‘It’s going to be something they can dip in and out of for the next couple of weeks,’ said Rose. ‘The last few days are always disrupted with play rehearsals and concert practice and with their minds on their Christmas stockings instead of their lessons it’s far easier all round to just go with the flow.’

‘And talking of Christmas stockings,’ said Dolly as she went to check the oven. ‘Have you finished your shopping, Rose?’

‘Almost,’ she answered, as Dolly opened the door and the air was filled with the most delicious smell. ‘I’ve just a few bits and pieces left to get. What are you cooking, Dolly? It smells divine.’

‘A nice piece of brisket,’ she said, ‘it’s been in since first thing.’

‘Are you doing Yorkshire puddings to go with it?’ Rose drawled.

‘Of course. You can’t have beef without puddings, can you?’

‘And proper gravy.’

Dolly nodded.

‘I don’t know why I’m torturing myself,’ Rose tutted. ‘I better go.’

‘Everything sorted with your sister?’ Dolly asked as we gathered the pile of photographs back together.

‘Oh yes,’ Rose smiled. ‘It was just a silly misunderstanding. I’m so relieved she and mum are talking again. I was dreading Christmas with the family torn in two. If there are arguments and differences to be settled, then now’s the time to do it. Nothing should come in the way of being with family at Christmas, don’t you agree?’

‘I do,’ said Dolly firmly. ‘I certainly do.’

*

After Dolly’s delicious Sunday dinner, I insisted that she let me deal with the dishes so that she could sit and write her Christmas cards.

‘It will do my legs good if I stand up for a bit,’ I told her. ‘They’re still as stiff as anything.’

She took some convincing but I won her around in the end.

‘You said you wanted to get them in the postbox tonight,’ I reminded her, ‘and if you don’t start writing now you won’t be finished before church.’

As I washed and dried, Dolly’s pile of envelopes, filled out in her beautiful cursive handwriting, steadily grew.

‘Do you send cards to everyone at school?’ I asked, when I eventually joined her at the table, wincing as I sat down.

‘Not as a rule. Generally, I just send them to the staff and my class but this year I’ve got extra packs of charity cards so everyone will get one.’

‘That’s a lovely idea,’ I smiled.

‘Well as it’s my last Christmas I thought I should make an extra effort.’

I knew she was talking about working in the school, but I wished she wouldn’t put it like that.

‘Your last Christmas at work, you mean,’ I corrected her.

Dolly smiled.

‘I’ve saved this card with the robin on that you were so fond of.’