And they say that at Christmas all roads lead home… And they do, around 6 hours after we had left Cologne!
We spent Christmas itself in a beautiful cottage in a tiny Hampshire village, with my sister and her partner (who proved to be a good in-house children’s entertainer – thank you Andy!)… The cottage proved to be the perfect environment for a family Christmas, and was equipped to the nines with everything we could think of. The owners had even kindly stuck up a Christmas tree for us, and left a bottle of Fizz in the fridge too – both of which were most welcome. Situated on the edge of woodland in an area of outstanding natural beauty, there are hundreds of walks on your doorstep, and a very fabulous 13th century Inn just up the road for when the weather’s bad (which turned out to be most of the time on this occasion!), I couldn’t recommend this place enough for a stay in the sticks, it is truly gorgeous. Just don’t all book it at once, I want to stay there again, and if you do book it – make sure to tell them I sent you!…
With my Mum up the road and other family close at hand, it proved to be the best Christmas in the three years since we have been away. As much as I enjoy learning about different cultures and their celebrations and all that, sometimes you can’t beat those that you have grown up with. Anyway, other countries don’t sell Heston Blumenthal’s Figgy pudding with Sticky Toffee Filling, and that (as a finale to Christmas Dinner), was almost worth the 12 hour drive in itself!
We spent Boxing day with my Grandparents, a traditional family get together day for us. It was wonderful to be able to rejoin these celebrations, as to be honest it’s this kind of thing that I have missed the most since our Expat jaunt began. For the Small People to be able to enjoy the company of these cherished wise souls, and get to know them even better was probably the best Christmas present of all.
Great-Grandmother and Great-Grandaughter enjoying a Festive Lunch Together
New Year was equally nice and was spent in London, with my Dad and Step-Mother… And then before we knew it, the time had come to load up the (by now heavily laden) car and start the journey back again.
We left at 6am on a suprisingly empty M25, and to the most spectacular sunrise – the beauty of which didn’t exactly help my emotional state. I hate leaving, I always have. That familiar rush of feelings about not wanting to leave friends and family behind, what we have given up, and how our lives could have been had we stayed, usually has me going through a “cross about it all” phase, and a mini rebellion against our lives here often ensues (empty promises to myself to give up language lessons and the like for example). Thankfully having done this for over three years now, I know it doesn’t take long for the negative feelings to disappear, and now that school is back, I am currently enjoying getting back into a routine (and yes, those German lessons!). It’s nice to be back…
Funky Wellies says
Lovely post! Very happy for you that you had such a fab time. xx
bavaria says
Thank you very much! Hope you had a lovely Festive season too! :) xx
Rollercoaster Mum says
Glad you had a great Christmas – not that far from us (although I’ve never heard of Chute Chadley!) That sunrise is just amazing!
bavaria says
Thank you Rebecca, it’s a nice part of the world isn’t it? And yes, it was quite a sunrise! :)
Sarah Hill says
This sounds like a wonderful Christmas and I love the idea of the cherished wise souls, all mine are sadly departed now. I also love Hampshire as it as where my dad lives, the other side of Winchester from where you were. And I too hate leaving home, ever since I went to university walking out of the front door away from family has always been hard. Glad you had such a great time and that now you are back thinks aren’t too bad. x
bavaria says
Thank you Sarah. Hampshire is a nice area isn’t it? There’s some beautiful countryside around there… It was a gorgeous Christmas thank you, and I made sure to enjoy every minute I spent with my grandparents! Everything is fine now thank you, it usually doesn’t take too long :D xx
Victoria says
Best Christmas I’ve had since we were little! Loved spending time with you properly and waking up with my two favourite little people on Christmas day! :) Andy liked his mention btw Xxxx
bavaria says
It was lovely to be with you both. And thank you for helping Father Christmas too! :) xxxx
Very Bored in Catalunya says
I always hate leaving, and the first week of our return home again. Glad you had a lovely Christmas though. xx
bavaria says
Horrible isn’t it? Hope you had a lovely Christmas and New Year too. Happy 2013! :) xx
Midlife Singlemum says
I know those leaving feelings so well. But home is where you make it and your own routine also helps. Happy New Year. xxx
bavaria says
That’s very true. You know that probably more than I do! :) xxx
Mama Syder says
Sounds like you had a wonderful Christmas. I really like the look of that cottage, it looks beautiful! x
bavaria says
Thank you Mama S, hope you did too! Yes, the cottage is gorgeous. Probably the nicest cottage we have ever stayed in, in the UK! :) x
Trish - Mum's Gone to says
The cottage looks gorgeous – I clicked through for a gander! So pleased it all worked out so well for you.
We always stay put at Christmas and I don’t think Rory would cope, even at 16, going somewhere else. It was lovely having Mum to stay with us this time, normally we do a Newcastle run some time in December, so this was far more relaxing.
Adore that photo xx
bavaria says
Thanks Trish! Hard isn’t it, contemplating being somewhere other than at home for Christmas! Hope you had a lovely one! xxx
A Patchwork Life says
Glad you’re back into the swing of things – it must be hard sometimes, especially after such a great Christmas break with family. Love the sound of that cottage, and can’t believe I haven’t heard of HB’s Figgy pudding before!
The sunrise is stunning. Amazing, dramatic mix of colours x
bavaria says
Thank you… It is hard sometimes, but then I have to remember how lucky we are to be able to do this! xx
Jazzygal says
Heartwarming festive catch-up, with glorious photos to match! Love the sunrises but love, love LOVE the black and white one of Great -Grandmother and Great-Great grandaughter. Definitely a keeper :-)
Sounds like a wonderful family Chrsitmas, so glad you enjoyed.
xx Jazzy
bavaria says
Thanks Jazzy! Glad you like the photos! I don’t normally include personal photographs, but this one is special so I thought I would! :) It was lovely, hope yours was too! :) xx
The View From the Table says
Sounds like you’ve got Christmas boxed off, it’s hard when you live away from family, logistically and emotionally. Sometimes you end up pleasing everyone except yourself and your own family unit but it sounds like you’ve found the perfect solution. And an empty M25! Wow! :)
bavaria says
Thank you! I discovered a long time ago that the best solution for when we are back is to tell everyone a time and place and get them all to come and see us! That way we don’t have to do much running around! I know, couldn’t believe the M25! :) xx
Helen says
i can hear Chris Rea’s driving home for Christmas as i read this, glad you had a lovely time
bavaria says
I couldn’t stop singing that blinking song! :D Thank you xx