CHRISTMAS DAY IS almost upon us and last-minute preparations are well underway. All going to plan, it’ll be smooth, seamless and joyful from end to end.
But let’s face it, Christmas is one of the busiest events of the year, meaning there’s big potential for vital items to be forgotten about. And weather wise, it’s also usually one of the coldest points of the year with a very high likelihood of power cuts, storms and snow.
You’ve probably got most of your bases covered at this stage, but just in case, here’s a run through of the eleventh-hour essentials you might want to pick up to today to avoid eating selection boxes in the dark on Christmas Day… or realising that you’ve run out of vital AA batteries.
1. Bread, milk and loo roll
So you have the turkey and brandy butter, but what about the basics? The standard storm drill is also applicable to Christmas – bread, milk, and toilet paper, just in case. It won’t hurt to throw a few other staples in your basket that you might not have around the house such as tin foil, napkins, kitchen roll, spare light bulbs, extra Sellotape and wrapping paper, matches and candles. If you’re expecting a steady stream of visitors you could pick up a few paper plates and cups or, even better, look for some spare crockery in your local charity shop if time allows. And, vitally if Santa is calling, make sure you have mince pies or biscuits, and some fresh carrots.
2. Batteries, screwdrivers, and scissors
If anyone in your house is getting a toy that requires batteries or a gift that needs to be assembled then you’re going to need the above. If you don’t have time to check what kinds of batteries everything needs, then a selection of AA, AAA, and CR batteries (which usually come in a blister pack with a range of sizes) should have you covered. The scissors will be vital for cutting open plastic packaging and fiddly ties. If you’re gifting something that needs to be assembled before it can be used, then you might want to consider putting that together tonight rather than potentially getting stressed out doing it tomorrow!
3. Essential medicines and first aid basics
If you or another householder depends on a particular medicine, such as an inhaler, antihistamine, a steroid or something similar, then make sure you have enough on hand to see you through a few days. It never hurts to be stocked with a few first aid basics such as painkillers, cough and cold remedies, burn cream, and plasters. The shops are only closed for one or two days, but these are the kinds of things you really don’t want to be stuck without on Christmas Day.
4. Gas and home heating oil (or check your levels at the very least)
If your cooker depends on a gas bottle you might want to pick up a spare, just in case. Nothing will spoil Christmas dinner like a missing turkey because the oven gave up the ghost! If your heating system uses home heating oil, double check that there’s enough in the tank. If you discover today that you are running really low it’s worth ringing around a few local depots, they might be able to deliver enough to see you through a few days. If not, then some petrol stations supply home heating oil as well as containers to transport it safely.
5. A notepad and pen
You probably already have a notepad and pen knocking around the house somewhere, but the reason I’ve included it in this list is so that you can have it to hand for planning out things like cooking timings. As you prep all your mains and sides, write down the cooking instructions and start and end times in the order that they should happen. With everything planned out you won’t end up in a muddle later and it will also be easy for you to delegate to someone else if you need to. In particular, write down the instructions for any meat dishes or ready-made sides before you throw the packaging in the bin! A pen and paper is also handy for keeping score in board games later in the evening.
6. Emergency gifts for unexpected visitors
Stash away four or five little gifts – a box of sweets, some nice mince pies, maybe a Christmas decoration – and tuck them away in a cupboard with some suitably sized gift bags, Christmas cards, and a pen. If someone calls unexpectedly with a gift for you, you won’t be caught empty-handed. It’s a small gesture, but it’s the thought that counts.
All in all though, there’s really no Christmas mishap that can’t be remedied by having your nearest and dearest around you, so if you have that, then you’ll hopefully have everything you need.
Follow Gráinne @parsekus on Instagram for more home hacks and interior inspiration.
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