Christmas came and went so quickly, but we had great time being wonderfully antisocial. Just the dogs and us – absolutely no obligations to anyone except the black Norfolk Turkey from Laverstoke Park Farm (owned by the ex formula one driver Jody Scheckter, and worth looking up if just for the home-made buffalo ice-cream and delicious biltong).

Following a tradition in the Skött household, the turkey (whatever the size) gets cooked outside (whatever the weather) rotisseried on the Weber BBQ, removed when just under temperature, then allowed to sit bundled in tea towels for an hour until tender and juicy.  Served with all the usual trimmings, including some amazing garlic from The Spice Shop.

Shocking stats about the number of Christmas trees produced only to be left lying on the street after a couple of weeks, combined with the lack of trees this year due to the inclement weather in Scandinavia, meant we decided not to get one this year. Instead we hung a wreath from the ceiling, decorated it with sparkling fairy lights and shiny beads and hung beautiful hand-made Danish Christmas decorations off it. Then it was just the presents to go under it, apart from the ones for the Skött dogs, which had to remain out of reach as Max and Blue would have eaten theirs mid December, given half the chance.

We are at last free of builders. The bathroom is finished and has turned out nicer than we thought it would, a nice surprise.  It has the feel of a boutique hotel bathroom and is now the best room in the house. Mr Skött has had to ration Mrs Skött’s time spent in the bath; otherwise she would have turned into a prune long ago.

With time off over the festive season, and a little too much to drink at times, we came up with a fantastic new cocktail.  A great blend of champagne, a very special Danish Aquavit that has been layered over amber giving it a wonderful golden colour, angostura bitters and a sugar cube, it’s so good (you’ll find the recipe on Absolutely February’s Barfly page and our blog).

Oh what a merry time we had!

First Published in Absolutely Notting Hill – February 2012.