Build up to a Winter Christmas

So its only 2 sleeps till Christmas!!!!!

And what a Christmas its going to be, very different to any we've had before. I guess that’s all part of the experience of travelling!!!

I haven’t seen any carollers on the streets yet or any Robins resting on frosty holly branches which are the traditional images I have of an English Christmas but there were carols from the St Mary’s choir at the official turning on of Warwick’s town Christmas lights at the beginning of the month and there was some pretty frost a week or so ago.

On Christmas day Jeremy and I will be working at the hotel for Christmas lunch and then hanging out with our housemates for the rest of the day. I'm sure that Santa comes to this part of the world even though we don't have a chimney (did you know that Santa visits Hungary in early December and leaves gifts in shoes for good children and twigs for bad children!!) and we have already received heaps of parcels from the postie, so we're not totally neglected.

Christmas in the winter time is a very strange thing. Overall I think that a summer Christmas is better but I might just be being prejudiced or homesick, i don't know.
It gets dark at the moment at about 3.30pm which is horrible!!! It is cold outside and fairly grey but with no chance of snow (which would make it magical!!), the up side of that is that we get to see all the christmas lights that are up all over town everyday, not just if we stay up really late. The down side is that there are no barbeques outside to catch up with friends, no walks in the sunshine to burn off all the christmas mince pies (there are always heaps left over at work, o dear). And the worst bit is that everyone has got sick with colds (as you do in winter).

The traditional English Christmas Food is defiantly suited to winter however. I thought that English Christmas Food was just turkey, Brussel sprouts and Christmas pudding but actually its much more that that. Apparently an English Christmas involves yes turkey but also Gammon (a cut of pork meat as far as i can tell), goose or duck, salmon, bacon wrapped sausages, chestnuts in everything (and roasting) , cabbage, and yes lots of brussel sprouts ( I saw a woman in the supermarket with 5 massive bags of the things!!). And probably much more that I haven’t yet worked out despite watching a lot of the food channel.

I believe we will be having Hungarian Goose thanks to our house mates who are Hungarian. I’m going to try and make a Pav just to keep the Kiwi Christmas alive so far from home!!!

We have decorated our house with the decorations which were left over from the hotel. So we have a massive Christmas tree which has heaps of lights and an ever diminishing (cos greg and I keep eating them) number of homemade iced Christmas cookies to decorate it. Plus we have branches up the stairwell and a big wreath on the front door. All very festive.

The hotel has been really busy with Christmas parties and functions which has kept both of us busy too. As far as I can tell there is no difference there, everyone lets loose and drinks too much and has crackers with bad jokes and hats (the jokes are no better on this side of the world!!) It has been fun working all the parties as the atmosphere is usually good (as are the tips) and the work is not to hard. Ours is next Sunday which I am looking forward to a lot. We’re going to a bar in Stratford for dinner and a few (or more for some people) drinks all put on by the hotel which is very generous. And we are exchanging Secret Santa pressies which is always entertaining!!!

We have been attending church with the wonderful Christmas carols and readings over the last few weeks. Many of the carols are ones neither of us knew but everyone else definitely did so must be traditional English ones. The Nativity play at Castle Hill was wonderful with all the Sunday school kids doing readings and all dressed up at the characters and the newest arrival (only a month or so old) as the baby Jesus. Awwh

So that’s how our Christmas has panned out so far. We feel very far from home but its not so different that its not still Christmas and despite missing everyone a lot at this time of year we will still enjoy our selves.

I hope that everyone has themselves a Wonderful Christmas with much joy, laughter, family, food and pressies and make the most of the warm summer all those who are lucky enough to be in it.

Lots of love and Christmas wishes


Gem and Jez