Monday, January 4, 2016

Thanks for the Merry Christmas Wishes

We just wanted to take a few moments to thank everyone for the warm - across the pond - Christmas Wishes we received.

It was definitely hard being away from our family and friends over the holidays, but we had a near constant stream of cards, and care packages, skype calls, and emails from so many people, in a small way it still felt like we were there with you all.

In the run-up to Christmas, we had a number of decorating gifts arrive care of Kris' parents, so our window sill turned mantle took on a decidedly festive appearance.

Later this same day, Kris received a bonanza of cards from her co-workers, so while we didn't ever think we could fill the card hanger that Kris' mom sent us, we found quickly we were running out of room.

We included our Caganer and Caga Tio from Barcelona, as well as Uzo from Greece, a tree ornament from Antwerp, a snow globe from Ashley, another tree ornament from David and Sarah in London UK, as well as a bunch of other gifts that arrived for us.

On Dec 23, we shared a bit of a christmas celebration with an old friend.  Robyn and Whitney stopped in here on their way up to Scotland.  So we toasted Christmas with a batch of homemade egg nog.  Apparently, Eggnog is not a thing that exists in the UK.  To the extent that when I went to the grocery store to get cream to make it, the guy in the store didn't know what eggnog even was.  Luckily I pulled together all of the ingredients, and made something nearly similar to what we have shared at home for many years now.


I even threw together a small batch of christmas cookies to get us through the next few weeks.  They aren't Grandma's rocky mountain squares, but in a foreign land, you cope with what you have.

Christmas Day was no less special.  We started off our extra-long weekend in Scotland with an invitation for Christmas Dinner from a classmate of mine, so we enjoyed a wonderful Christmas dinner and conversation with the McManmom's just inside the Scottish borderlands.
We were even treated to a white christmas.  During dinner, about 3 cms of snow fell on the car.  Just enough to make a couple of snowballs and toss them at each other before we left.


That night we stayed in the local pub and inn.  Originally built 300 years ago, it still remains a centrepoint of the town for all things social, as well as a safe haven for any travellers passing through needing a hot meal, a cold strong drink or a place to lay their head.
Breakfast the following morning was true Scottish through and through, including the usual bacon, sausage, eggs, toast, beans, mushrooms and tomato, as well as blood pudding and fried haggis.  We didn't even know we'd eaten it till we were halfway through and the innkeeper asked us what we thought of it.

I'm sure I speak for both of us in saying, it was hard being away from everyone, and all of the traditions that have come to symbolize our Christmas celebrations at home, but the nearly constant stream of emails, cards, skype calls, and packages really made us feel that we weren't quite so far away.  Thank you!

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