Christmas Day

Woke. Ate. Presents. Drunk. Champagne.

Amazing smoked salmon in the garden with mustard and dill.

Lunch is a feast. The huge turkey is fab. As is the homemade Christmas pudding.

Skype parents at home. They are a bit fuzzy on the screen but good to see them. I am blogging in jonnys ear on my ipod touch right now. It is really annoying him.

So. Christmas here today has been much fun. Warm. Well looked after. Just lovely.

Merry Christmas...xx

Midnight mass at St Georges

We ate extremely well yesterday evening. After a quiz that I did in fact WIN due my expert knowledge of bananarama tracks and 1980's tv theme tunes. This is the first time ever that I think I have beaten Jonny at a quiz. Anyway we had a feast. Sanna, who is Finnish, is also here for Christmas. In Finland the big day is Chrismas Eve so we didn't want her to miss out:

We also presented our secret Santa gifts last night. Kate seemed to genuinely like her Star and Bucks tacky mug and olive wood camel:

I was very touched by a beautiful olive leave pendant which represents steadfastness. It moved me. Jonny got a "visit palestine poster." Sanna got a lovely pendant. But John did the best. The revolving lamp is quite possibly the tackiest thing I have ever seen. Hilarious.

Anyway Kate and John and I walked to st Georges, full of pink champagne:

It was a beautiful service. I don't really like "high" but somehow this seemed special. It was the same sermon as earlier by the same Bishop. But the singing was amazing. Helped massively by the presence of Clare College Cambridge choir in the congregation. Silent night by candlelight has never felt so Christmassy. This is the candle for my BBBs.

I think today is going to be all about the food. The turkey is huge. So huge it literally fills the oven:

There are so many things about living in the UK that we take for granted. Like Waitrose. Kate had to order this turkey from the only Christian butchers in Bethlehem. And a whole load of Christmas food in from the UK. You just can't get the range of food we are so used to here. But as most of Jerusalem is still open for business as usual we can always pop out if we have forgotten anything.

Christmas blessings to everyone.

Christmas eve in Bethlehem

I am a bit worried about John Edwards. He is being very strict about our schedule. The first thing I heard this morning was panic that it was 8.30am and Kate shod have been on her way to collect the turkey. This is very unlike John. He isn't normally one for sticking to timings. I can think of more than one wedding that he has arrived after the bride (although fortunately not his own or ours.)

At 9.30 we were on schedule to head to Bethlehem for our first visit of the day. It takes about 20 minutes to drive there from here and we pass through military check point to get onto the West Bank. The IDF are out in full force today. Seriously. Men with machine guns like everywhere. Craziness.

In Bethlehem we stop in Manger Square to watch the parade. They remind me of the parades I was in when I was in the brownies as a child.

There is such celebration. I am also very warm in my Ugg boots. It is really warm here compared to home. We wander through the Church of the Nativity. Like many of the famous churches in the Holy Land it is divided into various sections, by denomination. And whilst there is much evidence that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, there is little that this is where X marks the spot. Still, for me, it is a place to spend a few moments reflecting. Here we are stood outside this famous church:
We then head to buy some secret Santa goodies. As we wall down one of the streets by the church a young boy hassles us to buy chewing gum off him. My heart is saddened as I see all the sores on his face. There is much poverty here, especially amongst the Palastinians.

Bethlehem on Christmas Eve is far from any Christmas card scene you would imagine. It is busy. There are policemen everywhere. There are parades. There are TV crews and jounalists. There are tourists and locals. It has a very real military presence that you are acutely aware of. It is a built up middle eastern town:

It even has it's own take on Starbucks:

We head back to Jerusalem and Jonny and I head into the Old City whilst John has to go and get the wing mirror fixed, which was broken whilst we were parked in Bethlehem. Having been here before we know our way around and wander through the streets of the stations of the Cross in the Christian quarter. We meet Kate outside the Holy Sepleche. John Edwards isn't here so we can go off schedule and buy jewellery and then head to the Austrian hospice for the best apple strudel in the world. And then it feels like we are on top of the world as we climb to the top of the hospice and look out at the views across the city. Truly amazing.

We get back on schedule and return home to them head back to Bethlehem. It is the first service of the day. Carols in shepherds field. We meet some of the clergy. The Bishop here is bishop of 5 countries. The carols are sung in both English and Arabic at the same time. It is a little strange. As is the American tune to O Little Town of Bethlehem. And the message is a little different. But the messages of hope ring true.

The rest of the gang sip whisky to keep warm. I hate the stuff so don't.

