I am beside myself with excitement about Ming’s main Christmas present. It is being delivered today at 3pm while he is milking the cows. He has no idea and yesterday afternoon we sat outside and played a guessing game and he didn’t even come close – yay!
This is the first Christmas where we haven’t done the pillow case thing. Every year since he was born, we have put a big pillowcase at the end of his bed on Christmas Eve and I’ve secretly filled a matching pillowcase with presents. Then, in the very early hours of Christmas morning, I secretly swap the empty pillowcase for the full one and try (unsuccessfully) to go back to sleep. The Santa magicalness of this faded somewhat last year, not only because Ming was 17 and a little old for this but also because Anthony was so ill and, no matter how hard I tried, those gifts were bought in a state of stress rather than my usual euphoria.The brat was disappointed, I was despondent and Ants wasn’t even well enough to eat the huge meal of turkey, ham and all the trimmings. It was a complete fizzog.
So Ming decided that this Christmas there would be no pillowcase and that, instead, we would all get three presents each. So present 1 for Ming is a book about how to play the harp; and present 2 is a voucher for five harp lessons. Can you guess what present 3 is?
jmgoyder 
ummmmmmmm a harp????
YES!
I am one smart cookie!!!! hahaha
Hope he wants one? lol Diane
Only in his dreams!
Yay!!! you bought Ming a hARP!!! i AM SO EXCIUTED FOR THIS ONE!!!!
I know – I can hardly wait to see his face when he opens the box!
Well those clues where no help……………..lol
As a child me and my siblings had pillowcases as well and I passed this tradition onto my children and they are passing it onto their children…….
My parents did it too – love it!
A wonderful idea… no? π
ΒΈ.β’*Β¨*β’.βͺβ«β«βͺ π Happy Holidays to You & Yours! π .βͺβ«β’*Β¨*β’.ΒΈΒΈ β₯
Λβ*Β°β’.Λβ*Β°β’.Λβ*Β°β’.β β .β’Β°*βΛ.β’Β°*βΛ.β’Β°*βΛβ β₯ Λβ*Β°β’.Λβ*Β°β’.Λβ*Β°β’.β β .β’Β°*βΛ.β’Β°*βΛ.β’Β°*βΛβ
Eliz
That’s clever!
oh wow! that’s very cool.
He won’t believe it!
A Harp!!!! ooooooooohhhh! NOw I’m excited too!
I am beside myself with anticipation!
Yay! I hope he doesn’t read your blog!
Not any more – he got sick of all those birds!
Ha!
How fantastic
I couldn’t believe when I found a harpist right in town!
A new pillow?
That would have been more sensible!
no way its a motorbike lol the harps for mum!! π Merry christmas guys, whatever it is may it make his heart and yours feel full, and may you all have a wonderful xmas xxx π β€
Oh Dodsy – you guys too! Juliexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A great present! Will you number the gifts so that he opens them in order?
It’s just been delivered!
Hope he doesn’t find it before the morning! π
He won’t!
But the harp is such a difficult instrument to play. Your son must be so talented. I think that’s been an adorable tradition how you’ve swapped those pillowcases other in the dead of night. I’m currently watching carols on TV and waiting for my 7-yr old to go to sleep so I can wrap his presents then go to bed myself. Merry Christmas Julie to you and Ming and all your family xx
A very happy Christmas to you! Oh no – is the harp difficult? Argh!
What a wonderful gift! I hope it brings much pleasure! Happy Christmas to you all.
Thanks and you too Jo!
A harp β¦ what a wonderful gift β wonder why Ming want to learn how to play a harp ??? β I have also heard itβs hard to play, but everything is hard before we have tried. A magical instrument β¦ for a magical young man, I must say. Merry Christmas to you 3!
He doesn’t want to play the harp but he will now! Happy Christmas to you, Viveka!
Okay, I see …. Julie, good luck with that mission *smile You’re a brave woman *smile
A harp?
Okay–I answered before I looked at the other comments. I love love love the harp–truly–it is music from heaven–but have him learn some Led Zepplin on it too–what a beautifully discordant tribute that would be
Good idea! Thanks!
I correctly guessed the harp from what I see in the comments, hooray for me. But my question is where did you hide it? My cousin Appolline in France plays the Celtic harp, it is a smaller version of the traditional Harp but it still takes up room. Your house will be alive with the sounds of music!
The harpist delivered it today and it’s in a big box on the veranda that I have covered with a sheet so Ming won’t see the label! How long has your cousin been playing?
She’s been playing for two years.. She loves it and I hope that Ming does as well!
When I was down at the Victorian Fair in New Lanark (Scotland) there was a young girl playing a harp. It’s not often I have seen someone playing a harp so it was wonderful to hear.
It’s a good instrument for Ming to play.
NB: Do people ever get the correct pronunciation of his name Menzies as Mingus? Thanks to Mrs Menzies who was a music teacher I had at primary school it was dinned into us how to pronounce her name. She was one scary teacher so you didn’t get it wrong!
Some people still say Menzies of MinGus but Ming is very good at correcting them now! Thank you for that link.
OH Dog! I am so excited for Ming! Merry Christmas my friend!
And to you!
Oh Dog! I am so excited for Ming! Merry Christmas my friend!
Me too!
Wow, A harp!
Do you know Janet’s blog: http://hearttoharp.wordpress.com/
Merry Christmas π Judy
I just subscribed to Janet’s blog – THANK YOU! A very happy Christmas to you and yours, Judy
A harp? Wow, what a fantastic present, and the lessons and book too. I’m sure Ming will be beside himself with excitement. Yes, it’s a bit difficult to fit a harp into a pillow case. Merry Christmas to you and your dear family. xx
It’s nearly 1am here and the brat is asleep now but I am too excited to sleep. Merry Christmas to you guys too!
Wishing you and yours the best Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Your blog has enriched my life. I might not keep up with it all the time but when I do it is worth the wait!
Wow! What a great present.
I hope he wants to learn the harp π
Wishing you the a merry Christmas! xx
Have a good Christmas, Julie. All the best for the coming year.
I hope your son doesn’t read your blog! What a great gift. I hope you take pictures to capture the moment. I wonder how you’re going to stick the harp under the Christmas tree. π
Wonderful π I know it is a sad time for you and your family, Julie, but I hope you have a wonderful, relaxed day together.
bb
xx
ΒΈ.β’*Β¨*β’.βͺβ«β«βͺ Merry Christmas .βͺβ«β’*Β¨*β’.ΒΈΒΈ β₯
Λβ*Β°β’.Λβ*Β°β’.Λβ*Β°β’.β β .β’Β°*βΛ.β’Β°*βΛ.β’Β°*βΛβ β₯ Λβ*Β°β’.Λβ*Β°β’.Λβ*Β°β’.β β .β’Β°*βΛ.β’Β°*βΛ.β’Β°*βΛβ
Happy and Blessed Christmas to You Ant and Ming… may it be a good one….
Merry Christmas. Hope you have a day filled with love.
We did and it looks as if you guys did too – wonderful.
Julie, I read these in reverse order so I knew what he got before I knew you were keeping it a secret. LOL LOL. I also figured it was a harp, but I thought it was a harmonica, and went so far as to ask he Ming liked “the Blues.” So I had all manner of surprises when I saw the picture. Such a delicate instrument, I hope Ming enjoys for years and years to come. Take care, and Merry Christmas. — Bill
Interestingly, Ming wants to play unharpy music on the harp! mmmm
Awesome! I love harp music.