A Legendary Christmas With John and Chrissy Review
Concluding year, he was the face of the John Lewis Christmas advert; this yr, his much-anticipated autobiography, Me hits the shelves. In a GH exclusive, Sir Elton John writes about how he celebrates Christmas – and reveals the best gift he's ever received...
Stepping into Christmas
Over the years, I've definitely run the full gamut of Christmas experiences, from incredible to terrible. I've spent wonderful Christmases holidaying in Barbados, surrounded by friends and colleagues, helpfully rousing them from their beds every morn by playing a disco version of the old 1920s song Baby Face at meridian volume.
I've spent dismal ones at abode with my late female parent and stepfather, indulging in the good old British seasonal pastime of having a blazing family row, followed by that other great tradition: sitting with your relations in an icy, miserable silence, wishing you hadn't invited them.
At one emotional extreme, in that location was the yr I planned to spend Christmas alone with my then-beau. I spent a lot of time meticulously planning a romantic few days, buying presents and arranging food, while waiting for him to fly into Britain from LA.
But my plans hit a slight hitch when he decided he wasn't really gay and ran off with an air stewardess. Not that he told me: he just vanished! His airplane arrived, he wasn't on it and I never heard from him once again. So much for my romantic Christmas.
The nativity of Zachary
At the other extreme, in that location was Christmas 2010, when our kickoff son, Zachary, was built-in. He was due on 21 December, but finally made a belated appearance at 2.30am on Christmas Day.
My married man David [Replenish] and I were desperate to keep the birth a cloak-and-dagger: the final thing we wanted was a whole media circus erupting around it.
When nosotros built a nursery at our apartment in LA, we made sure every item of furniture turned up bearded in wrapping paper, so it looked like Christmas presents were existence delivered.
When the call came that our surrogate female parent had gone into labour, I went to the hospital in disguise, in example there were any photographers lurking near.
As it turned out, the place was admittedly deserted. No 1 usually wants to have a baby at Christmas: they either have an consecration or caesarean then they're not in infirmary over the holidays. So there wasn't a soul effectually: merely united states of america, and then Zachary.
New Traditions
Nosotros knew the infinitesimal he was born that our lives had changed for ever. And so had Christmas: as whatever parent knows, in one case you have children, the festive season changes so completely that information technology's difficult to recall what information technology was like before.
When it was only me and David, it used to be easygoing and grown-up: we'd scout a film on Christmas Eve and accept friends over for luncheon the side by side solar day, or go to Venice, which is wonderful at that fourth dimension of yr.
Now, it'southward all near Zachary and his niggling brother Elijah, although our friend Sandy often visits; she and her late partner Ingrid were the boys' godparents.
It's about making your own family traditions, some of which are the aforementioned every bit those I remember equally a kid: turkey with all the trimmings, cold cuts and Branston pickle on Boxing Day, paper hats and balloons.
Zachary and Elijah are all the same immature enough to be totally, 100% behind the idea of Santa. There's a disused red postbox in the forest by our house in Windsor that'south become the magical postbox where messages to Father Christmas are posted in mid-Dec.
On Christmas Eve, we read The Dark Before Christmas together, and we picket A Charlie Brown Christmas, which David saw every year when he was growing upwards in Canada and I honey because it has such a beautiful soundtrack, by a jazz pianist chosen Vince Guaraldi.
They put out hot chocolate for Santa and sprinkle reindeer food in the garden. Then we put them to bed and things plough completely frantic.
Nosotros wrap presents and try to work out the correct combination of things to put in their stockings that'll hopefully keep them amused in their room for a couple of hours if they wake up at 4am, as they invariably practise: The Beano Annual and The Official Watford FC Annual, some Lego, some pencils to color with.
We rake up the reindeer food and David drinks the hot chocolate. We listen to a CD of carols sung by The Choir of Rex's College, Cambridge, which adds at least a vague air of calm to proceedings.
Teaching the true meaning of Christmas
The showtime couple of years nosotros had kids, they were deluged with presents. Not from us, as we're quite strict: other than the stockings, they get three or four gifts each. It means I have to rein in my love of buying presents – I've always loved giving people gifts more than I dearest receiving them – simply information technology's for the all-time.
It was other people who wanted to spoil them: friends and fans. It was very touching, just also ridiculous: the twelvemonth after Zachary was built-in, at that place was and then much stuff we had to purchase two copse to fit it all around and the present opening went on for what felt like weeks.
Information technology merely seemed a bit obscene. Then nosotros wrote dorsum to everyone, thanking them, only telling them nosotros had set a charitable fund to support work for children with HIV/AIDS in Africa, and asked them to make a donation to that instead.
I know I have a reputation for extravagance – that'due south well deserved! – merely Christmas is non nigh that now. It's almost magic and creating memories, and magic and memories are two things you tin't buy.
Buy NOW Me (Pan Macmillan) by Elton John
At Sir Elton'southward request, GH has fabricated a donation to the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
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Source: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/lifestyle/a29889091/elton-john-family-christmas-traditions/
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