We are well into Advent now, with the "puente" of 6 and 8 December, Día de la Constitución and Inmaculada Concepción, behind us. The Christmas Party season is about to start.
Preamble
For workers there will be the dreaded “Office Party”, where some folk will get drunk and behave badly. And that’s just the women!
For the retired there will be no work ”dos”. But maybe a “freebie” offered by the local town hall.
There will also be Christmas bashes for clubs and associations of different kinds, from the golf club to the painting group, from the yoga class to the reading circle.
[Image courtesy of Amazon]
As for me …..
I’ve got two Christmas meals this very week, the first with the Club de Prensa de la Costa del Sol (the Costa Press Club) where I am a long-standing member. That’s in Mijas Costa (Málaga) on Tuesday.
The Ayuntamiento de Montejaque (Málaga), the village near Ronda where I am empadronado, is offering a free Christmas lunch for its senior citizens, of which I am one.
In addition, my lovely Rita is going to invite me out for a Christmas meal next week. I think she feels “guilty” that she is abandoning me for Christmas and heading off to Germany, leaving me “de Rodriguez” at home in Ronda, while I look after our newly acquired kitten Paulinchen.
Last Christmas we were in Germany in Talheim, Uetersen and Dresden.
The only other Christmas party/meal in the pipeline, is my own at home on Christmas Day. I am determined to enjoy my first ever Christmas “home alone” in my seven decades of life on earth.
[Poster courtesy of Facebook]
To that end I’ve already started decorating the house a bit, have dug out the Christmas tree from the “attic” and I’ve planned my meal, NOT a traditional English roast. I’m going for:
Rita's alternative Christmas Dinner
Primer plato
Crema de calabaza y naranja con marisco (Cream of pumpkin soup with orange and shellfish)
Segundo plato
Lubina rellena de gambas a la vizcaína (Sea bass stuffed with Biscay prawns)
[Photo courtesy of ¡Hola! magazine]
Postre
Christmas pudding
Bebidas
aperitif: manzanilla sherry;
wine with the fish: albariño (rías baixas);
dessert wine: Pedro Ximénez;
coffee: cortado doble
digestif: Asbach Uralt (German brandy) and LOTS OF WATER!
[Photo courtesy of Navarro Bodeguita]
Click here for the recipe: Christmas "de Rodríguez" - Rita’s alternative Christmas Dinner
My family
My two “families”, Amy, Simon, Felix (8) and Jude (5) in Stratford (London); and Tom, Su, Wilbur (6) and Buckley (1) in Hastings (East Sussex) will be celebrating at home. I’ve already sent their Christmas money.
Their mother/grandma, my ex-wife Jeryl, has her birthday on Christmas Eve, so they will all celebrate together in style!
During the Covid-19 lockdown Tom organised a family quiz via WhatsApp/Facetime. Wonder if he’s planning to do the same this year …..
Archive photo of my "families". Tom and Simon missing
My Christmas Quiz
Hidden in the text of this article are the titles of half a dozen Christmas songs, carols, films and TV programmes. .
Answers on a postcard to …..
(Answers will be posted on Diary of a Nobody before Christmas).
Endword
All I want for Christmas is for everybody to be happy and safe.
Personally I’m looking forward to Christmas 2024. Being alone has its advantages. I can watch what I want on TV, sing a Christmas carol or two, play loud music in the house or opt for a silent night, and I can go to bed and get up when I want to.
¡Felices fiestas!
© Diary of a Nobody
Links:
Christmas "de Rodríguez" - Rita’s alternative Christmas Dinner
CPC in Cala de Mijas - Christmas Party - 2023
... de Rodríguez? - Secret Serrania de Ronda
Fish for Christmas and no gifts? - Secret Serrania de Ronda
Acknowledgements:
Karl Smallman
Paul Whitelock
Rita Whitelock
Secret Serrania
Photos and Images:
Amazon
Facebook
¡Hola!
Navarro Bodeguita
Tom Whitelock
Tags:
6 and 8 December, Advent, Amazon, Christmas bash, Christmas Parties, Christmas Party season, Día de la Constitución, Facebook, freebie, ¡Hola!, Inmaculada Concepción, Karl Smallman, Navarro Bodeguita, Office Party, Paul Whitelock, puente, Rita Whitelock, Secret Serrania, Spain 2024, Tom Whitelock, work ”dos”