How people across Bristol are spending Christmas Day

Everyone’s Christmas Day is different. Here are how a few people across Bristol are spending their December 25:

Chino Odimba, playwright

“Christmas can be a tough one for so many who like me don’t have much family life. So I spend my day mainly really aware that to even have a roof over my head is a luxury. I always try to make Christmas a community thing. This year it is going to be amazing as I’m hanging out with my daughter and one of my best friends – the door will be open though! I love to spend a whole day cooking so that’s what I’ll be doing Christmas Day. This year I’m cooking a smoked salmon brunch and a great big roast lamb for lunch.”
Chino was born in Nigeria, raised in London and now lives in Bristol. She is the writer of Medea, which was performed at the Bristol Old Vic by an all-women cast in May

…………………………

Read more: My Bristol Favourites: Chino Odimba

…………………………

Jack Richardson, Big Issue seller

“Christmas is so much better now. The first thing is that I get a lie-in. I get up early most days, usually around 5am. Toni and I actually open our presents on Christmas Eve and then we re-wrap them again. Christmas Day is all about the Dr Who Christmas special and then dinner. In the evening, we pull the sofa bed out, turn the living room into a bedroom and eat our bodyweight in food.”
Poetry-loving Jack sells the Big Issue on Park Street

…………………………

Read more: ‘I was a tramp, now I’ve found true love’

…………………………

Naomi Mallinson, midwife

“My job as a midwife is a celebration of birth every day. Christmas Day is no exception! We’re a cheery bunch anyway; the festive period adds to it all. This year working the night shift, I also get to celebrate my birthday with my colleagues too!”
Naomi works on the central delivery suite at Southmead Hospital

…………………………

Read more: Southmead Hospital pioneers scheme to help parents of premature babies

…………………………

Alan Toyne, zookeeper

“Everyone is really cheery on Christmas Day. There’s a good team spirit and we run around and help each other out. We prepare the animals’ food the day before and weigh it all out so everything is ready to be put out on Christmas morning. I don’t mind working on Christmas Day at all. The animals sense it’s different because there aren’t any people around. But it is so special to see the zoo totally empty and to have it to yourself.”
As a senior keeper in the mammals team at Bristol Zoo, Alan is one of the people responsible for looking after the gorillas, lions and lemurs among others

…………………………

Read more: Baby gorilla born at Bristol Zoo

…………………………

Shi Feng, co-owner at Just Ground

“We will be in Iceland on Christmas Day. We are going on Christmas Eve and will be wearing our Christmas jumpers on the flight. We’ll probably be driving around on Christmas Day taking photos. We’ve never been out there before. I can’t wait.”
Just Ground serve speciality coffee with a smile from their kiosk on the centre

…………………………

Read more: Spare a thought for these two businesses

…………………………

Duncan McKellar, artist

“This Christmas for various reasons is far from typical (partly because I’m heading to Arizona straight afterwards to install an artwork involving 100 mirrors across the US/Mexican border to create a one kilometre beam of light – a ray of hope to trump Trump’s wall!). A typical Christmas for me means a lovely few days with my family back at my folks’ house in Pembrokeshire. It’s traditional in our own way. We’re all vegetarian so Christmas dinner is quite experimental. A curry made on a log fire being one memorable variation. We’re non-religious but all appreciate the ceremony and atmosphere of church services. We also enjoy the community involvement of gathering for carols, visiting neighbors, singing, dancing and drinking! My parents live near the coast and have recently taken on the tradition of a Boxing Day swim. Best not thought about until the morning of the 26th. I have a personal tradition of making a Christmas collage and an occasional painting. It’s nice to step back and make a quick pic, or at the very least make a collage using debris from the day.”
Duncan’s work using yellow foam scaffold padding can be seen across the city. Follow his American adventure at www.reflect-arayofhope.com

…………………………

Read more: Mystery yellow scaffold pole artist revealed

…………………………

Tam Galliford, Ahh Toots owner

“I’m going to Hull with my boyfriend. This will be my first Christmas away from home so I’m a little bit nervous. All the normal things will go out of the window so we will see!”
Ahh Toots is an art-focused cakery in the heart of St Nick’s Market.

