Christmas – Winter v Summer

After spending the last 8 Christmases in the UK I'm not that keen on Christmas in the Summer again. I much prefer Christmas in the winter as I think the two go together much better.


In the UK Christmas is the sole focus, while here it's the end of the school and work year and the summer holidays, so poor old Christmas has to compete with all that. It's dark early in the UK so the Christmas lights look festive for a longer time each evening. Here it's almost 9.30pm before it's dark enough to see them properly.


I love the traditional roast on Christmas Day and again it is much more enjoyable when it's cold outside. But don't worry I'll always eat a roast no matter how hot it is. 


Last year it had snowed in London the week before Christmas and it was still on the ground on Christmas Day. The parks looked so pretty with their covering of snow. 


Mulled wine and heated mince pies are so welcome when it's cold out. Haven't had a drop of mulled wine this year.


So in my humble opinion Christmas and winter go together much better than Christmas and summer.

My lovely Mum

It was 1am on Sunday 3rd December 2006 and I was sitting in my room in London in a state of shock as I'd just heard that my lovely Mum had joined Dad in Heaven. It was only 2 weeks and 6 days since Dad had gone to Heaven and now Mum was with him again. They had been married for 50 years.

I had only said a 'see you later' goodbye to Mum when I left NZ at the end of October, much different from the final goodbyes I'd said to Dad.

Mum was a very good cook and her roasts were always yummy. She also did good schnitzel and curried sausages. I've tried to make curried sausages but they never turn out as good as Mums did. Her cheese scones were the best. My sister makes good ones but the scone making skills have passed me by.

I used to do all sorts of things with Mum before I moved to London. Most Saturdays we would go out for lunch and go shopping together. Mum enjoyed rugby and cricket and I've been to many matches with her. When Mum got excited she would dig me in the ribs with her elbow. Dad would find out the score before we got home so he'd know what sort of mood we'd be in.

Mum always liked us to be nicely dressed and would tell me if she thought it was time to throw something out and buy a new one. She liked nice clothes herself and I'd brought her 2 nice outfits when I was last home with her.

Now that I'm back in NZ I really miss Mum and our expeditions together. But she is with Dad and that's what really matters.