Well, the clock is winding down and almost all the advent calendar windows are open – it’s nearly Christmas! For those of us in charge of planning the Christmas day menu, Lesley from our Communications team has got a whopper of a recipe for your festive ham that will have your dinner companions begging for more!

I reach for this recipe every Christmas, from Arabella Boxer’s Christmas Cooking cook book, as I reach for the tissues – for this is a festive favourite that my late mother always cooked for my family every Christmas. As I delve into its food-caked pages, imagining my mum fingering its pages with sugar and breadcrumb-coated hands, I’m always transported back into her hectic Christmas kitchen when she’d be shouting at the dog to get out from under her feet, while slapping my dad’s and my hand away from the delicious fare she was producing.

Not only does it kindle memories of my mum, it is just simply delicious and my own children just devour it, annually fighting over the last bits of sugary-savoury crust that tops this delectable dish of ham.

Ingredients:

Serves 10-12

• 1 ham or gammon 3.5-4.5kg/8-10lbs
• 3 large onions
• 4 celery stalks
• 3 large carrots
• 2 turnips
• 2 parsnips
• 4 parsley stalks
• 2 bay leaves
• 15 peppercorns
• 225g/8oz granulated sugar
• 300ml/½ pint cider vinegar
• 1 cup soft brown sugar
• ½ cup fresh brown breadcrumbs
• 1 dessertspoon French mustard
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• Preparation time: 15 minutes, plus cooling

Cooking time: 3 – 4 hours

Oven: 180 °C/350° F, gas mark 4

Method:

• Soak the ham in cold water for 24 hours then remove from the water and put in large saucepan with vegetables, parsley, herbs, vinegar and granulated sugar. Cover with cold water and bring almost to boiling point.
• Time the cooking from the first moment bubbles start to reach the surface. Do not allow it ever to reach simmering or boiling point. Allow 20minutes per 450g (1lb) skimming off any brown froth that rises to the surface. Keep the heat well below boiling point all the time.
• When the cooking time is up, turn off the heat, pour in a cup of cold water to arrest the cooking, and leave the ham to cool in the water. When cool, lift the ham out of the water and remove the skin.
• Mix the brown sugar and breadcrumbs to a paste with the mustard and vinegar. Smooth the mixture all over the fatty surface of the ham with a palette knife, pressing well in. Do not do this too far in advance of the baking or most of it will slide off.
• Bake for 45 minutes in a preheated oven, basting half-way through with a little extra vinegar. Leave for 15 minutes in the oven with the heat turned off and the door slightly open, or in a warm place before attempting to carve. Service with Cumberland sauce or mustard sauce.

On Day 20 of Action Mental Health’s Elfie Advent Calendar, Samantha Coleman, Action Mental Health’s Fundraising and Engagement Co-ordinator, fondly reminisces on the moving and memorable Christmases of her childhood and beyond…

“I remember clearly, the first time in walked into St Nicholas’s ancient medieval church in Carrickfergus. I was 17 and was attending the Christmas by Candlelight, service, right on the stroke of 12 midnight. The atmosphere in the church was reverent but also buzzing with excitement – little ones in nightgowns, big coats and warm hats, snoozing on mum and dad’s knee, dreaming about what Santa would bring. As the years have gone by, I have attended regularly, but my new tradition since getting married is attending my husband’s church at Clonard, late on Christmas eve.”

This year, due to the ongoing pandemic, it won’t be possible, so I will watch Carol’s from Kings, light some festive candles, pop them on my window sill, and look out into the crisp night sky. I’ll look out eagerly, to see if I can spot the big man himself with Dancer, Prancer, Dasher, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Blitzen and of course, Rudolph.”

Day 20 #ElfieAdvent – Downpatrick sings Silent Night

Usually at Christmas time the talented musicians and singers from AMH New Horizons Downpatrick spread joy to local community groups by playing and singing carols. This year, as we all know, it is a little bit different! Our very talented staff Aisling and Ciara perform Silent Night – adhering to Covid-19 guidelines – for us all to enjoy! AMH Downpatrick New Horizons wishes you a very Merry Christmas!

As the countdown to the big day continues (6 sleeps!), you might be feeling the stresses of the season, especially with the extra burden of the ongoing pandemic.

If that’s the case for you, perhaps the time is ripe for you to take a step back and indulge yourself in something you love doing – like a favourite hobby or pastime.

We know that activities that get you out and about can make you feel happier and more relaxed but research also shows that people with hobbies are less likely to suffer from stress, low mood, and depression.

Hobbies and pastimes help you switch off from your usual daily grind of responsibilities and obligations. Whether you opt for something creative like arts and crafts, something musical or anything physical from sports to gardening, hobbies offer you the chance to engage in something that brings proven health benefits.

And while you can still chill out by bingeing a TV series, a hobby is something that lets you more fully engage with, and feeds your need for something more meaningful and a purpose.

A hobby helps relieve the feelings of stress by offering a great way of unwind from your daily routine. And rather than just passing the time, a hobby you love helps you feel happier, more relaxed and better equipped to handle life’s many stressors – and can even improve feelings of anxiety or depression.

Hobbies help build resilience, deal with setbacks and challenges and can even improve your sleep, by offering pockets of peace and rest.

