Almost a White Christmas...

Christmas is especially made fond to me ever since I knew Danny eight years ago with celebrations in the Portugese Settlement, Malacca. Before that, every Christmases were another public holiday, Aunty M taking Bro and I for a treat of buffet at Park Royal Hotel, KL and some Christmas pressies from Aunty M to us. Other than that, I knew nothing about the significance of Christmas especially to the Christian communities.

This Christmas is especially made a memorable one for me. I get to experience Christmas with a typical Catholic family who are my relatives and in the land where most people would think is special to celebrate Christmas there. Yes, it's in London. To be exact, I was in Wooburn near Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire about 45 minutes drive Northwest of London, where due to massive snowing on the Monday before Christmas, we could still witness an almost white Christmas everywhere!

The day before Christmas was filled with much anticipation and giggles from the ones at home. The heater was on and smell of incense (Chinese joss stick, actually) that I bought them (upon their request)filled the air indoor. I was feeling a little homesick as I have always been away during all the festive seasons, all these years. I consoled myself that this Christmas, I am with my relatives and they have gone out their way to please me in my stay here with them. I feel very grateful and blessed with my fortune indeed!

More relatives came over and we had a dinner of seven (including a parrot), with a bottle of red and a bottle of rosé. They served spaghetti bolognese with the most unusual sauce made of paprika, cardoman, lots of basil, aubergine, carrot, onion, tomato purée as base and not forgetting the minced beef. It was heavenly! I also helped myself with extra helping of the Caesar salad. We were merry and oh boy, the British can joke about anything and everything in front of them!

The occasional laughters were interrupted by the attention-seeking parrot named Chopstix. Chopstix is really intelligent and his vocabulary is expanding day by day. He suddenly belted out Michael Jackson's "I'm Bad" when all of us were enjoying our desserts of tiramisu and minced pie with Brandy cream. We burst out laughing as he sang it with his head banging like a rockstar!

Moments afterthat, my tummy gave way to an upset and I had to force myself to an early night. I did not managed to stay up for the countdown to Christmas, which was highly regrettable. On Christmas morning, we were up early to secure a seat for the morning Christmas mass at St Teresa, Beaconsfield. For the first time, I could see an almost entire population of Caucasian-only community with only a handful of Asians. What a refreshing sight, so contrary to High Street Kensington and most part of the city of London! The mass was lovely with live orchestra and Christmas hymns and as a non-Catholic, I did not feel excluded as the Christmas spirit was high within me.

Finally, after mass, the moment we all have been anticipated, finally arrived. We opened our presents with enormous eagerness! I love all my presents I received this year and love all the presents Dan and I gave too. They truly were thankful as we fulfilled their Christmas wishlist with a few more surprises.

While recovering from the high of overindulgence, we were treated to a Christmas lunch of turkey. It's traditional of English, to serve turkey with blanched brussels sprout, runner beans, parnips,carrot, stuffing of chesnut and onions according to them. I poured bread sauce all over my turkey and I almost finished all the food given on my plate, even with an upset stomach.

What I wish for my next Christmas is to spend it with all my loved ones and friends. Should I make this my new year's resolution? To try to bring everyone together? Well, for sure, I have a week's worth of annual leave and in between is Christmas 2010. I vow to make it special then...

Happy New Year!

It's Snowing in London!

Due to some operational reasons pertaining my work, I had to make my way to London at a very last minute. I had very limited time to prepare and pack. Nonetheless, the pulling power of London will surely make me smile each time I visit this city, no matter how sudden the trip is. I simply love London and the people I always see there.

Upon landed into Heathrow, the temperature recorded was 2 degrees Celcius yesterday morning. Early this morning, the temperature was minus 2 or 4 I heard.

Yesterday, without my winter boots, I braved myself out in the cold to visit my all-time favourite supermarket, Whole Foodsmarket in High Street Kensington. I bought some organic muesli in preparation for my Swiss Aunt's visit to Singapore soon. She's a light eater and I thought Swiss Muesli would be perfect for her.

Later in the afternoon, I have made plans with my former college mate for a late lunch and some catching ups. I am absolutely excited in meeting her as it's been like 4 years since I last saw her. Another highlight is always to meet up Danny's cousin and her family. As I'll be spending my Christmas with them in a few days time, I will definitely have a memorable one. They even promised me a white Christmas and have been preparing some fake snow indoor, just in case it doesn't snow outside. How hospitable these people are!

The sun is up now. I can't wait to get out there and take the whole London in!

Merry Christmas to all my friends and loved ones!

Athina

This is my third day in Athens city. It's supposed to be winter but the sunny sky and rainless day, made it feels like it's summer again. It's not the best time to visit the islands as I was told and therefore, I plan to just take it easy and relax.

For the past three days, there were demonstrations going on. The most prominent place for such a showcase would be at the Syntagma Square. Just now, I was face-on with a demonstration and I quickly found my way back to the hotel by foot. Thank goodness for my navigational skill that I managed to find my way back safely.

Although I was feeling rather unsafe, even knowing that the demonstrations held were most likely to be peaceful ones, nonetheless, I wouldn't want to risk it. The city is filled with locals and I don't think I could blend in as easily as I think I can.

I still managed to walk around Plaka, drank a cup of really strong Greek coffee, had a typical Greek cuisine for dinner and visited the entrance area around Acropolis.

The police and the riot police were everywhere. Their presence did not reassure and sceptics like me would smell danger rather than safety, whenever they were seen to be getting lots of updates from their walkie-talkie. I noticed that everyone especially the locals were getting bored with such public nuisance but who knows, it might be the only way to get things done here. I was told by a restaurant owner that it is very common to see demonstrations going on especially in December. December 6, marks the first anniversary of the death of a teenage boy, shot by the police.

The sides of the street were piled with garbage, uncollected due to the recent demontration by the garbage collectors. I found a website and today's demonstration supposed to be by a group of retirees. I have no curiosity to find out their predicament whatsoever.

I love Greece and hope that my next visit, hopefully in summer, will be how I used to remember this country. A fond one.