Christmas
A quiet Christmas was planned as usual, just the family. My grandparents, my aunt and uncle and my mom and me. Usually they all come over to our place (we live about one street away from them) and we open and exchange gifts, eat tons then everyone goes off for a rest then back later for tea or hot chocolate etc.
This past year my grandfathers health hasn't been brilliant. He can't manage stairs very well (we have many in our place) and he can't walk too far. His memory is also fading at a rapid rate and he has stopped eating much of anything the last couple of months. So this morning we get a call to say he is still in bed, feeling dizzy and they wouldn't be coming over.
Roll on a few hours and they managed to make the trip over, my mom fed everyone and family festivities were had. The whole time trying not to think this may be the last time we have Christmas together with all of us still here.
Then we had a knock at the door. Our lovely new neighbours had come to give us some food - to share their Christmas traditions. West Indian jerk chicken, patties and lots and lots of rice! In all my time in London I've never experienced that sharing - cards and small gifts yes but I thought this was really nice of them. Maybe its because they are fellow Africans and it is more the done thing to know your neighbours really well and be familier with them.
Roll on another hour and our downstairs neighbour messages me to say she has left me a little something downstairs as she was heading out to her moms for the day. Birthday rum cake! MMmm yummy!
Now the day is winding down, gifts have been put away (I will never be cold again with the amount of thermals I was given) and just waiting on the families return for some dvd time.
I hope everyone here has had a good day and I wish you all a Merry Christmas and lots of festive cheer!
This past year my grandfathers health hasn't been brilliant. He can't manage stairs very well (we have many in our place) and he can't walk too far. His memory is also fading at a rapid rate and he has stopped eating much of anything the last couple of months. So this morning we get a call to say he is still in bed, feeling dizzy and they wouldn't be coming over.
Roll on a few hours and they managed to make the trip over, my mom fed everyone and family festivities were had. The whole time trying not to think this may be the last time we have Christmas together with all of us still here.
Then we had a knock at the door. Our lovely new neighbours had come to give us some food - to share their Christmas traditions. West Indian jerk chicken, patties and lots and lots of rice! In all my time in London I've never experienced that sharing - cards and small gifts yes but I thought this was really nice of them. Maybe its because they are fellow Africans and it is more the done thing to know your neighbours really well and be familier with them.
Roll on another hour and our downstairs neighbour messages me to say she has left me a little something downstairs as she was heading out to her moms for the day. Birthday rum cake! MMmm yummy!
Now the day is winding down, gifts have been put away (I will never be cold again with the amount of thermals I was given) and just waiting on the families return for some dvd time.
I hope everyone here has had a good day and I wish you all a Merry Christmas and lots of festive cheer!