Belated Eid Mubarak!
And belated birthday greetings to Oslo too. The party looks like it was a lot of fun, Amy. Wish I could have been there.
Apologies to all those who celebrated Eid on Wednesday. I meant to post a blog on that day but I was just too tired. I am having a timetabling nightmare. This is the last week of term and I have to timetable classes for 50 teachers – not an enviable task I can tell you. There is a part of me which enjoys the jigsaw puzzle of it all but now it has got beyond that point and I just want to get it finished but there are a few pieces of the puzzle for which I just can’t find a place. :(
Hello to Azra and Demir. Yes I do know where Serbia is and would love to visit one day. In fact I need to do a big Europe tour.
Simon, thanks for the offer. What about your favourite/most hated Christmas songs? And Jo too? Come on, join in the fun. Don’t be spoil sports! :)
So let’s have a look at the favourite songs so far:
• Jingle Bells (Nguyen Ho)
• Elvis Presley Christmas songs (Amy) – I love a bit of Elvis at Christmas too but I think my favourite Christmas crooner has to be Jim Reeves.
• Love is All Around (Sora) – I like this one too – mainly because I love that film as well. I have it on DVD, so I think we might watch again this year.
• Come All Ye Faithful
• Deck The Halls..
• White Christmas (YPW)
• Rudolph the red nosed reindeer (Tiasha)
Thanks to all for your Christmas greetings. Hey, my party went well. There was a good turnout and the last party die-hards ended up going to the beach and taking a dip in the Indian ocean. Not me – I hasten to add. I took a paddle but that’s all.
We (well, when I say we I really mean my fantastic housekeeper, Vasantha) made chicken curry and chick pea curry, Sri Lankan rice with leeks and carrots, and we had carrot cake and chocolate cake too. For those of you interested, the mulled wine recipe I used had the following ingredients:
• Cabernet Sauvignon wine
• Oranges
• Cloves
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Brown sugar
• Honey
• Quantro
Delicious but lethal! Work was tough the next day as the last people left at about 3.30 am!
I am off to finish my Christmas cards now – they are not home made like Amy’s but I bought them at a Christmas fete I went to the other week, in the name of a good cause.
Bye for now and sorry no pictures of the party – I was just too busy playing host! :) I am going to our office Christmas party on Sunday evening and I promise to take pictures of that for you.
H x
Words/phrases from last entry
Chock-a-block: extremely full; crowded
Sporting (v) - displaying
churning out - To produce in an abundant and automatic manner
bling – flashy, ostentatious decoration/jewellery
tat – cheap and vulgar items which demonstrate tastelessness
dosh – slang for money
plethora – excess/overabundance
Comments
Thank you for the Eid greetings dear Helen! We celebrated Eid on Tuesday over here in Pakistan. Best wishse, Naheed
Hi Helen, You were such a good hostess that the last people left at about 3.30 am!!! Wish i could have been there. Best wishes, James.
Helen, Thank you so much for the greeting of the EID .It seems you know about many different cultures . Hey, can you ,Helen,lend me a hand in this problem . I was trying to translate an Arabic text and came across word wich means (the sound or noise caused by rolling of the tongue)usually women do it in order to express their joy)i hope you got what i mean ,in ARABIC ( ZAGHRADA) i checked a number of dictionaries and have not get a specific word for it in English.thanks in advance.
Thanks for the Eid...! (: ..and I'm sure taht you would like Serbia if you come here one day... ! (:
Hello Helen! I am glad your party went so well. I am a foodie with a keen interest in different cuisine. I would have liked to prepare mulled wine immediately after I had read your recipe. Fortunately, I had all ingredients expect Quantro at home. To be honest, I do not know what Quantro is. Could you please tell me what it is? Thanks. I do not really know that “Driving home for Christmas” by Chris Rea is my favourite Christmas song, but I like listening to it. Best wishes,
Hi Helen, I wish I would have been in your party to have a taste of your food. I like curry chicken and the cakes.
Hi Helen! Your guests must have been over moon when they sipped your mulled wine. Cabernet Sauvignon is a big wine. Several people that I know use a bottle of an ordinary red wine, but when you throw a party, you must serve excellent tidbits. "All I want for Christmas is you" sung by Mariah Carey is my favourite song. Cheerio!!
Dear Helen, How are you and your family? I hope that now, you will get relax and spent more time with Isabel and Pankaj. Are you throwing a chrismas party on 24th 2008. I am having good time with my daughters. Today I am going to cook Chicken priyani and dates and pineapple chutney and egg plant sweet and savour curry and cucumber salad. It sounds delicious. On special occasion I make this meal for lunch. I wish you a merry christmas and a happy and properous new year.
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