White Xmas

I have always dreamt of a White Xmas....

No child in the world, awaiting Father Xmas, could have been as excited as I was by all this snow.

Darling Simon's side of the family looked at the South African contingent frolicking in the snow in much the same way as one would observe funny looking animals in the zoo.

Odd things that are different between an English xmas and a SA xmas.

12 of us in the holiday cottage, lots of cooking and tidying up going on. The Brits couldn't find anything because the SA's put everything in the fridge, and vice versa.

Cries of WHY IS THE TOMATO SAUCE IN THE FRIDGE??? (Brit)

WHO LEFT THE BUTTER OUT??? (SA...0r Saffas as we are called here)

Saffas opening windows and doors, Brits closing them. Don't you love the cross culture experience?

The meals were great, the turkey would have fed a small village...it was magnificent.

I was in charge of gravy and vegetables, but excluding parsnips and roast potatoes.

Great Aunt Faith was in charge of all dessert.

The Xmas meal went off very well, and then, as is a great Brit Tradition, we staggered into the sitting room to see the Queen's speech. I stood up when God Save the Queen was played. Put my hand over my heart, but removed it quickly as I realised Americans do that, not us. As far as I know.

Boxing Day Beef was perfect, and nobody knew we had dropped the whole kit and caboodle on the kitchen floor. In fact MOTHER said it was the best beef she had had in 20 years. Her family were butchers so she should know.

No cell phone signal, no wifi...but a walk up the lane to where one was about ankle deep in snow would sometimes produce a weak signal. managed to speak to loved ones, if briefly and faintly.

With 12 of us, Dr Lauren had quite a few opportunities to use her medical skills. She is going to be a wonderful doctor. The Hubby and I are very proud and cannot wait until she gets her first prescription pad. The doctors here do not give you drugs. The pharmacy would't sell me stugeron when The Hubby had vertigo because it wasn't travel related and stugeron are for travel sickness.

Bloody hell.

Next year we will be 16...booking larger cottage. Taking same amount of food. Buying smaller presents. Dr Lauren solved this problem very cleverly. Whatever we couldn't fit in the car, we took a photograph of the gift and put it in an envelope for the recipient. Was very funny.