Christmas 2011

What a wonderful Christmas we have had.

We picked up Kyle from the bus station on December 21st and then Camille from the train station, both in Chatham, on December 23rd.

Kyle went up to London later on the 23rd to be with a friend and then came back on Christmas Eve with Oma and our friend Katherine.

We always have a traditional supper of cheese and crackers, sausage rolls, vegetables and dip before we head out to to go caroling armed with backed goods to our neighbours - as many as we can find home!

Then we come back to get ready for more of our traditions with all the home made baking that has been going on around our place.

Oma with Camille

Some of us getting ready to watch our tradtional Christmas Eve movie...

Intermission - with Oma wrestling with Kyle

How we set up the living room so Oma doesn't have to go downstairs for the TV

This is our tradition to watch this Christmas classic

I even think we even managed to get to sleep before midnight this year...which meant we couldn't open stockings early. AND Irene reminded me we had company and the plan was to open the stockings together this year like we did last year. Drats!

For some reason it has become tradition for me to capture this perennial picture of early Christmas Day risers before stockings or gifts are opened.

Not quite fully awake yet - Camille, Kyle and Katherine

   But wait! We're missing someone...

OMA!!

Katherine and Camille opening their stockings

Kyle sleepily enjoying what Santa had brought him

Oma thrilled with something in her stocking

Katherine and Camille enjoying their goodies

Kyle discovering a new use for his stocking..a giraffe puppet!

Yes, this is Kyle...being innovative with his Tupperware onion holder

So we quickly opened stockings, had bacon sandwhiches on toasted bread, and then showered and prepared ourselves for church where Kyle did a reading of a poem he wrote and Dad (I) spoke as well as others and we sang the carols of the season together.

We came back home for homemade cinnamon rolls for lunch and opened up the gifts to each other. Then we made time for a Sunday afternoon nap while the turkey was cooking.

One special gift Irene had made for her Mom is a Crazy Quilt (style of quilting) square with memories of Holland. It has taken Irene a year to do after taking a class and finding the right materials, Dutch trinkets and flags, etc. to make this all up. Irene framed it in a shadow box.

Special gift opened up by Oma

Irene explaining the quilt

Closer view of the quilt

Later on the doorbell rang. Irene went to the door but no one was there. Not even a note or package on the doorstep.

The doorbell rang again. Both Irene and I went to the door. There was  Andrew and Marci! They had driven down and had planned this all along to surprise us and be with us on Christmas Day.

They had been outside trying to get connected to our wi-fi connection to Skype us and suprise us that way. But I have a new wireless router and the password was changed.

What a lovely surprise!

Then we opened up gifts to and from and Andrew and Marci.

Andrew and Oma singing together

Marci accompanying on our newly tuned piano...it sound so much better!

Andrew and Oma sharing in a gift received

Katherine demonstrating the set Christmas dinner table

The finishing up of Christmas dinner with our family





Back to England

After my trip to Scotland the next day I was required for a business meeting in London, UK.
Ther meeting was truly in the heart of London and afterwards my two colleagues and I walked across the way from our meeting location to have a late lunch. I could not believe where we were located and managed to capture a few classic London shots.

Tower Bridge

Tower of London where the Crown Jewels are on display

I have been once to the Tower of London as an elementary school student on one of the rare field trips we made. I remember seeing the Beefeater Guards, the crown jewels, and also exchanging a British penny for an Indian coin with an Indian boy who could not speak English and yet we somehow managed to communicate sufficiently to make that exchange.

Memories!

Bonnie Scotland

Never would believe that I would go to Scotland.

My CEO called meup and asked what I was doing on the 29th of November. Other than meetings on the 30th and December 1st - I could be available. He was then asked me if I could cancel those meetings and fly to Scotland for a major client meeting - which, of course, I complied with.

Besides business I was able to connect with my cousin on his step-Mom's side of the family and ask if they could meet while in Edinburgh. I had not seen them her in over 30 years.

Maggie McDonald and me in the lobby of the Balmoral Hotel

Maggie and her husband Colin

It was a rainy time when we toured the lights of downtown and a small concession area and fair and then we made it up to the castle where it was bitter cold, wet and windy.

So the next day I ventured out during a small dry spell to capture some pictures.

This is the Balmoral Hotel where I stayed

I stayed at the classic Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh and learned that this is where the author J.K. Rowling finished off writing the last book in the Harry Potter series. The grandchildren would love this piece of trivia.

Edinburgh Castle

When my youngest granddaughter heard I had visited a castle she immediately asked her mom if I had seen a princess. This was posted on Facebook and my wife responded...he better not have!!

The castle is still operational and the Scottish Army maintains a presence there. They have an annual Scottish Tattoo with marching bands and playing of bagpipes here each August and tickets sell out early in January or February for it.

I also saw where original Scottish kilts were made very close to the castle.

Weaving tartan material for kilts on a loom

As I walked the cold and overcast streets of Edinburgh I came across this sign that showed Robbie Burns the classic Scottish poet had lived and written near this location.

My wife would have loved this. Right across the street from the hotel was a bagpiper playing and I caught the photo before it started really raining hard.

Classic Bagpiper