A Quiet Christmas

A somewhat belated message for the dwindling festive season, but understandably due to the time restraints created by the consumption of excessive amounts of cheese, mulled cider, mock turkey and pickled onions.....and the accompanying sense of shame that comes with over-indulging right up until New Year. To put it plainly - I haven't written over the Christmas period because I have rarely been sober or without food in my hand. That's what it's all about right?? It's all good as long as I detox in Jan ;-)

Well, I hope you all had a wonderful time full of merriment and (most importantly) booze! My festivities began by sending a bunch of presents home to rellies and loved ones and picked up in the last week of November when I decided to make some stocking advent bunting. 

Next came a tacky silver Christmas tree and some cheap decorations and that was pretty much it for the rest of December. It's hard to get in the spirit when it's 25 degrees outside and the thought of mulling anything makes you break into a sweat. 

The last Friday before the big day, we had our Christmas Party at work. Creating things being the name of the game every day at The Make Cafe, we celebrated by learning to make teacup candles and bezel jewellery whilst scoffing amazing homemade deserts, supping champagne and opening Secret Santa presents.

And then came Christmas Eve and the real homesickness hit. The morning was spent sobbing into the arms of my work family - thanks ladies, you're the best - and trying to work out the best way to let the world know that Christmas was cancelled. In the evening, my friend and co-worker Jade invited myself and Martin 'Ebenezer' Carr to Carols by Candlelight in Latimer Square.

A round of 'Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer' and 'Jingle Bells' later, I started to feel a bit more in the mood for doing anything other than sleeping through Christmas Day.

After a morning of gift wrap ripping, joyful whooping and present testing, Martin and I took a drive to Cass Bay near Lyttelton for some quiet reflection before heading over to join friends for a BBQ.

Overall, we had a lovely day with some gorgeous people but it is always hard to be so far from home at this time of year. We have made a pact that from 2014 onwards, wherever we are in the world each Christmas, we will always make it back home to see our family and much missed friends. Promise!

 To see all our pics of Christmas merriment, have a look at our Flickr album.