Matriarch and micromanager Margaret lives with her husband Bill in Dun Laoghaire – the children like to call it Marine One – from where she has been issuing directives for the last 50 years. If anything the pandemic has only reinforced her need for control and maintaining order which reaches another level come Christmas. Margaret likes to think of herself as the Martha Stewart of South County Dublin and has a spreadsheet of tasks for each of the children and Bill to accomplish.

Her unilateral approach to the season begins in the garden, which always looks manicured. Bill’s tasks include nurturing the cyclamen window boxes, planting paperwhites for a good show in the spring and ensuring the eucalyptus Gunnii (standard variety) are healthy and rounded. When not blowing leaves from the path, Bill retreats to his garden shed, which has been turned into an unofficial Repair Shop where he has been building model boats, collating old photographs and staying out of Margaret’s way. It’s also where he has a stash of his favourite chocolates: Butlers Irish Whiskey Truffles.

Indoors, Margaret does a deep clean prior to the season – she has a lot to say on the subject of cleanfluencer Mrs Hinch! – taking down and dusting the antique blue and white willow pattern plates from the kitchen dresser, polishing the silver and getting the loose linen covers on the sofas laundered. When she is not baking her famous shortbread, stocking the freezer with soups, or feeding her Christmas cake, Margaret sends her three grown-up offspring (Helen, James and Sue) random, yet very specific, shopping lists via WhatsApp. The most recent being for narrow green velvet ribbon, twine, white not blue hyacinth bulbs, cinnamon sticks and some Butlers Dark Chocolate Salted Caramels. Margaret allows herself one of these sweet chewy treats as she reviews the status of her To Do list over coffee each morning.

This year she is particularly proud of the amaryllis jungle she has created in the sitting room. One of Margaret’s main joys is decorating the mantelpiece with holly and ivy from the garden and an assortment of candlesticks. It’s too early for that yet but having taken on board the public health advice, she has decided there won’t be the usual dramas around who is hosting Christmas lunch this year. Rather than a full clan gathering, Christmas will be based on the idea of a progressive dinner party. Helen will bring the prawn cocktail, James (who is a whizz in the kitchen) is bringing a small turkey crown, while Sue is on trifle and pud duty. That way, she and Bill will see each family separately without the extra dishwashing duties. Timings have been scheduled since mid-November.

The grandchildren, meanwhile, have given Margaret a Butlers Advent Calendar to open throughout December. Her main present will be an impressive Auricula theatre shelf, while Bill’s stocking will include craft glue, cashmere socks and batteries. Thriving and surviving, Bill and Margaret have shown their mettle and stoic perseverance in 2021. Helen, James and Sue, meanwhile, are exhausted.

Margaret recommends the following from Butler’s Chocolates:

Yuletide Cracker with assorted individually wrapped Chocolates, €10: An exquisite collection of 30 assorted individually wrapped chocolates presented in a gorgeous red box and handtied with a ribbon, this is a chocolatey gift to share with all the family. Inside is an array of delicious flavours such as praline, caramel, salted caramel, white chocolate, mixed berry, 70% truffle and milk truffle.

Reindeer Milk Chocolate Truffles, €5: Featuring ten individually wrapped creamy milk chocolate truffles, Margaret stocks up on these for the grandchildren and the kidults alike.

Irish Whiskey Tin, with 16 Irish Whiskey Truffles, €6.90: These rich chocolate truffles enhanced with Irish whiskey always please the most exacting of whiskey lovers while the keepsake tin is very useful too.

Dark Chocolate Salt Caramels Bag (x 6) €13.20: Bitter, salty and sweet notes combine to form chewy, chocolaty treats perfect for any time of the day. Share, if you dare!

www.butlerschocolates.com