[Meme] Christmas Advent
Inspired by foxy76 and inbetween_girl, a somewhat belated countdown to Christmas:
Day 01 - Audio of one of your favourite Christmas songs: Growing up I enjoyed Do they know it's Christmas by Band Aid - everyone coming together, putting egos aside (on screen at least) and the theme of other people rather than "my loot" all resonated. Of course, I can't mention it these days without referencing Africa for Norway :)
Day 02 - Your favourite Christmas of all time: Last time we had everyone together for Christmas. It must have been eight years ago, we had my grandparents, parents, siblings and all the cousins on my mum's side for Christmas Day at my grandparents. We also had a massive tree and everyone got everyone a present. That year I got everyone a woolen beanie, so there's a photo of them all in finery and a little hat
Day 03 - Best gift ever received: From my cousins, a tin boat that was tealight-powered. You put it in the bath and it used the heat from the tealight to push water out of two pipes under the boat
Day 04 - Best gift ever given: Aside from the beanies, it has to be a handbag for euphuistica: inside the wrapped bag were little wrapped gifts of the stuff she normally carries in her handbag
Day 05 - Favourite Christmas television: Difficult one, not having watched TV properly for some time. Probably one of the comedy specials from Smith and Jones or similar
Day 06 - Favourite Christmas film: Die Hard 2. It has santas, jingle bells, snow and Bruce Willis in a vest
Day 07 - Favourite memory: Going for Boxing Day walks either on the sea front or one of the parks near my grandparents
Day 08 - A holiday dessert of your choosing: Absolutely has to Christmas Pudding with brandy butter - it's like concentrated mince pies without the pastry getting in the way and I'm not allowed to pick Christmas cake since my sister and I tunnelled into the side of ours and mined out the interior three days before Christmas Day one year
Day 09 - Best holiday traditions: Whilst I was in the UK, being a Christmas Elf with my mum - preparing people's stockings and little Christmas treats after midnight mass and then helping prepare Christmas dinner the next day. In Singapore, preparing our Orphan's Christmas with a house full of random friends
Day 10 - Do you give to charities or other people around the holidays? Which is your cause of choice?: Yes, I send a virtual Good Gifts card rather than physical ones. Expect this year's soon :)
Day 11 - Are you any good at wrapping presents? Describe a gift wrapped by you.: Depends what you mean. I can wrap effectively and I can wrap humourously. If I recall, my mum received a point-and-shoot camera one year, wrapped as if an AK-47
Day 12 - Favourite Christmas book: Don't think I've knowingly read a Christmas book, unless Narnia counts?
Day 13 - Describe your typical Christmas Eve: As per Day 09, in the UK this would have previously been midnight mass and then Elf-dom. In Singapore it was usually some kind of party, occassionally themed with mince pies. Re-establishing what it should look like now we're back
Day 14 - Sneak a peek at gifts or wait it out?: Wait it out. What kind of crazy fool tries to sneak a peek
Day 15 - Do you still believe in Santa Claus? If no, how did you find out he was fake?: No. Do not recall a time when I believed he was real, but he wasn't an emphasis when we were growing up (though the magic of Christmas was/is)
Day 16 - Most meaningful Christmas memory: Realising I was in Foreign Parts for Christmas for the first time
Day 17 - What is your absolute favourite part of the holidays? Only one.: Boxing Day. Replete with food, surrounded by family and either out for a brisk walk or curled up with a book or film
Day 18 - If you could spend the holiday any place in the entire world, with whomever you want, where would you be and who would you be with?: In a cottage in Scotland, filled with family
And the other challenges, for my reference
Day 19 - Your view on eggnog.
Day 20 - One Christmas wish.
Day 21 - A detailed explanation of what your house looks like on December 25th.
Day 22 - Name all nine reindeer without using a search engine.
Day 23 - Most meaningful Christmas memory.
Day 24 - Why is Christmas important to you?
