals one per cent inspiration and 99 per cent perspiration.

I will adapt the concept to demonstrate the secret of Christmas.

My colleagues complained, when we started prepping the Christmas issues of T&L way back in October that: ‘No one wants to think about Christmas in October.’ It does not take the little grey cells of Hercules Poirot to deduce that my colleagues have never planned a Christmas – elves do it for them, clearly - and don’t read women’s magazines, which were by then already bursting with Christmas ideas. ‘There’s no such thing as too early, the key to a successful Christmas is in the planning,’ I replied and was promptly totally hijacked by the hottest October days on record. There was 99 per cent perspiration indeed, as the sun touched our autumn skins and Christmas… well, it had to take a back seat, even in my keen brain.

Luckily, the heat wave did not last for long. And luckily I love everything about Christmas and so I was delighted to get back on track, finding out about decorating and gift-wrapping trends, who is doing what to their tables, what’s the latest party food idea - and where to start looking for gifts. Well, I say I love everything about Christmas - in reality I love the brilliant run up to it, including the list making, shopping, wrapping, cooking and freezing, everything right up to and including lighting the scented candles and filling the stockings on Christmas Eve. The day itself is usually rather hassle-y and I am left wondering why we spend months prepping for this lovely family feast, and then it’s all over in the twinkle of Rudolph’s nose - and there’s usually a row or a tussle to cast a shadow over the proceedings too. One day you may find me doing no prep at all and having my family Christmas in a local hotel. Now that’s inspiration with no perspiration at all!

This month, our inspirational What’s On Christmas Special sheds light on 50 fab, fun, festive things to do with the family from now until Christmas and after. In short, here are 50 light bulb moments for you that Edison would be proud of.

Happy Christmas prepping - and see you in December for more Christmas brilliance.

Sarah Hodgson is a regular at local theatres, and Editor-in-Chief at Time & Leisure Media Group.