The very British tradition on eating far too much at Christmas is still live and kicking in this house. I am missing out on chocolate right now. We still have Christmas Eve roast beef and midnight mass at St Georges tonight. Although my Jonny may opt out of that and play on the wii instead. And try some more whisky. John Edwards made sure that was on schedule throughout the day. Christmas Spirit of the alchoholic variety.

Arrived in East Jerusalem

Today started early. 5.15am is early for me. Our road was icey and snowy when we left at 6am.

As we arrived at Heathrow there was much freezing fog and it didn't look like good flying conditions at all. We were there at least.

Security provided a slight hitch and meant that one of the beautifully wrapped gifts for Kate had to be unwrapped by me. Stupidly I had forgotten that I had included a full size rose hand cream in the box. Still, at least we now know those scanning machines work.

They then had to defrost the plane:

After a slight delay our flight finally departed and we were bound for Israel at last. As our plane took off I had a real peace about going away and after days of stressing over flights, excitement kicked in.

As we pass through security in a very warm Tel Aviv airport I get more excited. The smiling face of John Edwards the other side of the barrier brings enormous smiles to ours. We are here. Away for a special Christmas with our friends.

The drive from Tel Aviv to East Jerusalem takes about 45 minutes. This is now the third time we have visited here and the drive is getting familiar. I am still stunned by the enormous wall that divides this part of Jerusalem. I love this place though. There are pot holes in the roads, there are refugees and rubbish in the streets. This is a city where different religions, history and politics meet. It is so different from home yet there is a real warmth to the place that I struggle to put into words.

As we enter Kate and Johns home here, joy abounds. The house looks truly beautiful and full of Christmas.

We eat well and watch a stardust the movie. We laugh and relax. I feel very privalaged to be in this home, in this place, and with these people for Christmas time.

We have a schedule for tomorrow. Two trips to Bethlehem. A mouch around the Old City. And to Jonnys alarm there is talk of 3 church services. One at Shepherds field, midnight at St Georges and possibly one at St Annes too - which is the most stunning and simple church I have visited here. Oh and jewellery shopping if I am lucky.

Right decision

This flights lark is getting beyond boring now. BUT at last we made the right decision. i.e not to trek up to Luton today.

Our flight was cancelled and therefore we are entitled to a full refund. Hoorah. The easyjet website is being difficult at the moment (big surprise) so don't actually have one yet, but nearly there.

In other news, it was also the right decision to put nearly an entire bottle of brandy in my Christmas cake. I had a slice this afternoon and it tasted very moist and good indeed.

Still at home

So. Luton airport closed yesterday evening. No rail or road links to even get there. As the snow was falling outside our front door yesterday evening, we had to take the decision that we were going to struggle to get to our local station this morning. Let alone 2 trains and a tube to Luton for a flight that was in all likelihood not going to go.

We have transferred our original BA flights back to tomorrow from Heathrow - where we will try again.

Mild grumpiness this morning that BA crew strikes, and adverse weather have caused us all this palaver.

Hey ho. Bonus day of Jonny at home and think we will just go with it.

As Marilla always said to Anne: "Tomorrow is all brand new with no mistakes in it."

Oh snow

Snow snow snow. All around Richmond and Sheen. And Luton airport. All flights currently suspended.

I've never seen a white Christmas. Although I have often wished for one, right now it is not snow welcome.

Am sat here in front of the BBC weather forecast. Severe weather warning. Snow. Ice. Fog. Delays. Closures. Great.

No more info at present... BUT I hope to be blogging from East Jerusalem over the next few days. Or at least taking pictures all over the Holy Land to blog on when I get back.

Christmas Day: Take 1

I've just had a lovely Christmas Day. I know it isn't actually December 25th today, but as we are away for Christmas this year, my side of the family celebrated today.

As we were hosting, there was a big emphasis on planning the menu:

Starter: Smoked Salmon platter (courtesy of Sarah and Jon) with Dates stuffed with cheese wrapped in pancetta.

Mains: Roast Turkey crown, Fully festive Ham, Pigs in Blankets, Roast Potatoes, Roast Parsnips, Gingerbread Stuffing, Sprouts, Carrots, Bread Sauce, Cranberry Sauce, Gravy.

Afters: Bouche de Noel, Jelly (courtesy of Mum,) Ice Cream (courtesy of Green and Blacks)

I started preparing 2 days ago. Nigella provided the instructions for most of it, she rarely lets me down and the first section of the Feast book was the source of guidance for most of the mains.

