A Wonderful Christmas and New Year
Firstly, I hope all our readers had a great Christmas and we wish you all A VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS 2007, WITH OUR FONDEST WISHES.
As our regular readers know, we finally, after much heartsearching, decided to spend our 6th Christmas since moving to Spain, in Spain for the first time. I really thought I would hate it as I have never not been with the family at that time of year, however, it was really good.
The week before Christmas the weather was the worst we had ever experienced here. It rained very heavily for 5 whole days and nights right up to Christmas Eve night and all our plans and hopes of time on the beach over the seasonal period looked very unlikely.
On Christmas Eve, 14 of us met up for a goose dinner at The German Steak House in Calpe and what a fantastic spread of food there was to start the seasonal period.
When we left the restaurant the rain had stopped and looking up we saw a clear starlit sky so perhaps the beach the next morning would be possible after all!
Christmas morning dawned bright and sunny, oh joy! First of all we opened our presents, spoke to Sally and David and the Grandkids, had a few tears because I was missing not being with them and then went next door to join Tom and Sarah for a lovely breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage, black pudding, tomatoes, mushrooms, toast and coffee. Oh and we musn’t forget the bubbly! This was a first for me as I have never had cooked breakfast on Christmas Day before.
At 11am, wearing layers of clothes as the sun was still a bit watery, we departed for the beach in Moraira where we met up with a group of our friends for more bubbly and nibbles and, for the more energetic, a game or two of catch with balls and frisbies. It turned really warm and the clothing layers were gradually removed and a great 3 hours were spent enjoying the sunshine.
We left the beach at about 2pm and 10 of us went to Bob and Linda’s. After putting the food on to cook, which had been prepared the previous day by all the ladies, we lounged around the pool in the ever increasing warmth of the lovley sunshine. No-one wanted to come in before sunset so we finally sat down, after more present opening, to a lovely sumptuous Christmas Dinner at around 6pm and what a fantastic meal it was (again!). We had prawns in garlic (courtesy of my trolley dash win!) for starters, turkey and all the trimmings and of course lovely Christmas pud (well 3 actually!) to follow with lots of wine to wash it down. Eating so late, no-one felt much like anything else but we did have a decadent indulgence later in the evening. Bob and Linda’s daughter had brought them a chocolate fountain as a present so we all sat with fruit and marsh mallows dipping into the liquid warm chocolate and really enjoyed the tasty delights, yummy!
Like Cinderellas we left for home at midnight to wend our way home and rest up for another day to come.
Boxing Day dawned bright and sunny again and even warmer than the day before, so at 1pm we met up again with the gang at the beach. Tables were set up and cold meats, salads, pickles and coleslaws appeared from cool bags along with a host of other goodies. Pete set up a portable BBQ which he soon got under way to continue cooking the very large paella pan of bubble and squeak, which Linda had made. We sat down, shed the warm clothes, pulled the crackers and donned our party hats and then partook of what I consider to be a lovely traditional Boxing Day lunch. This was followed by Xmas pud suitably warmed up on the BBQ and a boozy delicious trifle courtesey of our friend Bea, followed by cheese and biscuits and all accompanied by lots of vino. Passers by were fascinated by this gathering and all called out their best wishes as they meandered along the beach and promenade drooling from the sights and smells of our lovely lunch. Afterwards we all languished in what was now very hot sunshine and just enjoyed the rest of the day.
Our next festivity was scheduled for New Year’s Eve when we hosted a small dinner party for six. Tom and Sarah together with Linda and Bob (with their 2 dogs in tow) arrived at 7pm and at 8pm we sat down to enjoy the combined efforts of myself, Sarah and Linda. Sarah prepared the starter of melon and serano ham, I did the main course of roast lamb and all the trimmings and Linda supplied a wonderful lemon merengue pie for dessert. This was followed by a cheeseboard courtesey of Pete and of course all was washed down with lots of vino tinto.
At midnight we saw in the New Year in Spanish style with bubbly and 12 grapes each – one to be eaten on each chime of midnight. We then went out onto the pool terrace to be entertained by firework displays near and far. Neighbours had their displays and we could see the towns of Moraira, El Portet, Calpe, Altea right through to Benidorm who all had magnificent displays. At one point I counted in excess of 30 simultaneous displays. It was magical.
At 1am, we of course had to then celebrate the arrival of the New Year in the UK. More bubbly, Auld Lang Syne etc, etc! Where the time went after that I have no idea but Tom and Sarah did not depart for the short walk, or stagger, next door to their beds until 3.30am. Bob, Linda and dogs stayed the night and left after breakfast at about 11.30am. It was a lovely evening but I was very fragile the next day, needless to say!
Our celebrations are not quite over, as today is 3-Kings night. We will be meeting Linda and Bob at the beach at 5pm to witness the kings coming in from boats on the sea, parading around the town and handing gifts out to the children. Then its off for another meal. Tomorrow we again will meet Linda and Bob, this time for a late lunch followed by a visit to an Irish Pub to be entertained by a ‘Fiddler’. And then on Sunday we join Gail and Ron for dinner before their departure back to the UK.
So its party, party, party all the way!
By the way, we have now had 11 days of continuous sunshine, each day warmer than the one before and likened to summer days in the UK. Long may it continue!
All for now until the next boring instalment!
Hello!
Sounds like you had a really busy christmas!
Hope to see you both soon!
Lots of love
Tiff
XxXxXxX
January 10th, 2007 at 10:05 pm