Monday 28 December 2015

The Weather Outside is Frightful . . . .

with skies of unrelieved grey; wet and grey and muddy underfoot. As if Christmas on its own weren’t bad enough. However, I survived, as I hoped I would.


It wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be, it was a toned down English version, an English Christmas without the paper hats and streamers; without the family rows, and bored kids; without endless hours of television. Even without a turkey. Dear kind friends took pity on us and gave us a Christmas dinner of roast goose instead. All very civilised, with good conversation and enough goodwill to solve half the ills of our planet. Sadly, nobody takes notice of sensible, kindly, friendly and peace-loving folk like us.

Christmas is usually a difficult time for me. It’s the time when I’m most aware of being in voluntary exile. The Christmases of my childhood were slow and modest and contemplative ones, festive, with an unchanging order of events, lasting for at least three day, including Holy Night (Christmas Eve in the UK), Christmas Day and the second day of Christmas (Boxing day here). Nowadays, I do my best to forget, ignore, avoid all old-country-ways but all it takes is a sliver of Silent Night sung by a children’s choir on German TV and a secret tear rolls down my face. Ah well, there’s sentiment for you.

We had promised ourselves that we would finally broach our very small collection of decent French reds which we bought many years ago from a proper French dealer in the Loire region. "After all, we don't know what next year will bring; will we still be around to drink it?” We use this phrase rather a lot now. I chose this Gigondas from 2002 to start us off, entirely suitable to go with roast beef on Boxing Day. Beloved took the bottle between his knees and operated on the cork, which promptly crumbled and broke off halfway through uncorking. I had a go and broke the remaining bits of cork. I’d managed to poke a hole through though and laboriously and very slowly emptied the bottle into a plastic jug by means of a paper towel lined funnel. From there it went equally slowly into a glass jug.

And what do you know, it was still drinkable. Not that either of us knows what a 14 yr old Gigondas, chateau-bottled, tastes like before it’s messed around by a pair of rank amateurs. Cheers.

TV was an acceptable part of the festivities too; we watched the final, very final and very stickily sweet  two-hour-long episode of Downton Abbey. All’s well that ends well with not a dry eye in the house. Even the below-stairs lot gets paired off. Most of Doctor Who passed me by, the tremendous noise irritated me; Then there’s the Dickensian, a rather messy soup of most of Dickens’ novels which goes on for twenty half-hour-long episodes (will I stay the course?) and Agatha Christie’s ‘And Then There Were None’, a stylish adaptation to my mind. I like a bit of mindless murder and mayhem, particularly when it’s done in muted colours, bristling moustaches and kind elderly gentlemen being sweet to damsels in distress.

But the best thing about Christmas, as in so many Decembers of our gradually warming climate, are the snowdrops, bravely poking out from the muddy ground. Harbingers of spring? Or foolhardy little treats just waiting to be nipped by frost and covered by snow?



37 comments:

  1. Delightful post!!! ... I loved the tenderness hidden in between your words, Mrs.F ... Belated Merry X Mas to you ... and a very Happy New Year ... smiles ... Love, cat.

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  2. On this side of the pond, Downton Abbey begins next week and we'll see what all happens! I sure enjoyed the series. And one of the best things about Christmas is that is ends. I LOVE those snowdrops poking out. And I laughed as I pictured you drinking your coveted red wine after all the hassle. :-)

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  3. It sounds like a lovely Christmas. I miss the Christmases of my childhood too -- when someone else did all the cooking and cleanup and all I had to do was open presents.

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  4. Oh, I should like "And Then There Were None." Downton, too, of course but "it ain't what it used to be." I hope this season will surprise me. Your weather sounds a bit like ours -- wet and gloomy (though at the moment we are in the midst of an ice storm. Can't really complain -- we've been warm and just fine to date! My daffodils are beginning to sprout up -- which is a bit scary as they'll probably not do so in the spring. How I loved your snow drops!

    The wine sounds wonderful, cork and all! Have a lovely New Year's and onward to a better 2016!

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  5. Happy post-Christmas to you both. It was gray here, too, almost non-stop. J's brother was over from England. Aside from one big dinner we put on, it was a quiet time. We did a lot of reading fireside, our cat moving from lap to lap, had nice home-cooked meals (Moroccan chicken, with olives and preserved lemons for the Day), outings as weather permitted, including a couple movies, one good, one bad, and a quirky bit of theater up at Bard. On reflection, we all thought this was a perfect sort of Christmas, yet unlike any other we'd had to date. (Perhaps that was the trick!) With all best wishes for the year ahead.

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  6. Happy post Christmas indeed. How I would love some of your rain. Far too much of our country is on fire. And other bits are flooding. Some world wide weather moderation would be nice.
    All I want for Christmas is Boxing Day. The fuss is over, I can point hungry people at the fridge (stuffed with left-overs) and settle down in a corner with a book. Or two. And I get my wish every year. Eventually.

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  7. Tradition means much to us so I can see why you would miss the German Christmas. Your weather looks nasty. I don't like a lot of rain .