Hobbies like photography help you capture the beauty of the world around you – yes, even in 2020 there is beauty to be found if you really look.

Just like the clients at AMH New Horizons Newry, who have been learning the tips and tricks of the trade in regular photography sessions, photography is one of those hobbies that can take you away from anything that is stressing you.

Similarly, clients at AMH New Horizons Lisburn and Antrim have been feeling the soothing effects of hobbies, like arts and crafts, and reaping the rewards by producing the amazing array of the crafts photographed.

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Clients from AMH Newry, Lisburn & Antrim are taking part in the Working it Out Projects which is part-funded through the NI European Social Fund Programme 2014-2020 and the Department for the Economy.

This year’s Action Mental Health’s Elfie Advent Calendar has brought much-needed Christmas cheer in many guises. However, the festive season with its focus on food can bring challenges for those of you affected by eating disorders. Once again, AMH everyBODY is here for you, lending a little festive support with their 12 Christmas coping tips, helping you focus on the fun of the season.

Follow AMH everyBODY on Facebook as they count down their 12 tips for Christmas. #takingactiononeatingdisorders

click on each tip below to find out more :-

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Information on eating disorders and health promotion is available. Contact AMH everyBODY on 028 3839 2314 for further information.

If you feel in crisis you can call Lifeline on 08088088000 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Action Mental Health’s Elfie Advent Calendar has been filled with fun, entertaining and amusing anecdotes and information to help you wade through Christmas 2020 –a year with a difference.

But this unusual year has also brought a great deal of hardship for people and if you’re coping with the loss of a loved one, the Christmas period can be particularly painful.

Bereavement in ‘normal’ times can feel overwhelming, but with the stark reality of the ongoing pandemic, losing someone to Covid-19 might feel particularly poignant, especially since the game-changing impact of the vaccine. Add isolation to that and you may be facing great heartache this Christmas.

But there are things that can be done to help you negotiate this period – when you may feel like you’re the only one not enjoying the season’s usual festive cheer.

Action Mental Health’s friends at Cruse have provided a very useful guide to help people wade through the festive period, if it’s tainted by bereavement, whether recent or even many years ago.

Empty chair

If you’re facing the prospect of facing an empty chair round the dinner table this Christmas, and unable to glean the comfort of other loved ones who share your loss, visit the Covid Wellbeing NI site where you’ll find Cruse’s helpful list of coping mechanisms.

They also remind us that no one need be alone – they are trained counsellors who can help. Cruse National Helpline can be called on 0808 808 1677, alternatively you can message a trained grief counsellor using our CruseChat service 9am – 9pm Monday – Friday.

How to cope with grief at Christmas – by Cruse Bereavement Care (source: Covid Wellbeing NI)

We know that facing Christmas alone, or whilst grieving, can be a daunting prospect. This year it is going to be harder than ever. Whether you were bereaved in 2020 or many years before, ongoing Covid restrictions mean it is going to be difficult for many of us to be with the people we would most want to see. The virus is adding an extra layer of anxiety to the planning for so many people. It is going to be more important than ever to try and look after yourself and work out the best ways to cope.

Here are some practical ways to cope with the loss of a loved one over Christmas.

1. Consider different ways of celebrating

One of the things that can help can be to spend some time trying to work out, well in advance, which arrangements will best suit your needs and the needs of others who share your loss. Some bereaved people find that they do not wish to celebrate Christmas at all, whilst some find that simply maintaining their routine and celebrating as normal is the best tribute they can pay their loved one. It may feel important to make a special effort to remember the person who has died. This can be as simple as ‘speaking’ to the person, silently or out loud, or it may involve visiting their grave, or a place that was special to them. These can be things that we do alone, or with friends or family. You may have photos or particular memories which you treasure; sharing these with others may be something that brings you together.

2. Accept that others may have different ways of mourning

We know that people remember and mourn in different ways. Conflict within a family can sometimes arise when we have expectations of how others should grieve, so try to be sensitive to others’ needs, and to talk openly about what will be best for you.

3. Try to maintain a routine

The Christmas period may mean that your normal routine is disrupted, and this can make it easier to forget to look after yourself. Trying to keep to regular patterns of sleeping and eating are small things that can make a difference. Seeing friends or family, or volunteering for the day, can all help.

4. Go easy on the drink

It’s tempting to drink more on festive occasions, and it can feel like a drink might help numb any difficult feelings. But it’s important to remember that using alcohol to escape the pain of loss provides only very temporary relief. If you find you’re relying heavily on drinking alcohol, consider taking some drink free days. You can also find advice from Drink Aware on how to reduce your alcohol consumption.

5. Remember the happy times

Even many years after someone dies Christmas can be a difficult, intensely emotional time when we need to look after ourselves and those around us. But as time passes, special occasions like Christmas can help us remember happy memories of good times shared in the past. 

6. Skip the Christmas films

It can be tough when you are bombarded by images of people enjoying happy family times. If it’s getting too much, consider taking a break from the Christmas TV and social media and maybe take a walk or get some fresh air in any way you can.

7. Talk to someone

If you’re struggling to deal with the grieving process over Christmas, you can call the Cruse National Helpline on 0808 808 1677, see here for opening hours. Alternatively you can message a trained grief counsellor using our CruseChat service 9am – 9pm Monday – Friday.