Merry Christmas!!!!

Mat arrived in London on December 24th. Since it was all very last minute, we were unable to find a bus/train/flight to take us anywhere---so we stayed in London and decided to make a big Christmas dinner to celebrate. Only 2 of our housemates were still in London and they all contributed somehow to the meal. Here are the pictures to document our amazing first Christmas as a married couple!!!

We began our day with a Christmas Curry. How British.

We went for a Christmas walk and discovered an outdoor gym.
Preventative measures called for a pre-dinner workout.

Unlike home, there is no snow, it is 10 degrees and the sky was grey except for this moment of blue, just before the sun went down.

London is the worst city to visit for Christmas as everything closes.

The entire tube and bus system were closed, leaving you to drive everywhere....
but gas stations were also closed, so don't drive too far.

Here are two of our housemates: Haaris and Unai. Together we all made a wonderful Christmas dinner.

Unai spent the majority of the day making desserts.

Mat made breaded chicken breasts (ASDA had run out of food. the only whole chicken/turkey left was over $80!!!!)

Mat also prepared the vegetables as I drank wine.

Haaris made a traditional Pakistani curry.

This is Haaris taking pictures to show his family how he finally celebrated a traditional Christmas.

Every year since 1957 the Queen has broadcast a Christmas message on BBC.We spent some time watching this year's message.

We even spruced up our table with this very traditional Simpsons wrapping paper.

Mat was very excited to get 2 crackers all to himself. WoW!!!

This is our Christmas table (we moved the tree to eat, as it continuously fell down, and no one likes tree in the mashed potatoes)


We all wore the crowns from our crackers.

Some of us even looked like a model while doing it.

Now, the food....

Here is the lovely curry up close and personal.

This is the breaded chicken and vomit looking stuffing. and this is Magners cider: Mat's new poison.

My plate, full of a little of everything. It was all really delicious. Not as good as home (since it was all fake: instant potatoes and instant stuffing and canned corn). everyone loved it though.

Mat was eager to eat.

So was everyone!

Here is just one of the desserts Unai made for us. This is Mat's presentation. Lovely!

These are the donughts that Unai handmade.

And the double chocolate muffins. Remember, there was only 4 of us.

Like all traditional Christmases, we ate to much and needed to recover.

In just 2 days we will head to Belgium, where we'll spend about 1 week...
then we're going to Italy where I will get to compare my sketch of the Colloseum to the real thing.

We had a wonderful holiday. Hope you did too.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!