Hello Again

Warm/Hot December.
December just whizzed by in a flurry of end of term playgroup parties,ChristmasNativity Play (M&S) lunches (Helen’s Alphington Community made me particularly welcome at theirs) Christmas decorating and shopping,carol sevices and carol singing. It was very peculiar going to evening carol singing in T shirts and summer gear.

The Uwland dynasty included me in their traditional Christmas-Eve Christmas dinner at Mike’s (Helen’s husband) parents’ home. Tineka and Henk met at about the time their respective parents emigrated bringing their offspring with them. Of the original parents who emigrated from Holland only Omama (greatgrandma) Tineka’s mother survives.She’s in her mid 80’s and had made the large Christmas pudding.

During the late afternoon ,Santa came to the house on a fire-engine. He brought loads of presents that were put under the tree.There was a photo session of course.
Twenty seven sat down for dinner. Henk’s and Tineka’s children,their spouses,offspring and where applicable boy/girl friends. Tables had been borrowed from the church hall and the splendid meal was a joint effort. The men cooked the various meats outside in a barbeque cum oven , the ladies did the starter and veg, Tineka made the pumpkin soup and Omama made the pudding.

When everyone was full after the main course, Henk (with little helpers ,Sophie and her cousin Lewis) distributed the presents to every one in turn round and round the room.Sometime a present turned out to be a potato. In one case, cousin Kelsey who’s about 7yr.old got a potato for “telling on Mummy”.Nobody knew what she had told but every one had a good laugh.
After pressie opening Tineka poured lashings of brandy on Omama’s pudding and along with cream and ice cream in disappeared in quick style. By this time it was dark so the flames showed to good effect.
That “many hands make light work” came true and H and T were left with a clean and tidy house ready for Christmas Day
Father Christmas came the next day. Of course.