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  8. Your Christmas turned out quite well it appears. At Jim and I aren't the only one finding it difficult at times to uncork the wine bottle. This story of your Christmas wine makes me feel less alone now. I think I would enjoy your television choices, and I don't ever watch television except to watch the news and Downton. I am excited to see how it goes next week. Love the snowdrops! Stay dry.

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  9. Not much Christmas telly here for me, as we fortunately had (and still have) sunny, dry weather and were out each and every day for long walks.
    I hope my post about our German Christmas wasn't too upsetting.
    The meals and the 14 year old wine sound good, and it certainly is sensible to start doing something about your wine collection - you really never know how long either of you are still going to be around. I never thought my husband would not be around only 5 days after his 41st birthday.

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  10. Hi Friko - it must be soggy up there - but I'm glad you've got through. The goose cooked by friends sounds delicious - yes old traditions ... we seem to go rollicking through the Christmas season - perhaps it's not having kids or hubby - it can almost pass me by.

    The wine sounds good - especially with roast beef - a good roast can't be beat! I have a pheasant awaiting me to de-freeze it and enjoy a small roast here ...

    Glad you were able to keep your wellies on in that mud - I went out on the Downs and squelched through ... thinking I hope I don't fall flat the grey-white chalky mud!

    Hope the weather doesn't bring more distress to many homes and the rural landscape of midland and northern UK ... with thoughts and Happy New Year to you both - cheers Hilary

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    1. I meant to comment on the snowdrop - wonderful ... we were saying we haven't seen any yet down here ... and I was wondering if they needed frost - but no not according to Friko's GPS! We have daisies?! cheers H

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  11. Oh, I look forward to the last season of Downton and knowing there's a 2-hour sickly sweet ending makes me so happy. Christmas is a sentimental time. And now it is almost New Year's! I would be afraid to walk on that muddy pathway...looks so slippery. But then, we are walking on ice and snow over here--LOL! It's 19 F or -7 C here. A different version of frightful, I guess. Was below zero a couple days ago. Be careful walking out there in your wellies--and if you open a bottle of wine for New Year's may the cork stay in one piece! :)

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  12. If you were to compile your stories into a book, I would buy it in a snap, Friko. You always enchant me, as well as inform me, of other customs and lives and such.
    It sounds like you were able to keep Christmas, in spite of all that life has thrown you, with you sense of humor in tact.
    We are having similar weather here - though finally had our first storm of the season and now our little world is a sheet of ice. Sigh. Take care and here is to a good new year.

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  13. We are months away from snowdrops here although we have only reach a cold spring just before January. Maybe there is snow in the future, but no weatherman is staking his reputation on it. My holiday was traditional, as one is with grandchildren, but even it can have its stressful times and biting of the tongue. I would not trade it because it does mean I am still alive. Much better when I was younger and it raced by without a second thought. May you have a blessed New Year filled with numerous bottles of great French wine.

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  14. I'm pretty sure a broken crumbled cork won't ruin a wine. if it does I've drunk more than one ruined bottle of wine. the less I have to do for christmas, the better I like it but surely if you miss German christmases so much you could celebrate that way where you are now though I don't think it is possible to recreate the past. it's just not the same so perhaps keeping it in your memory is best.

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  15. Total reverse of our Christmas which had many adult children, grandchildren. babies and dogs in it. No TV. Much wine and some gin.

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  16. Christmas in Germany is notable (except for the boiled carp). Goose is a much better option. It has never occurred to me to filter out the broken bits of a failed cork. We just drink it anyway and spit out the bits. Lovely snow drops.

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  17. Our Christmas was a noisy one with many people. Lovely, to be sure, and Boxing Day followed with a little more peace.
    No matter how full the house may be or how much laughter there is, Christmas is filled with poignancy. Those tears come quickly to my eyes as I remember Christmas the way it used to be, first, as a child, then as a mother of young children. I think the years crowd in at this season.
    Beautiful snow drops. I went looking for mine but they are no where to be found.

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  18. Gorgeous snowdrops....just don't go out and trample them!

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  19. Dear Friko, can you imagine that I still have just one more Christmas gift to complete. I am almost there!

    Later on this rather soggy grey afternoon, I will visit a friend's home for tea. Lots of chatting and laughter will ensue.

    I have great hopes for 2016, and seeing that beautiful close up view of the snowdrops in Wales has definitely added to my hopes. Happy New Year to you and yours. xo

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  20. Good thing cork has no flavour to it! Maybe that bottle spent too much time upright. Keep your remaining collection on its side to avoid the dry cork. No matter, the wine is worth the hassle of a crumbled cork.

    I never got into DA but might just try again on Netflix. I enjoy a lot of Brit drama.. so much better than most dramas on this side of the pond. The people are real.. not plastic and same with the story lines.

    Your snowdrops are jaw-droppers.. earliest I've ever seen them. Our weather is a-changing.

    Wishing you and your beloved a wonderful 2016!

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  21. There is something to be said about Snowdrops and the hope of better weather they bring! I really enjoyed this post, it touched on so many things that have gone from Modern Christmas. Thank you!

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  22. We here have struggled with the cork too. ha,ha Brought back laughable memories. May the New Year bring happiness to you and your family. Cheers my dear.

