1 Week to Go: The Home Stretch

This is the week when Christmas starts to feel very close.

Most of the big organising should already be behind you. Now it’s about finishing the things that genuinely need doing, preparing what you can and making sure the house is ready to welcome everyone.

Don’t start a list of new jobs now.

Finish the house

• Give the main entertaining areas a final clean and tidy.
• Finish any decorating.
• Put spare towels, toilet paper and hand soap where they can be found.

Finalise the shopping

Combine the ingredients from your chosen recipes into one list so you don’t buy the same thing twice. Check the pantry before you shop, and separate the things you can buy now from the fresh food you’ll collect later.

Confirm the guest count and who is bringing what, and check the numbers against our catering quantities guide. Check supplier collection times and the weather forecast. If a guest can’t bring the promised dessert, buy a replacement rather than inventing a complicated new recipe.

Prepare the kitchen

• Check your Christmas menu and prepare anything that can sensibly be done ahead. The make-ahead ideas from two weeks ago still apply.
• Make sure drinks are organised and that you have enough ice or a way to keep things cold. A jug of classic eggnog is a lovely thing to have ready.
• Clear fridge shelves, check the temperature and make space for covered containers.
• Keep raw food separate from ready-to-eat dishes, and arrange the freezer so you can find what you’ve made.
• Check the probe thermometer, oven, barbecue fuel if relevant, foil, baking paper and storage containers.

If you’re serving a frozen item, write down when it needs to begin thawing in the fridge. Large items may need several days, so follow the product or recipe guidance and allow enough time. Christmas Eve is too late to discover that your centrepiece is still solid.

Check the weather forecast if you’re planning to entertain outdoors and make sure your weather plan is still workable.

One important thing

Stop adding jobs.

The house is clean enough. The decorations are good enough. There is enough food.

Now look at anything left on the list and ask whether it makes the day easier or improves someone’s comfort. If it doesn’t, it can probably wait.

Your guests are coming to spend Christmas with you, not inspect your house.

Finish what matters, put your feet up when you can and enjoy the fact that Christmas is nearly here.

And then stop.

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