Day 25 - Describe your day. Merry Christmas :-)
Day 01 - Audio of one of your favourite Christmas songs: Growing up I enjoyed Do they know it's Christmas by Band Aid - everyone coming together, putting egos aside (on screen at least) and the theme of other people rather than "my loot" all resonated. Of course, I can't mention it these days without referencing Africa for Norway :)
Day 02 - Your favourite Christmas of all time: Last time we had everyone together for Christmas. It must have been eight years ago, we had my grandparents, parents, siblings and all the cousins on my mum's side for Christmas Day at my grandparents. We also had a massive tree and everyone got everyone a present. That year I got everyone a woolen beanie, so there's a photo of them all in finery and a little hat
Day 03 - Best gift ever received: From my cousins, a tin boat that was tealight-powered. You put it in the bath and it used the heat from the tealight to push water out of two pipes under the boat
Day 04 - Best gift ever given: Aside from the beanies, it has to be a handbag for euphuistica: inside the wrapped bag were little wrapped gifts of the stuff she normally carries in her handbag
Day 05 - Favourite Christmas television: Difficult one, not having watched TV properly for some time. Probably one of the comedy specials from Smith and Jones or similar
Day 06 - Favourite Christmas film: Die Hard 2. It has santas, jingle bells, snow and Bruce Willis in a vest
Day 07 - Favourite memory: Going for Boxing Day walks either on the sea front or one of the parks near my grandparents
Day 08 - A holiday dessert of your choosing: Absolutely has to Christmas Pudding with brandy butter - it's like concentrated mince pies without the pastry getting in the way and I'm not allowed to pick Christmas cake since my sister and I tunnelled into the side of ours and mined out the interior three days before Christmas Day one year
Day 09 - Best holiday traditions: Whilst I was in the UK, being a Christmas Elf with my mum - preparing people's stockings and little Christmas treats after midnight mass and then helping prepare Christmas dinner the next day. In Singapore, preparing our Orphan's Christmas with a house full of random friends
Day 10 - Do you give to charities or other people around the holidays? Which is your cause of choice?: Yes, I send a virtual Good Gifts card rather than physical ones. Expect this year's soon :)
Day 11 - Are you any good at wrapping presents? Describe a gift wrapped by you.: Depends what you mean. I can wrap effectively and I can wrap humourously. If I recall, my mum received a point-and-shoot camera one year, wrapped as if an AK-47
Day 12 - Favourite Christmas book: Don't think I've knowingly read a Christmas book, unless Narnia counts?
Day 13 - Describe your typical Christmas Eve: As per Day 09, in the UK this would have previously been midnight mass and then Elf-dom. In Singapore it was usually some kind of party, occassionally themed with mince pies. Re-establishing what it should look like now we're back
Day 14 - Sneak a peek at gifts or wait it out?: Wait it out. What kind of crazy fool tries to sneak a peek
Day 15 - Do you still believe in Santa Claus? If no, how did you find out he was fake?: No. Do not recall a time when I believed he was real, but he wasn't an emphasis when we were growing up (though the magic of Christmas was/is)
Day 16 - Most meaningful Christmas memory: Realising I was in Foreign Parts for Christmas for the first time
Day 17 - What is your absolute favourite part of the holidays? Only one.: Boxing Day. Replete with food, surrounded by family and either out for a brisk walk or curled up with a book or film
Day 18 - If you could spend the holiday any place in the entire world, with whomever you want, where would you be and who would you be with?: In a cottage in Scotland, filled with family
And the other challenges, for my reference
Day 19 - Your view on eggnog.
Day 20 - One Christmas wish.
Day 21 - A detailed explanation of what your house looks like on December 25th.
Day 22 - Name all nine reindeer without using a search engine.
Day 23 - Most meaningful Christmas memory.
Day 24 - Why is Christmas important to you?
Day 25 - Describe your day. Merry Christmas :-)