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  23. It has been a very mild December thus far even in Hannover and Toronto. But I am not as furtunate as you to see my favorite flower from my days in Germany, Schneeglöchen.
    Here' to a Happy New Year. All the holidays of my youth have been altered in Germany. I was just there and even Santa Claus has replaced Chtistkind on this special holiday. I did enjoy some Glühwein at a couple of Weihnachtsfeste around cities. And I have no idea either what a great wine ought taste like. Tonight we shall try to put togethrt a cheerful Silvesterabend , just us three.

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  24. We've survived another Christmas. I was melancholy on the day. My Mom made Christmas for us, she of Dutch origins and departed this life nearly 50 years ago. I swear the Germans and Dutch invented the celebration and thank you for the tree. I decorated my tiny tree, all I can manage these days, but it is a sweet little thing. Happy New Year!

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  25. Happy new year dear Friko. We don't do much with the silly season. Daughter and I just talked on the phone in the darkening hour of NY eve and are delighted with each other, each spending it alone by the fire with a good book and a knitting back up and the odd web visit.

    XO
    WWW

























    Happy New Year dear Friko, I'm not much into the silly season and choose to spend NY eve alone with the fire and a good book and my knitting. Bliss, the parties and the small (later drunken) talk do nothing for my spirit. I love being old and able to bugger off out of the world at a whim.

    XO
    WWW























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  26. I'm a little jealous that you've already gotten to see Downtown Abbey. Happy new year to you!

    =)

    PS. All it takes is a few strains of Silent Night to get me in Christmas mode. What IS it about that song? It is just lovely. We did a reading a little before Christmas about how the song was written, a story I'm sure you've heard. Really enjoyed knowing more about it!

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  27. Dear Friko, what a wonderful surprise to see your comment on my blog today. Trying to keep up blogging but don't do much that anyone would be interested in. Just feeling soppy at the end of a year and another one coming up probably just like the last. Wish I could travel but in the works. 6 kids and 9 grands never hardly anyone around. All wrapped up in life and travel and business ventures. But we are content in our day to day choices to do what we damn please. Blessings to you and yours.

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  28. I used to want to push plants down into the earth and say "Not yet ! Too soon! Don't be foolish!"

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  29. Every time I see your snow drops, I swoon with envy. They're so pretty, and so early, and such a pristine white. They're a lovely contrast to all that mud you were showing above them.

    I swore this was going to be the year that I stay on top of things, but it's January 2, and I'm already "behind." "Behind," of course, only means that I haven't done all that I wanted -- not that I've missed anything that needed doing. Both Christmas and New Year's were so quiet, I may still be idling along in low gear. Even the tree still is up, although I don't mind that, because I like the lights. I have two battery-operated strings in a glass-fronted bookcase that look lovely. I may turn them on, let them be pretty full time, and then put everything away when the batteries run out. For one thing, I'll know the batteries are gone and can simply throw them.

    We're cold and rainy, too, and that is making me fuss just a little. I'd love to get out for a walk, but I'm pretty sure this isn't going to be the day. Maybe tomorrow. Perhaps a little housecleaning is in order. I always can put on some nice music to go along with it!

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  30. Such a lovely peek into your world, Friko. You always ensure that a visit to your blog is something that leaves a lasting impression on the soil of your readers, through the richness you convey in every line. May you and your beloved man have a wonderful 2016!

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  31. Good friends , good food and good music ... the perfect Christmas , once the children have flown the nest .

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  32. There is something about the childhood Christmas festivities that just can't be brought back later in time, no matter where we are. Is there something in particular that you miss the most about the German traditions?
    It sounds like you had a wonderful Christmas, I like it when it's relaxed with good people around.
    Ein frohes und vor allem gesundes neues Jahr! :)
    Lots of hugs to you,
    Beate

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  33. hello and happy new year, friko,
    my christmas was hardly christmas but i'll be damned if i didn't buy the smallest tree ever and light balsam scented candles. memories flood me this time of year. thankfully they remind me my heart knows how to love.

    "Sadly, nobody takes notice of sensible, kindly, friendly and peace-loving folk like us." i agree. what do we do about this? here as i;m sure you know we americans have this obnoxious braggart named donald trump and he brings out the worse. i force myself to look around to see that the majority of human and animal and plant beings are balanced and kind.

    i hope your year is happy. i hope you have many years ahead. i hope i do too….

    love :^)
    kj

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  34. You always 'tell it like it is' Friko. I depend on that. I had to laugh at the tale of the wine opening - been there, exactly!
    Our Christmas was different from past Christmases - the spectres of illness and infirmity loomed large - but we still celebrated and clung to one another in gratitude and a measure of joy.
    We are still watching Downton here - the wedding of butler and housekeeper has just taken place. Thank you for the recommendation of the Agatha Christie adaptation. I will look forward to it.

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  35. Lovely post. I totally related. Glad to be back in the blog world after a year long absence and find you still here. I'll have to catch up on some older posts with time. The snow drops are beautiful. My daughter tells me that daffodils are blooming on the tow path where her boat is moored in Oxford. We are not so advanced here.

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