The Ham is my traditional thing to make at Christmas. I have never cooked a turkey before though so followed her method of soaking it in water with lots of spices, which apparently guarantees that it will not dry out. It didn't. The Gingerbread stuffing was also a new one for us. It was recommended by a friend. Jonny didn't like it but everyone else did.

After our night out last night I was a little weary this morning and there were quite a few dishes on the go. Fortunately we had prepared a lot in advance and brainy Jonny provided me with a timing schedule. It was still a bit hectic when we all sat down but everyone ate well.

Maisie had little / no interest in her sleep today. So was a little over excited. We opened all our presents around the tree after lunch, the way we always do, and the biggest hit with Maisie was her Peppa Pig umbrella. We all got lots of nice things.

I sit here rather tired this evening, despite the assistance of lots of hands to wash and wipe and a dishwasher. I have that content Christmas feeling though. Grateful for a lovely day. Grateful for family. Just grateful for today. Christmas day: Take 1.

Feeling Festive

The snow is falling and it is crispy cold outside. But it is toasty warm inside.

The first thing I did this morning was to boil up the cranberries for my festive dessert that I am taking for pudding tonight with friends Gen and Adam and Ali and Tris. Cranberries spark thoughts of Christmas to foodies. That rich berry colour is just like that warm feeling of Christmas. I love this time of year.

Next up was the decoration of the Christmas cake that has been nurtured for weeks. How did I do?

Here is the final result:

Later on I visit the local butchers and buy a large gammon that is going to be transformed into a fully festive ham over the weekend. The turkey crown is defrosting in the conservatory. The Christmas log has been baked too.

As I sit here I look at the Christmas tree, sparkling away, with presents underneath - I have peace right now. And I feel very festive.

Thank you and my Christmas Wish

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

To all who donated me shoes, books, clothes, dvds, bags etc etc for my ebay project. I have just donated £500 to Breast Cancer Campaign on-line. Together with the £120 I raised from the pub quiz's and and additional £14o of gift aid, that brings the total to £760. All this money will go straight into targeted research towards finding that longed for cure for this horrid disease.

It has been a good year for raising money towards funding Breast Cancer research. In May I walked 16 miles as part of the Pink Power Walk in my local area and raised £1,020 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. With gift aid that brings that to over £1,250.

Those who know me well, know I spent a long time in fear of fundraising for Breast Cancer charities. I didn't want the association. I just longed, and still do, to be free of it. But doing this "bit" has helped me to feel supported. And I am contributing towards the hope of a future that, one day, our world will be free of Breast Cancer.

But for now, this is where I am. And with your support, sore legs from my walk in May, and many many trips to the post office....I have raised over £2,000.

Whilst this is good, it is a drop in the ocean as far as amounts that are needed to keep funding targeted research.

And so. My Christmas wish is:

Click on the link below and donate what you can. Even if it is only a fiver. As Mother Theresa once said:

"It may only be a drop in the ocean, but the ocean is made up of lots of drops."

http://www.breastcancercampaign.org/donations/

Thank you again. And my second wish is that you have a very Merry Christmas.

Flights update

Around about Tuesday or maybe Wednesday this week the BA strike was very much still on. We didn't know what to do. BA were giving us NO information as to whether our flights were going to be going, and being extremely unhelpful. Meanwhile, the cost of alternative flights was escalating.

We did, however, manage to find some Easyjet flights from Luton for a similar price to our BA ones. It was a big dilemma which way to jump. But in the end we decided to buy the Easyjet ones too so we could get to Jerusalem next week. Our friends have been cooking for weeks. We have been looking forward to this for ages. And I really didn't want BA cabin crew to ruin our Christmas plans.

Of course, as is the way with these things, this afternoon the High Court ruled that the BA strike is in fact illegal. So in theory it won't be going ahead. So that means no refund on our BA seats. We now have 4 flights for Christmas.

However, we think that BA will let us transfer our flights to another date. And quite frankly I don't think London Heathrow is going to be a good place to hang out next week. The BBC website reports that:

• Many BA cabin crew are proposing to not turn up anyway
• The Union Unite is proposing to hold another ballot if Willie Walsh doesn't give into their demands
• Both Check-in staff and baggage staff are calling a series of 48 hour strikes over the Christmas period. Starting with the day we are flying

So I am still glad we opted to get some other flights. Am sure Stelios is pleased with all this BA business too. The cabin crew seriously seem to have lost the plot. Don't they realise that their employer is in massive debt and this action could seriously push BA under? Then they won't have jobs at all.

