Christmas time...

Since leaving South Africa in June 2000, I have had 7 Christmases in the UK, 2 in PE and now 1 in Ireland.

My first Christmas in the UK (2000) I remember having toasted tomato sandwiches for lunch - it just didn’t feel like Christmas. But I remember it snowed 2 days later and being the first time I had ever seen snow, cheered me up a little. Another Christmas was just after we got married (2003) and we were both very sick with flu and had travelled up to the Scottish highlands where we nearly froze to death in a cabin that had wet wood with which to make a fire, heaters that kept switching off and hardly any hot water. We somehow managed to make a roast chicken and potatoes – but I don’t think either of us really felt like eating.

Then we had 2 Christmases in a row in PE (2004 & 2005) – which were great! My parents really know how to put on a spread for Christmas. Usually we have cold meats and salads for Christmas day lunch. This is good as it’s usually quite a warm day and you don’t feel like eating hot things. Of course, some people have to spend the whole day before slaving in the kitchen, over hot stoves, making the spread – thanks Mom & Dad!

The usual spread is chicken, beef, ham, potato salad, 3 bean salad and tomato & cucumber salad. And the last time we had some special ‘potjie’ chips too. And don’t forget the bottle of JC Le Roux! This will all be followed by some trifle and there might also be a Christmas pudding with custard.

The last 2 Christmases (2007 & 2008) we had in our flat in Hythe, Southampton – the 3 of us (me, hubby and gorgeous pet rat, Reggie). The first year I was treated to a traditional English Christmas spread. Richard went all out – we had turkey (which we somehow managed to buy on Christmas eve), roast potatoes, brussel sprouts (with bacon bits to make them more tasty) and carrots. It was super.

So now Christmas in Dublin. Well, I’m not yet sure of any Irish traditions, but I don’t think it’s too different from the UK. It will be cold – that I know. The temperature is already down to around 6 degrees. They don’t have a record of much snow in Dublin, so I think we can rule out a ‘white’ Christmas – it will more than likely be a cold, wet one. We aren’t going to crazy with food as our kitchen is quite… compact. But it will be good – and it will be so lovely to have another Christmas with Reggie who is nearly 2 years 7 months – which is about 80 years old in human years!