Besom Christmas Lunch

After the morning service, we went for Besom's Christmas lunch at another church. Christmas can be a lonely time for some people. Besom is a charity that provides the bridge between those who want to give time, money or skills and those in need.

We had an amazing time, meeting lots of different people and children.
Christmas lunch was largely carrots and peas for me.

While dada and mommy were distracted, I kept myself busy.

Here I am, playing table tennis with Rosie and Laura. They were very supportive, literally.

Then Santa appeared. He had pressies for everyone. We all had been good this year.

Got another! You can tell from the smile on my face.



We sang a couple of carols heartily after the meal.

The children sat down for a game of pass the parcel. I won a packet of chocolate in the first round and thus lost interest after that. The winner won a doll.

The star team was led by Julian and Julia T. It was a brilliant effort by all.

Mary, did you know

A song we heard in the service on Christmas day:

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Did you know
That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered
Will soon deliver you

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Did you know
That your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know
That your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby
You've kissed the face of God

Mary, did you know?
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
And the dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the lamb

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy is lord of all creation?
Did you know
That your baby boy will one day rules the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy is heavens perfect lamb?
This sleeping child youre holding
Is the Great I Am

Tis Christmas Morn

Santa is coming, Santa is coming and THEN.. Santa came! He brought some pressies for me too, as mommy said that I had been a good girl.

Unwrapping pressies is part of the fun. I love all of the gifts I received. Thank you all very much!





One of the highlights was the green noisette chocolate chunk. A little treat on Christmas morn. That was enough to keep me hyper for the rest of the morning.

Crib Service on Christmas Eve

During the crib service, many children dressed up as wise men, shepherds, Mary and Joseph, and even as a camel. I was a reluctant duck, quack quack quack! It didn't take long for the costume to come off.
The nativity scene itself: This was where the little babe born on Christmas day lay. The humble truth: A King born in a manger.


Meet the star of the evening, Ned the donkey. He is such a sweet, gentle donkey.

Cologne Christmas Market on the Southbank

Christmas markets in London lit up the river banks of Thames. We took the train on Sunday afternoon for a stroll by the river.

Pretty timber chalets stored Christmas goodies and pressies. There was a Santa's grotto with elves and Santa mama making gingerbread men.

It was an amazing experience browsing each store. To my surprise, there was even one selling wooden ties.

Dada tried a German bratwurst sausage in a bun. Totally yummy!

I had a ride on a horse in the golden carousel with Dada.






On the way home, I sat contentedly with my char siu pau from China town.

Christmas party and Pantomime

Last Saturday, we went to mommy's company's Christmas party. It was really fun. I had my face painted (for the second time in 2 days).

We sat down and watched "Dick Whittington and his cat" panto. The evil witch was too scary for me after a while, so I got up and look for mommy and daddy.

We stopped for lunch intermission. Daddy seemed to enjoy it very much too.

After that, we had Father Christmas. He was a little late, but he more than made up for it. We played with balloons for a while, and then he arrived!

A big grin from me and my big pressie.

Can't wait to open it!

Uncle Wai

Uncle Wai visited us last weekend with Aunty Ireana. We had a huge dinner, yummy - roast duck and siew yuk with Indian curries!

I shared some strawberries with him too while we watched cartoon together.

Just had my face painted as a butterfly at Samuel's school Christmas Fete. Matthew was Spidey! There was a real reindeer there too. What a treat indeed.

Breathtaking Brugge

Also known as "Venice of the North", Brugge is surrounded by canals. In 1488 the people of Bruges had executed one of the town administrators, called 'Pieter Lanchals', a name which means ' long neck'.
The Lanchals family coat of arms featured a white swan. Legend has it that Maximilian punished Bruges by obliging the population to keep swans on their lakes and canals till eternity.


One of our favourite parts was Minnewater, also known as the "Lake of Love".





A kind lady shared some bread with me to feed the ducks with. I ran away when they became too friendly.




By Minnewaters. I want to fly, just like one of the seagulls.




In the Beguine's House, lived the Begijns who were religious women, similar to nuns. They accepted vows of chastity and obedience but earned a living by looking after the sick and making lace.




The beautiful and tranquil little cluster of 17th-century whitewashed houses surrounded by a lawn with poplar trees and flowers.

It was then occupied by the Benedictine nuns of the Monasterium De Wijngaard, who try to keep the begijns' traditions alive.




The almhouses, "godshuizen" (or houses of god) were built by the rich in Bruges from the 13th century onward as refuges for widows and the poor.


There are 4 old windmills which are no longer in use. Only one of these mills, St Janshuis' windmill, which dates from 1770 survives in its original position. The modern whizzy ones have replaced them.

Just being cheeky.

The last of the golden leaves before winter arrives.

Pretty (&) Tempting Brugge

It was easy to fall in love with Brugge. The little lace shops lined on cobble-stoned streets paraded carefully decorated windows. You could find chocolatiers almost around every corner.

Some of them have been run by families for generations. There were chocolate Santa bears and yule logs filled with truffles, all in the festive atmosphere.

The fine handcarved truffles sights and fresh, rich praline smells enticed each passerby.

Mom succumbed to the temptation quite easily.

There was a really pretty and unique Christmas shop, called Kathe Wohlfahrt. It was filled with colourful baubbles, wooden nativity sets, toy soldiers and fluffy angels.

Flanders seem to love dogs. We saw lots of pure breeds, Beagles, terriers, Spaniels, Golden Retrievers, all being walked, sitting and driven around.

This little terrier waited patiently for its owner outside a cafe. How well-trained and obedient it is!

There was a little cafe with cute gnomes and hedgehogs in the window.

Not surprising that smurfs, "Les Schtroumpfs" were created by Belgian cartoonist, Peyo which celebrated their 50 years anniversary this year.

They lived in toadstool homes, similar to these ones.

Other whimsical stuff that we came across were the oriental men eggholders, complete with spoons by their sides.

The pair of monkey condiments were equally delightful.