And when they go for an interview at Virgin or Easyjet because they need a job and blew their BA one I imagine the first question they will be asked is:

"So, why did you leave BA?"

"Well. You see. I threw all my toys out of the pram because I felt I shouldn't be affected by the recession. And it seems in the process the company went into the red. Silly me."

"Genuis. Close the door on your way out."

Oh no - BA Strikes - Grrr...

I can't believe it.

BA have just announced that cabin crew will be striking from 22 December til 2 January. We are due to fly on 22 December to be with our dear friends in Jerusalem all over Christmas. And our flights are with BA.

Apparently they will continue with talks and there is still hope that the strike will be called off. Can I just say:

Dear BA Crew Union or whoever you may be,

I understand you are upset that your company is not making as much money and this has an impact on your employment contracts. I appreciate that you are having to work longer hours with less crew. I accept this is tough for you.

BUT this is common to most industries at the moment. Things are just not fair. My husband researches tech companies for a bank. He had NOTHING to do with any of the decisions around dodgy US mortgages, but as he works for a bank, he has to pay a shed load more tax than the rest of the UK population and has been working ridiculous hours all year and will not be receiving financial compensation for this either. We don't think this is fair. But my husband still gets up at 5.30 every morning and goes to work for 12 hours because that is the way life is right now.

This is the global financial situation we find ourselves in. And for us, who have had a shed load of other rubbish thrown at them this year with my health, we have been very much looking forward to Christmas with our friends. More than you can imagine. We have to take the rough with the smooth.

Lots of people don't have jobs. If you don't turn up to yours, then the impact on people like us - who are also suffering "unfair" compensation because of the recession, and loads of other stuff that is unfair actually - will be hugely disappointing.

I know you don't know us. But I am asking you to think of us. Two people who have paid for their flights to be with their friends for Christmas. Who have planned their Christmas time. And really need YOU to go to work. Please.

Best wishes

Jo Blogz

Christmas Jumpers

My friend Beth had a birthday quiz at The White Horse in Richmond on Saturday night. The dress code was "Christmas Jumpers," which not all of us rose to but here we are - looking fully festive I think.

Great Christmas buffet. Great Quiz. Just a shame that without Jonny sat by my side my team came last. We even drafted in help from actor John Hannah, who was in the pub with his very beautiful wife. He tried to help us out with our Disney round but couldn't remember much either. Nice man.

Happy Birthday Beth-star.

Christmas Cake 2009 - Icing

So. The cake has been made, fed and marzipanned. Now it was time to move onto icing. I followed the Delia royal icing guidance, which takes about 10 minutes with an electric whisk to get your egg whites and icing sugar looking like this:

I used 4 egg whites and about 550g of icing sugar for my 8 inch diameter cake.

Now it is time for the fun bit. Getting the cake to look snowy Christmassy white. ALWAYS start with the top. It is much harder to blend the sides to the top. Start by dolluping in the centre and then work out towards the edges:

I then used a large plastic pastry brush to cover the sides. And end up with this:

Delia recommends 2 or 3 coats. I have just done my second and it now looks like this:

One more coat and then it will be put away and the final decorations added next weekend. This should make a good centrepiece for the table next weekend when the family arrive. I have to find some use for it. After all. as I have said before, people don't like Christmas cake much. I will be having a slice at some point though and enjoy the weeks of nurturing this cake has had.

Mince Pies

I used my home alone morning today to catch up on some TV, read the papers, go for a long walk in the park and to do some Christmas baking. It was mince pies this morning. They aren't for us. My Mum is making those for our family Christmas lunch next weekend. These are for the carol service. So, they needed to be quite good, or at least look presentable.

Lots of people tend to be fearful of pastry. Believe you me I have tried out a few recipes myself that haven't worked. These days I have one pastry recipe that never fails. So be it a savory or a sweet dish, this the pastry I use. If you have a magi mix it is even easier.

Ingredients:

300g Self raising flour
150g butter / margarine
Pinch of maldon salt
Cold water

Without Magi Mix: You will get your fingers dirty. Using clean hands mix/crumble the fat into the flour to get breadcrumbs. add the salt. Just lift it up lots to get lots of air. Make a well in the centre of your bowl. Drizzle in a couple of tablespoons of water and mix with a metal spoon until the mixture starts to bind. Then use your hand to kneed. If it is too sticky, add more water, and if too crumbly add a little more cold water.

With a Magi Mix. Put the flour, fat and salt into the mixer. Use the large blade to whizz to make breadcrumbs. Switch to the large paddle/dough maker blade. Add a little cold water. Whizz to make dough.