…………………………

Read more: In photos: St Nick’s Market

…………………………

Simon Lane, Yogscast co-founder

“I am going home to Stow-on-the-Wold in the Cotswolds. ‘Stow-on-the-Wold, where the wind blows cold, and the cooks can’t roast their dinners,’ is the old saying. Well, I hope it’s not that cold cos my dear sweet mumsy will be cooking a roast turkey this year, and I get to talk to my soon-to-be-retired dad about what he plans to fill his free time with in 2018. I’ll also be eating an unhealthy amount of chocolate and reading the newest Viz annual, because I am classy like that.”
From an office in Bristol, Yogcast broadcast their YouTube videos to millions of viewers around the world every day

…………………………

Read more: Yogcast: too big for the bedroom

…………………………

Hayley Quinn, florist at The Mighty Quinns

“First I will have a Christmas breakfast around my brother’s and nephews’. Then I’ll go on a walk with the dog. Next it’ll be time to open presents with my parents in Yate. Then we’ll chill out with Christmas TV.”
No two bunches of flowers at The Mighty Quinns Flower Emporium at Cargo 1 in Wapping Wharf are ever the same 

…………………………

Read more: Exploring Wapping Wharf

…………………………

Leo Cripps, Bristol Cathedral chorister

“Last year was my first Christmas singing in Bristol Cathedral Choir – and the BBC broadcast it across the country (which was great because it meant my great grandmas could see it). But this year and the next few years will be ‘normal’ Christmases.

“On Christmas morning, I’ll wake up – hopefully not too early – and reach my feet down to find the weight and crackle of a full stocking at the end of my bed.

“I’ll have a few minutes to open some of it in our parents’ room with my sister, but I have to leave for work at 8.30, dressed in my school uniform with polished shoes (some of my chorister friends leave home much earlier). Mum and I will grab some Marmite on toast before we leave, and Dad will start cooking Christmas lunch.

“At the cathedral, there’s a real sense of community and friendship as we wish each other a merry Christmas before the hour’s rehearsal. The parents gather in the Chapter House for a bring-and-share breakfast, then just before ten, we put on our surplices – the white apron – over our robes and ready for Eucharist.

“An hour and a half later, we finish a run of services, concerts and rehearsals that gave us only seven days off in December without some sort of cathedral singing. I look forward to hanging up my robes and going home to do presents with my family, eat sweets and a big roast and enjoy the rest of the school holiday.”

11-year-old Leo Cripps lives in Westbury-on-Trym and goes to Bristol Cathedral Choir School

…………………………

Read more: Behind the scenes at Bristol Cathedral

…………………………

Tara Judah, co-director at 20th Century Flicks

Tara with 20th Century Flicks’ resident cat, Alfie

“Despite being decades past childhood and even though my family are a mix of Jewish and agnostic, my Christmas Day begins with the high levels of excitement and magic that the movies bring. I jump out of bed and wake everyone early – with a cup of tea, I’m not a monster – and it’s straight to the tree to see what’s what. Before we begin opening anything, I’ll put some bagels up and cover them in cream cheese and smoked salmon, with a touch of lemon, salt and pepper. Grabbing a bottle of Buck’s Fizz, it’s back to the tree where we can get into the gifts. It’s all about giving so the delight comes from seeing others open things, but I’m very lucky to have a loving family who will also give me something that brings joy.

“A couple of hours later, it’s time to for showers and as my partner’s mother starts on the food, I’ll jump in the car and head to the video shop for a cuddle with the kitties, and a Christmas movie in the kino. Once the cats are fed, cuddled and a fire’s blazed to keep the shop warm (and any movie returns have been picked up off the floor and booked in – we might be closed but we keep on top of the holiday pile), it’s back home for lunch with all the trimmings.

“Once full of food, there might be a walk (weather pending) or a game or two to play before dark. Then it’s back to the shop to feed the cats again, and to make sure they’re happy and hugged. More food follows – for me it’s mostly mince pies because brandy butter is my real weakness – with stories and nostalgia to warm our hearts before the fights break out over which Christmas movie will round out the special day.

“As a seasoned viewer, I’ve usually watched them all already, but festive favourites that will no doubt make the shortlist yet again include Die Hard, It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street (the original) and Home Alone. If I can, I’ll also try to convince everyone that my favourite weepy will warm the cockles. There’s really nothing that can top the bursting colour, romance and tragedy of Douglas Sirk’s magical movie gem, All That Heaven Allows.”

20th Century Flicks on Christmas Steps is your friendly local video store with more than 18,000 films and a cinema with just 11 seats

Read more: Best of Bristol 2017: Food & drink