Season's Meetings

More to remind myself when I look back than to bore any other readers to death, I will now have a little written meander through the social whirlwind that was the Christmas Season.

Sun 17 Dec Church Christmas social at Pizza Express, spent much of the evening chatting with a Chinese student, Daisy, about China, its food and its people and its history. Following this conversation I have picked up the riveting book that I read a year or more ago, Wild Swans by Jung Chang, which chronicles the lives of three generations of females in the Chinese author’s family. Second time round I’m taking in much more of the historical and political details.

Mon 18 Dec LCET Young People’s Christmas Party: Bad Santa. Much hilarity (and exhaustion) for all involved – this event comprised 5 Santa’s Grottos, each featuring a Santa with a different attitude towards Christmas (Mad, Bad - grouchy, Lad - consumerist, Sad – about those who suffer, and Glad – about Jesus!). Activities included eating a bowlful of cold soggy sprouts. Fantastic stuff.

Tues 19 Dec LCET Staff and Friends Christmas Party. A classy event held in the basement lounge of the Hat Factory. I had been feeling for a while this December like I’d lost some of my joy, but my beloved brother came home from uni this night and my joy was fully restored! I dragged him along to the party which I enjoyed immensely, especially the magician/comedian fellow who did some Derren Brown style card tricks.

Wed 20 Dec Hat Factory Staff Social – the White House followed by Chicagos! I hadn’t had a proper night out on the town in a while and it was just what I needed! My peers at the Hat Factory are a group of around 6 girls in their twenties (the Beautiful Barmaids) and a few lads and they’re great fun! I’ve been hoping to make some good friends through my non-LCET work this year and it looks like I may have come to the right place :D

Thurs 21 Dec Cell Christmas Dinner, expertly cooked and hosted by Mr John Whittaker. I’m really enjoying being part of my cell; I feel very much at home with everyone. Special mention goes to John’s impromptu ‘Mediterranean Stuffing’ – basil leaves, garlic and onion, made in the unexpected absence of sage. He is my culinary hero (along with Pastor Gav and Nigella).

Fri 22 Dec Sotirios’s Birthday Celebration in Highgate, London. A group of us had dinner at a charming Indian restaurant, Kipling’s before heading next door to the Wrestlers pub where we spent the rest of the evening drinking champagne and bumping into a great many of Sooty’s old schoolmates.

Sat 23 Dec Christmas Eve Eve at the Christophers’. For the second year running my other dear brother and his lovely girlfriend came over for a table-top grill extravaganza.

Sun 24 Dec Christmas Eve. It is a Polish tradition to eat fish on Christmas Eve (it is also a tradition to begin dinner when the first star appears in the sky but we’re too old to fall for the ‘go and stand outside in the cold looking up at a cloudy sky’ thing these days) and furthermore it is a Christopher Family tradition to have my mother’s tuna-puff-pastry triangles, which I would recommend to any poles looking for an alternative to the large fish with glassy eyes sitting in the middle of the dining table. This year I upped the stakes by also making salmon and lime fishcakes, which were quite delightful. Then it was off to The Park for all the Christopher Siblings and further to St Mary’s Midnight service for the two younger Christophers, whereupon much merriment and rejoicing ensued in honour of Jesus Christ our Lord, without whom Christmas would be a mere pagan festival devoid of true and eternal meaning.

Mon 25 Dec Christmas Day. After the customary opening of the presents around the Christmas tree, which happens as early as we can bear to get up on Christmas morning, we set about preparing the Feast. I attempted Nigella’s spiced ham (delicious) as well as her bread sauce (pretty darn good) whilst my father accidentally caused the turkey to finish cooking about 2 hours before everything else was ready. Eating too much was followed by lounging in front of the TV and playing Boggle, which I repeatedly won.

Tues 26 Dec Day Off (from socialising). I think we watched a movie and read books all day.

Wed 27 Dec Auntie Rosie and Andrew’s Lunchtime visit. Buffet lunch + conversation. Does what it says on the tin.

Thurs 28 Dec Phoebe’s Visit, closely followed by Harriet’s Visit. Dear Phoebe (one of my closest friends from Lancaster) came over for an afternoon of lunching and shopping. We talked so much that we were somewhat distracted from the actual shopping and I ended up buying only two items – a green glass candlestick and a CD of trance music, which all came to a total of £2.98.

The beautiful Harriet then came over for tea armed with fabulous news which I confess I squealed about rather a lot, but quite justifiably I assure you.

Fri 29 Dec – Sat 30 Dec To the Williamses in Hastings. We tootled down to the wet and windy south coast to stay with my aunt, uncle and cousins in their new house. They’ve moved so that they can take in lodgers again (which they did in years gone by). The house pretty much my idea of perfection. Three storeys with wooden floors throughout, large grand rooms with fireplaces, high ceilings and elaborate coving, vast windows, gables and attic rooms. As if that wasn’t romantic enough, my artist uncle is building a studio in the back garden. With all of that I can forgive the place for being cold and draughty at all times.

Sun 31 Dec – Mon 1 Jan New Year, celebrated in freezing cold style in London with Luke, Sotirios and other uni friends. We had dinner in Chinatown and watched the fireworks from beside the London Eye with only a bottle of gin to keep us warm. Back to Sooty’s where I slept soundly in the Lemon Meringue Pie. New Year’s Day featured a trip to the Tate Modern and an exciting ride on Höller’s slide installation. I love the whole interactive art thing.

Tues 2 Jan Back to Work – I’ve had a marvellous holiday and I feel ready to start a new term’s work!