Christmas 2007 and all that Oh Joy and Bliss!!

Well finally we arrived at the BIG day which seemed to go on forever, well a whole week of it

actually the festivities started on the 24th Christmas Eve. The candles are lit, the fire blazing away here is another and

better view of our fireplace.

I had planned a little supper in our 'dining room' Where ever I could candles were lit!

Christmas Eve John and I spend on our own. Listening to the Nine Lessons & Carols from Kings College, Cambridge. An annual tradition if and when I can catch it. We also heard Benjamin Brittens' Christmas Carols, a wonderful piece of work, but not every one's cup of tea. For this little supper we had ll sorts of snick-snacks, salmon on brown bread ( couldn't quite finish them) little snacks from the oven = pastry spoon with tiny shrimps, a small shrimp and mango appetizer, quails eggs it just went on and on. I had gone quite mad this Xmas, for someone who didn't want to know about Christmas well you'd never guess. For Boxing Day I had a wild boar roast, it was okay but rather dry and I don't think I will have THAT again, but it came with all the trimmings, for the 27th when John's son Michael came for the day I had ordered 1/2 a cooked ham. Well! if that was 1/2 a one, I wouldn't like to order a whole one.. (We are still eating of it , sandwiches, and slices to New Year's Eve at my sisters; the bone for pea soup on the 13th of Jan, and bits and pieces for spaghetti carbonara (John's favourite) are in the freezer). We had of potatoes and baked celery as well as Christmas pudding which John had bought. It took all my persuasion that he didn't get the largest one; there is still half left.

Christmas day we had been invited to Michael and Rita's which was super: Rita's family was there, her dad Ratan, mum Lidia, auntie Clelia, brother Robert and his wife Sue, and Giovanna Rita's sister. Beanie was still with us, but not in the world yet. Rita looked well although she did get tired, but then we were such a noisy crowd. Our host and hostess set a superb table and we started with a glass of golden champagne. our host and hostess and some of the other guests: Robert, Giovana & Sue lighting the candles. As you see the table was loaded.

Dinner was thanks to Ratan, Lidia and Micko who all contributed and did the cooking. Their large kitchen at times looked quite crowded but oh what a feast, smoked salmon to begin with, turkey with all the trimmings, here are some glimpses:Lidia's and my dinner plates I like dark meat best, so I got the leg; but it looks a little small for a turkey leg, so perhaps it was chicken and not turkey as Micko told me later they had M&S stuffed turkey beast. Still it was delicious.and so were the veggies .

After all this copious meal yes you've guessed it it was time for the the pudding Micko serving it ands in charge of the fireworks here it is in its full glory: and most delicious it was too.

Even the Jellies were not forgotten! believe it or not they each had a dish of their own; once they had finished it was like us: OUFF, only we didn't collapse on the floor like that.

On the 28th when Paul, Fiona, Caitlin and Shaun came I had a 4 rib Rib Roast with sprouts & chestnuts, (not my favourite) and honey parsnips and small baked potatoes with a dip on them, Shaun of course had his usual penne with tomato paste and pesto sauce and fresh cut raw vegetables with dip and Pizza Express sauce. I think it is the sauce he likes best. But he did have the chocolate sponge pudding which was yummy. Nothing was left. There was a lot of the beef left, it was Wakeling's best, but that was wonderful as I love cold roast beef sandwiches. here are some pix for your enjoyment

Christmas is over, and the next one is in 362 days from now as the milkman once reminded me

and one more pix 'cause I like it

Thats it folks, till the new year!!!!!