On a good flat clean surface kneed your dough a little more and then roll out to make pastry. For mince pies this needs to be about half a centimetre thick.

For the mince pies you need to grease the linings of a 12 hole cake tin. You also need a large and a smaller cutter. Use the large cutter to cut the bottom linings. Place gently in the tray and then add about 2 spoonfuls of good quality mincemeat to each pie. Take care not to over fill. Then using the smaller cutter, cut the lids. Place on top of each individual pie, using a little water to stick.

Stab each pie a couple of times with a sharp knife. Brush with some milk and sprinkle with some brown sugar. I think brown sugar makes them even more seasonal.

Place in oven for just over 25 minutes, until golden brown. Then transfer to a cooling rack.

These freeze well. That's exactly where mine will be going before being dropped off at church later in the week. I took a picture of them first though:

Christmas Party Wardrobe Crisis

I have Christmas drinks this evening at Jonny's boss's house. They are really lovely people and I am happy to go along it's just that...

... I never know what to wear or what to say at these things. I know the safe option for these things is black. I just look like a ghost in too much black. I shared this with my friend earlier in the week who then let me raid her walk-in wardrobe that is full of lots of beautiful things. I had serious wardrobe envy. BUT this just about saved the day as I now have 3 possible dresses, different shades of tights, 1 pair of boots and 1 possible pair of shoes and it has to be a combination of these.

So that is clothes sorted. I just need to find my voice. Seriously I sound like an ancient croaky lady right now. I have had a sore throat all week and now my voice has gone really funny and it is a bit of a strain to talk.

Maybe I should wear a sign saying I have lost my voice and then I won't need to stress about what to say either.

Not sure that is going to work and I really should have spent more time reading the financial section of the paper the last couple of days so I can keep up on any intelligent chat about current affairs such as Alistair Darling trying to destroy the service sector 20 years after the Tories destroyed the country's manufacturing base. Or the Nobel peace prize going to Barack Obama before he has done much. Instead I think I may need to seek out another WAG and talk about the X factor or Strictly Come Dancing. I wish I had more brain cells.

UPDATE:

Had a lovely evening. Was suitably dressed in a sparkly enough outfit and was good to put names to faces. Beautiful home, free flowing champagne and very nice canapes made for a really nice time. Turns out if I talk cooking and pilates I can get myself through a social evening like this too. No reading of the FT needed. Either that or it is blindingly obvious that I am just not that intelligent. (I'm a qualified Chartered Accountant actually, but just not a very clever one.)

Christmas Cake 2009 - Marzipan

I have mazipanned the cake that no one will eat this evening. I had to do this for 2 reasons. Firstly, I have got so carried away with "feeding" it, that it now has nearly an entire bottle of brandy in it. Secondly, Delia says you need to allow at least a week between marzipan and royal icing. It needs to be ready for the family Christmas lunch next weekend.

I make my own marzipan. Delia calls it "almond paste." It's marzipan. And mine has Amaretto in it rather than brandy for an even more intense almond flavour. If I didn't have a magimix I wouldn't even think about making my own marzipan. But as I do, here is my work in progress:

P.S. Crossfields fear not. I have some left over marzipan and so if it lasts and doesn't get eaten I will make you some marzipan chocolates for Christmas.

Cranberry Sauce Recipe

I'm hosting the Christmas lunch for the my side of the family next weekend. We are celebrating as a family the weekend before Christmas, as some of us will be away. I have started planning. And I have started cooking. I am making as much as possible myself. Any excuse to cook. Although I love to cook, I am also a very big fan of doing ahead so decided to start putting a few things in the freezer ready. First up was cranberry sauce.

I have seen some recipes suggesting adding orange peel, but I had satsumas and decided to put in the juice too, as an alternative to additional water and to make it even more Christmassy tasting.

Ingredients:

300g Cranberries
4 Satsumas and their juice
Splash of water from the kettle
Splash of brandy (shhh...)
3 tablespoons of sugar/sugar alternative

Put all of the ingredients except for the sugar in a heavy based pan. Boil up for about 5 minutes until the cranberries start to pop. Push down with a wooden spoon to make a sauce consistency. I don't overdo the squashing as I want this to look like I made it. Add sugar to taste. This is to take of the sharpness of the stewed cranberries. Leave to cool. Whack in freezer and then defrost and warm through when needed.

This is clearly not for those who don't agree with fruit and savory combinations, like the other JC. But personally I like a large spoonful of cranberry sauce with my Christmas lunch and am looking forward to this one already.