Dear Blog Readers, Meowy Christmas! We had a nice quiet evening, well for the most part. I had extended naps during the day so that I could be awake the whole night! I began with my rounds after dinner, making sure that I got noisier the later it got. Cherry and I alternated in pestering
I broke family tradition by baking my Christmas Cake on Christmas Eve itself. My mother would have been positively livid because I didn’t give it time to age. In her book the Christmas Cake or fruit cake hat to age at least six months, lovingly giving it a monthly hot brandy bath. First of all
Christmas season is hectic, and each year I promise myself that I will not be dragged into the rush and commercialism. So far I have managed to trim down and cut a lot of corners, but have nevertheless ended up on the receiving end of other people’s hectic schedules. This is not always a bad
When in Berlin for the holidays, my daughter inevitably visits her best friend. M and M have been friends since Pre-School and in spite of the fact that we moved away from Berlin in 2006 the girls managed to keep in touch in the most marvellous way, which I attribute to the magic of the
Dear Blog Readers, I had a restless night by local standards. Cherry and Lolita somehow manage to sleep through the night, getting up to pee and snack only once, but I was up and about, ready for action. So I declared myself to be Sherif Tiffy because I inspected every suspicious corner and item, meowed
Dear Blog Readers The Cat Police has been on my tail the whole day. Cherry won’t leave me alone and has parked her fuzzy butt in my room. Whenever I move, she wakes up and shadows me. This has ruined her sleep pattern though and as a result, this evening she is super groggy, so
My kitchen is the last place you will ever look into for traditional Christmas cookies, especially German Christmas Cookies. Let me tell you why: my mother learned to bake cookies very late in life, and had it not been for the American and European expats she met during our years in Kenya and Mexico, she
Twas several nights before Christmas, when all through our streetEvery creature was stirring, even the crow, that cheat.The dogs were howling by the gate without a care,In hopes that the St Bernard from nearby would pass without a snare. The guards were nestled all wrapped and bound,While visions of chappatis danced in their heads around.And Mulan in
My mother always insisted on setting an extra place at the Christmas table “just in case someone needs a home on Christmas”, and made sure to cook extra portions for whoever might drop by unannounced. I know of several other families who practice this and I carry on the tradition. This practice of never being
It is quintessential Filipino to first fine the humour in tragedy or adversity. Whether it a political debacle or natural disaster, or even personal loss, the Filipino family will strive to find a way to continue to laugh together. For those who are not familiar with this peculiar trait, or who are married into it
