That is our hosting duties fulfilled for another two years.
It all went pretty smoothly with not too many hiccups - other than the potatoes being more mash than solid. Thankfully, I had nothing to do with them, and it was all my wife. Otherwise I would have been in trouble.
I just did the peeling.
This next image looks like a box of wine, but it is actually a box of apple juice we got for a Christmas present from our neighbours. Each year they have far, far too many apples (as do we) and they take them to be pressed. I think it is a nice gift idea, and it is great apple juice - far better than the basic stuff from the shop.
And this year, we went "fancy" with out second table, with the garden set coming inside to provide enough seats for guests. It worked pretty well, because those seats are far more comfortable than the stools we have had people on in years past.
Overall, the house looked and smelled pretty good, with all the different foods, fireplace and flowers melding together into the scent of Christmas. And then between courses, the family sang some songs together (while I was cleaning dishes and prepping dessert), before Santa visited to have a chat and hand out some presents.
Singing is not my thing.
And it was nice to have the Santa we did, because his wife and he are expecting their first child in the next day or two, so he won't be Santa for a while. You can't be Santa for your own kids.
And after dessert, people went back into the lounge and talked, while I cleared dishes away again. Since I am not much use in the conversations, I tend to just keep to myself throughout the evenings, which is kind of strange for me, as I would far prefer to engage with people. It is just too hard at this kind of thing, with a lot of people talking fast about shared experiences I wasn't part of - it leaves me out of the loop.
That is okay though, as it is a time for family.
And while technically I am part of the family, I am not part of the family in that way. I am more a peripheral part f the family, the father of someone who is part of the family, my daughter. So I am there to support her, and to make sure everyone is offered enough to eat and drink.
Tomorrow though, it is just the three of us, sitting around in pyjamas, eating leftovers and watching movies. My wife watches Home Alone every year, but I would like to watch something else instead. It can still be a Christmas movie, as there are so many to choose from we could watch a different one every year. But you know,
Traditions....
Most people celebrate Christmas on the 25th, so wherever you are, if you are celebrating, enjoy the time with family, friends and good food.
Taraz
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It sounds like it was enjoyable time for you eeven if you were not engaged as much as you would have liked to have been. The setting looked very inviting and Christmasy.
Ours got together in the small dining room yesterday. My father-in-law assembled a clock that was a present for the wife. The wife, daughter-in-law and sons made ginger bread men and hosues as they do every year. I just sat and listened to their silliness like I always do. Today everyone is sleeping in, as the kids are older now, and will open presents later. The wife will get up a little early to start cooking Christmas lunch and we will eat early at 1pm and then watch some American football.
Hope you enjoy your time withe family and the leftovers. LOve leftovers from the holidays!
Sounds like a grand time!
The wife will get up a little early to start cooking Christmas lunch and we will eat early at 1pm and then watch some American football.
Netflix is playing two games, so I am planning on watching the Skins v Cowboys game. Never watched a Christmas game before and don't get to watch many since I don't pay for NFL - so I will get to watch the Skins lose live for once.
Sorry.... COMMANDERS (I will never use that name)
We are doing the same thing. I will be thinking about you and yours as we eat and watch the game as well. If Netflix doesn't bomb out.
merry Christmas,
Its lunch time Xmas day here. We had a small day, due to a small family. However we are eating drinking and swimming in the pool.
We also watched Home Alone moveie last night becuase... tradition. Our family has a xmas movie which is Die Hard (the xmas one) and the family saying is "its not xmas till Hans falls off Nakatomi roof"... not sure that is not morbid... however its like good over evil... so perhaps not...
my parents (in New Zealand) send us pictures of their screen when Hans falls off the roof.. and we do the same... sounds odd now im writing it... but the post is done... so might as well send it..
its quite a common Christmas movie here in Australia for the grown ups.
merry Christmas
I am looking forward to being able to watch Die Hard with Smallsteps. She struggles with anything that might be scary. I used to watch all of this kind of stuff at her age!
Prawns? I would love a prawn-filled christmas again!
I don't know why, but I always forget that Gruber is Alan Rickman :D
24th is technically a working day for me, though I took a vacation day today. We watched movie and preparing for the celebration tomorrow.
It sounds like Finns are not very inclusive unless not everyone speaks English...
What did you watch?
They aren't the most socially skilled people in the world. Christmas is a time for their family only.
I hope you have a wonderful time just three of you!
Thank you. How is your Christmas going?
Ugh, not great. I woke up yesterday morning sick, so while my wife is enjoying the festivities with her family I have been between bed and the bathroom.
🎊🎄Merry Christmas🎄🎊 @tarazkp and your family too.. 🔥🍻🔥🍻
Good all went through nicely, the occasion is meant to be celebrated and it happen in that way family - fareinds and happy moments. I am sure small steps must have enjoyed it....the images making sure the get-together was quite peaceful, not like we see in movies..I belive ypu are more into quality conversation rather than engaging much
Definitely not. A Finnish Christmas movie would be boring!!
It is nice to see the effort put into making a happy environment for everyone, even if it sometimes means taking a step back from discussions.
Happy Christmas!
I didn't mind skipping the singing...
Have a great end to the year mate.
Spending time with friends and family during festive periods is always fun. I mean the entertaining company, the good food, drinks, the gifts, etc. Because of this I can say the end of the year is my most favorite part of it, it always leaves me with fun memories. Enter January and on comes the dreary drudgery, going back to work and all that, the stress and the burnouts.
Seems you're enjoying yourself in your family's gatherings, and though it would have been much more if you could join the conversations actively, throw jokes and laugh at others'. I wish you and your family a great holiday season and a wonderful New year in advance.
Yeah, I think it is the same for many. Then spring comes and they want to be happy - but are they?
We did the eve, too, and it was wonderful. I cooked, and surprised myself yet again. My Christmas meal is two days, and I have to trust in the process as the cabbage has to sit over night and usually still tastes very unexciting when fresh, making me doubt. But the next day, it's usually amazing - and so it was.
I can say that my potatoes came out perfect. Rosemary potato halves in the oven. Even the improvised last minute baguette was amazing. And my father had pulled out all is good brandy and wine and Cognac, plus is fancy glasses. Lily was super happy. First German Christmas for her, and she even forgave that it didn't snow.
I wish you a wonderful time with movies and leftovers and pj's and your loved ones!
What kind of cabbage thing do you do? Sauerkraut?
Hey! This isn't fair - you bake for a living!
Will she see some before you travel back? There was only a fine dusting here, not even enough to cover the grass, but it was whitish. Now, +6 and wet again.
Apfel-Rotkohl aka Red cabbage with apples (and other stuff that doesn't get named for some reason, mainly red wine and cloves).
And no, I don't bake for a living anymore - I make people bake, and I manage people. That's my business now... Though I do teach them some new tricks from time to time.
The forecast doesn't say anything about snow. It's -6°C here at the moment, at 00.30am, so there might be a possibility...
It's wonderful to decorate the house and the food on Christmas, and exchange gifts with everyone, from relatives to friends. We also celebrate something like this in our religious ceremonies.
Is there anything celebrated at this time of year there?
I smiled at the potato part, every family has that one dish that doesn’t go as planned. What stood out most though is how much effort goes into hosting behind the scenes. Cleaning, prepping, clearing plates… it’s tiring, but it’s also what makes the day work.
People ate nearly all of the 4kg of mash anyway :)
Thanks