Christmas and New Year

Posted on January 16, 2008
Filed Under Merry Christmas, Portugal | 3 Comments

For the second year (and I think it will become a tradition) we decided to spend Christmas with Russ’s family and New Year in Portugal.

Christmas was great just like last year. The usual divine food (diet on standby until January) and lots of presents!  And, of course, the most important, the people: lovely as always :)

The presents were great! I got a coffee tree so I can grow my own coffee, if I manage to keep it alive…:s I find it funny how I usually get presents related to coffee. It’s great! Although in this case I’ll have to wait a couple of years until the tree grows enough.

Russ got a great present as well although it’s for common use: An electric blanket!! I wonder how I managed to survive without it. Our flat is very cold and the heating is not the best but now… Now going to bed is a pleasure. It’s so good to jump in and find the bed nice and warm. Ahhhhh…

Also got a Rocks and Minerals book from Russ and a grow your own mineral set (just for fun), a therapy pillow and lots of other things. Very good!

We stayed for a week (the children were there for most of the time which was a bit odd for me- they are growing fast! But again I’m lucky that they are very well behaved and happy children so it’s not that difficult to be around them), came back home for a day and flew the next day to Portugal :D

We stayed in Portugal for 10 days this time. A bit longer than usual.

There were some works being done at my place so we had to stay at my dad’s. Fantastic! Not only it’s closer to everything, with a great view and a very pretty house, they also cook a lot better than we do ;)

M. (my stepmother) was at home for the festivities but then she had to go back to the hospital. It is something I will not talk about much more because it’s too personal and difficult and a family matter.

I spent most of the time with with my dad and visiting my mum but I still had time to see all the closest friends. But most of the time was dedicated to the family. My priorities have changed a bit in the last few months. Instead of trying to see as many people as possible I focused on having quality time with the ones that matter the most: a handful of friends (the best) and my family. It was a lot more rewarding and relaxed

New Year was at Praca do Comercio with a live show and fire works. And then a visit to Bairro Alto for a few more drinks :)

We still had time to go shopping for a new coat (mine was too hot for the weather there) and for quite a few Pasteis de Belem :D Fatties! I also ate one of my favourite dishes, Cozido a Portuguesa, until I couldn’t move :$

Russ could tell you more about the Italian restaurant that my dad took us (twice) and it’s divine white chocolate mousse. If he ever writes on his weblog again  *-)

And that was it. A very good holiday :) Nice and relaxing with the people we love. That’s how it should be :)

It was a very good long holiday. I really enjoyed it :)

Special dates (1) Happy Birthday!!!

Posted on January 13, 2008
Filed Under Merry Christmas | 1 Comment

On the 25th of December this blog completed its first year :D (click the link or go to the last page for the first posts)

It was done by Russ some time before but I only saw it on the 25th!

Happy Birthday blog!

Thanks for the present Russ!!

Things that I miss…

Posted on December 19, 2007
Filed Under General, Merry Christmas, Portugal, The English People and I | Leave a Comment

This time of the year:

The beautiful Christmas lights on the streets,

The music on the streets,

The smell of chestnuts on the streets,

The view of the river or the sea.

I know those things exist in England as well, but not in Milton Keynes… (and Lisboa, the river Tejo and Baixa can’t be replaced)

Christmas crackers

Posted on December 17, 2007
Filed Under Merry Christmas, The English People and I | Leave a Comment

Following the first few posts of this weblog in which I talk a bit about differences in tradition between England and Portugal, I decided to explain what they are.

As everyone in England knows them I’ll write it in Portuguese. For those who don’t, chech Wikipedia.

Nao sabia da existência destas Christmas crackers antes de me mudar para aqui. Ao que parece so existem em Inglaterra e nos restantes países da Commonwealth (segundo me disseram nem nos EUA as conhecem).

E algo de muito tradicional aqui e é coisa que nunca falta numa mesa de Natal. Achei por bem partilhar :)

crackers.jpg

Ora bem, as Christmas crackers sao, basicamente, um tubinho de cartão embrulhado em jeito de rebuçado gigante com coisas la dentro. O dito tubinho esta armadilhado com uma espécie de raspinha de Carnaval. Duas pessoas puxam, uma de cada lado, ate que se ouve o ‘crack’ da raspinha, o tubo rasga-se e o conteúdo sai a voar pelos ares. O que geralmente acontece é haver uma em cada lugar numa mesa, todos agarram numa, cruzam os braços de forma a partilhar com as pessoas sentadas de ambos os lados e todos puxam ao mesmo tempo. E ‘crack’ la vai tudo pelo ar e todos riem e ficam muito contentes. Depois inspecciona-se o conteúdo e os sorrisos desaparecem, dando lugar a descontentamento e revirares de olhos :p.

Dentro da dita esta nada mais nada menos que um chapéu de papel muito colorido em forma de coroa, que todos usam ate ao fim do jantar (há alguns resistentes em que me incluo pois alem de não ser pratico a comer é, na minha modesta opinião, um bocado ridículo), um pequeno brinquedo de que ate os Kinder Surpresa teriam vergonha, e a pior piada que se puder imaginar, do género ‘porque e que a galinha atravessou a estrada’.

Enfim, eu acho giro (a parte do crack). E algo diferente, muito tradicional e próprio daqui. So e pena que não se possa levar nos aviões por causa da raspinha. Ate me admira que os senhores da higiene e segurança não as tenham já proibido com medo que o conteúdo acerte no olho de alguém…;)

Done!

Posted on December 11, 2007
Filed Under Merry Christmas | 2 Comments

image042.jpg

All Christmas presents are decided, bought and/or ordered!!

I could even be seen in Toys R’ Us :S:S (scary)

Besides our first tree in our first house, we now have some presents under the tree :D Lets hope the other get here on time (yn)

Merry Christmas Catarina!!

Posted on December 25, 2006
Filed Under Merry Christmas | 3 Comments

arg-christmas-tree-whitebg-med-url.gifMerry Christmas honey - Welcome to SexyForeignWoman.com!!

This is the first post of hopefully many about your life in MK, your time with me, and anything else that springs to mind! It’s really easy to add new posts, new pages, pictures, movies and anything else you can think of. And I’ll be there along the way to help out.

I’m not sure if you like the design but if you don’t, we can play around with lots of different things until you are really happy. And it’s all yours to do with as you wish! I hope you use it lots (and nag me to use mine) and hopefully we’ll have a record of our times together to look back on in a few years!

Lots of love and cuddles,

Russ xx - Christmas 2006



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