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Miranda Hart on Christmas games with her family: Competitive? Us? Miranda Hart on Christmas games with her family: Competitive? Us?
(3 days later)
Playing games is a huge part of Hart family life, and not just at Christmas. One of my earliest memories is of playing gin rummy with my grandmother. I always thought the gin bit was just her drinking. Another favourite was racing demon, which was always very fast. It was chaos and cards everywhere.Playing games is a huge part of Hart family life, and not just at Christmas. One of my earliest memories is of playing gin rummy with my grandmother. I always thought the gin bit was just her drinking. Another favourite was racing demon, which was always very fast. It was chaos and cards everywhere.
Games for us never really need a special occasion – we play them all year round. But at Christmas it is always more romantic, heightened and lovely. We have quite a traditional Christmas set-up; there’s the big tree, the fire in the background, and me and Dad competing over who’s better at laying the fire. (Obviously me, though he taught me everything I know.) Dad would always put the King’s Singers on – who are like a male Nolans, but for Christmas carols. And sometimes Mum would play the piano.Games for us never really need a special occasion – we play them all year round. But at Christmas it is always more romantic, heightened and lovely. We have quite a traditional Christmas set-up; there’s the big tree, the fire in the background, and me and Dad competing over who’s better at laying the fire. (Obviously me, though he taught me everything I know.) Dad would always put the King’s Singers on – who are like a male Nolans, but for Christmas carols. And sometimes Mum would play the piano.
Growing up, there would be nine of us for Christmas at my parents’ house in Hampshire. Myself, my younger sister Alice, my parents, our two cousins, their parents and my grandmother. We all loved Boggle, the dictionary game, articulate (also known as the hat game), and the board game Journey Through Europe, which was a slow, gentle potter from, say, Poland to Greece – the first to do their journey being winner. There would be lots of laughter, and lots of silliness.Growing up, there would be nine of us for Christmas at my parents’ house in Hampshire. Myself, my younger sister Alice, my parents, our two cousins, their parents and my grandmother. We all loved Boggle, the dictionary game, articulate (also known as the hat game), and the board game Journey Through Europe, which was a slow, gentle potter from, say, Poland to Greece – the first to do their journey being winner. There would be lots of laughter, and lots of silliness.
Monopoly? I’m sorry, but I’m out. I’m bored. There must be some people who like Monopoly, but who are they? You’re basically playing capitalism, and who wants to play that? No thanks, I’d rather do charades.Monopoly? I’m sorry, but I’m out. I’m bored. There must be some people who like Monopoly, but who are they? You’re basically playing capitalism, and who wants to play that? No thanks, I’d rather do charades.
As my parents got older, we’d get annoyed with them and didn’t want to be on their team because they would start forgetting things, or get things wrong. They’d be incredibly slow because they couldn’t read the card, or didn’t know who Lady Gaga was.As my parents got older, we’d get annoyed with them and didn’t want to be on their team because they would start forgetting things, or get things wrong. They’d be incredibly slow because they couldn’t read the card, or didn’t know who Lady Gaga was.
But now that we’re all older, it’s become funny again. I remember once we were playing the dictionary game, which is where someone reads out a word they think no one will know, and then everyone makes up a definition. My father goes, “Have you heard of the word mizzled?” “Mizzled?”, we said. Anyway, the word was “misled” but he’d obviously never read it out loud before.But now that we’re all older, it’s become funny again. I remember once we were playing the dictionary game, which is where someone reads out a word they think no one will know, and then everyone makes up a definition. My father goes, “Have you heard of the word mizzled?” “Mizzled?”, we said. Anyway, the word was “misled” but he’d obviously never read it out loud before.
Of course, there is also an element of forced jollity at Christmas, with the family together again for the first time in ages. Playing games helps us to avoid awkward conversation and questions like, “How is your job going?”. They also help recreate a youthful fun vibe, rather than everyone just slobbing in front of the television.Of course, there is also an element of forced jollity at Christmas, with the family together again for the first time in ages. Playing games helps us to avoid awkward conversation and questions like, “How is your job going?”. They also help recreate a youthful fun vibe, rather than everyone just slobbing in front of the television.
After we’ve finished our Christmas dinner, we’ll usually settle down for a round of the hat game, because we’ll have overeaten, so need to stay seated. There is no competitive side with my family – thank God, or it would be boring. We’re gentle. We don’t care if we lose. If it all breaks down, it’s just into silly laughter.After we’ve finished our Christmas dinner, we’ll usually settle down for a round of the hat game, because we’ll have overeaten, so need to stay seated. There is no competitive side with my family – thank God, or it would be boring. We’re gentle. We don’t care if we lose. If it all breaks down, it’s just into silly laughter.
No one believes me when I say I’m not competitive and don’t care if I lose – I think people mistake ambition for competition, and success for competitiveness. But it’s funny if you lose. And to lose really badly is very funny.No one believes me when I say I’m not competitive and don’t care if I lose – I think people mistake ambition for competition, and success for competitiveness. But it’s funny if you lose. And to lose really badly is very funny.
And finally, because we are British, base humour in any game is good.And finally, because we are British, base humour in any game is good.
Call the Midwife is on at 7.50pm on BBC1 on Christmas Day Miranda is on BBC1 at 7.15pm on Christmas Day, and the final Miranda is on 8.00pm on New Years Day, BBC1. The best of Miranda by Miranda Hart is published by Hodder and Stroughton £20.00.
Miranda’s guide to playing games: how to win, lose, cheat and involve windMiranda’s guide to playing games: how to win, lose, cheat and involve wind