The christmas day experience

Merry Christmas Everyone! Back at work, yes it’s true. No St. Stephen’s day recuperation for me! Although I did get into work late as I was determined to have a relaxed morning. Brought cake leftovers form the party yesterday as a peace offering for the late arrival. Was met with lots of appreciation.
So Christmas has come and gone. So strange, I had a lovely time yesterday but I missed Ireland lots. The walk (yes even the walk) and the fire and the giving of gifts. I think, though it may be a sign of our more material culture, present giving is a lot more important in Ireland, or maybe it’s just that I was with a family who’s all grown up and present giving is not half as important as it was. I definetly missed to present giving at our house. What we do is give everyone one present at a time. One for me, then hugh, then john, etc. It makes it all the more exciting as you have to wait for your next present. I know a lot of families the present opening is as soon as you wake up but we always wait till we are all up and ready and it’s either just before and just after Christmas lunch.
A cold Christmas is another thing I miss, though with recervations. It’s nice to escape the cold and settle in front of a fire and wear warm clothing and see snow on the mountains. But it’s also nice not to be frozen the moment you get out of the house, having to wait for the heating (thank god for Agas) and then get drenched in the snow/rain/slush. It’s nice to wear a t-shirt and shorts and sunglasses on Christmas day! Although now my keenness for an open fire has been replace with a burning desire for the A/C and Fan on.
The strangest thing about Christmas here is that there’s hardly anyone else celebrating with you. Our friends came over, they aren’t Christian, and looking outside the window you see people living their normal lives, taking advantage of the state holiday for a minority religious occasion.
Christmas a little dummed down due to the attacks and many churches didn’t have services or carols, both in respect for those that died and for fear of another attack. In fact there was a threat on the church services in the city at 12 midnight on Christmas eve, but nothing came of it and there was a great police presence there.

Anyway, I was going to go about Pakistan and the whole India-Pakistan situation, but seeing as it’s Christmas I won’t. but you have been warned I will return to that topic in the near future!
Merry Christmas and a happy new year!