I had a migraine a few weeks’ back. Come to think of it I had a few migraines for a few weekends running.

I blame that fact on too much study.

At any rate, one of those migraine evenings I trialled a technique to cure a migraine. Cold on the head, warm on the neck. Golly it was brilliant.

Note to self: use that technique again.

Due to its overwhelming success I relocated myself to the lounge room and turned the television on for what felt like the first time this year.

I blame that fact on too much study.

I’d forgotten how loud television is, even with the volume down. Watching a commercial network even with the volume down, the advertisements’ colours shout at you. I had turned on to the ABC but Would I lie to you? ended up having a bit too much festive smut so I moved on…

Note to self: maybe just stay on the ABC in future.

Instead I ended up watching Better Homes and Gardens and learning how to glaze a ham. Usually sticking with the pudding making duties, I’d never bothered to take the time to learn how to glaze a ham before. I discovered it was rather straight forward. It just takes a bit of time. Although perhaps not quite as much time as the pudding.

Note to self: you need to make a pudding.

I managed to check in with the older brother whether he wanted me to do the usual thing and make it (which he did) but have not done a thing about it yet.

I blame that fact on too much study.

I know Christmas is all about Jesus. But I really do enjoy the excuse to cook something that I don’t cook at any other time of the year. I also enjoy the fact that I more readily make contact with my brothers at this time of year.

Of course, I talk to them all year round, but there’s an increase in contact when you’re planning for the family Christmas. Lunch requires more conversation than is probably warranted but I’m happy to talk to them all the same.

Fortunately I get along with both my brothers. For some, Christmas brings tension between family members. What should be a celebration ends up bringing up emotions and conversations that you’d rather forget.

It’s hard to celebrate the birth of Christ when you feel so unsettled in what should be a safe place. At times like this, it’s good to remember that Jesus’ life was hardly settled:

Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.

Or as they say: Nowhere is safe.

Or nowhere is comfortable. Even at Christmas time. I guess it makes sense when even the Messiah didn’t really have a place to lay his head on the night he was born.

So if your family life is a bit unsettled this Christmas, take comfort in knowing that for Jesus it was much the same.

The gospels suggest there were some issues with his younger brothers, not just concerns about where to place his head. Why should we think we’ll have it any different?

Yours needing to make a pudding,

Alison