Hi there, it’s us again, William and Adam, and all we want right now for Christmas is some energy left to enjoy it!

I’m Adam, and all I want for Christmas is to have my family all together around the dinner table.

I’m William, and I want to see my five-year-old nephew opening his presents. I don’t see him often as he lives in America so I am really looking forward to it.

We met up today to chat about this week’s article and thought we’d share our crazy build up to Christmas with you.

Between the two of us, this week has seen us be a King, Father Christmas, director (of a play), Joseph, dancing camels singing Maria Carey’s ‘All I want for Christmas is You’ (honestly!), Christmas shoppers, volunteers, envelope packers, a gardener, a Co-op employee and… well, the list goes on, but you get the idea. We’ve been busy, are already tired and still have more to do and just under a week to go!

We aren’t the only ones.

Why is it that so many of us find ourselves stretched and pulled in lots of directions for this one special day?

Is it for the kids? Or that we’ve bought into the latest Christmas commercial?

The shops have been preparing us since September, so perhaps it’s that? Or good old tradition? Maybe it’s because if we don’t, we might offend someone.

For some it might just be because we simply love a bit of turkey and stuffing.

After much debating we agreed on one thing.

No matter how stretched and busy we become in the countdown to Christmas, we have the best intentions not only for our loved ones, but for everyone!

So, with that in mind, we are going to worry less about whether there’s enough turkey left for sandwiches on Boxing Day or if the Queen’s speech clashes with Eastenders special.

Instead we are going to think more about those who are facing difficulty in their lives and what we can do to help, because we don’t think we should ever be too stretched and busy not to do that.

So, Happy Christmas to you all.

And all we really want for Christmas is peace.

By William Parmiter and Adam Kelly, supported by The Friendship Club.

The Friendship Club supports adults with learning disabilities to attend events in the community, promoting friendships and social inclusion. It is part of the charity People First Dorset.