It's oh so quiet...

Santa doesn't come early to our house any more, so it took an alarm to wake us around 8.30 on Christmas Day.

An alarm, you know that ringy thing.

So we got up and got dressed and went downstairs and put on the kettle and the tv and the girls looked at some of their presents and I think maybe squealed with delight, they certainly didn't stay silent.

They were waiting for their grandad and granny to come before all the gifts were opened, so I lit the fire. The logs lighting fizzed and hissed before they gave out a couple of mighty cracks.

And then, when everybody was finally there, the gift sharing started and paper was being ripped and there was laughing and wowing and omigoding and yehawing and crumpling and tearing and crushing.

All the while the tv was blaring in the background, unnoticed. (Except by me obviously)

Soon it was time for bacon to be sizzling and toast to be popping and there was more talking and laughter.

The girls had got cameras so there was a constant clicking then the phone began buzzing and ringing.

Outside, the ice under the snow crackled and crunched as I walked to start the car and get the engine, first spluttering and then purring.

We drove to my sister's and heard tyres spinning as a car was being pushed from its icy resting place.

There was more ripping and shredding as yet more gifts were unfurled then, as we left heard calling from my nephews who promised to visit later.

We returned home and soon the kitchen was a frenzy of chopping and blending and pots and pans bubbling and boiling.

New CDs meanwhile thundered out tunes before finally it was time to eat.

Yep, time for the chomping and crunching, glasses clinking and crackers cracking and knives and forks clicking and clacking.

Then came the moans and groans of 'stuffed' and 'full up' before the snorts and snores that resonated around the room as, on the Christmas Day movie, Buzz Lightyear yelled at the top of his voice - 'to infinity and beyond.'

As promised, the nephews did come to visit and soon the monopoly board was produced and there was more shouting and laughing as dice was rolled and money slapped on the table.

There was more snoring, sniggering and beer bottles clinking as we sat down to watch 'The Commitments' and soon the kettle was back boiling and cups and plates clattering and turkey sandwiches were being chomped and chewed.

And we went to bed knowing that, if anybody asked about Christmas, our reply would be...

"It was lovely - VERY QUIET."