Christmas – Creative Meanderings

Sometimes unexpected changes in plans brings about an even better experience than the one anticipated.

Although we would have had a lovely time spending the holidays with my parents in the Bahamas, we would have missed out on family time with my brother, catching up with a few family and friends, and enjoying just a quiet chilled time.

The past ten days have really flown by without any tension or stress that can often be felt when five people, who are all rather different and rarely see each other, spend time in close quarters together. Yet, it felt pretty easy peasy to me.

Since it was not so much a time to visit and catch up with everyone possible, we kept a pretty low profile. The main purpose was to hang with my parents and brother, which we achieved. ✅

Christmas 🎄 was quiet, but ever so lovely. Plus, Santa 🎅 was very very good to me. I mean, I was a rather good girl this year. 😜😂

Now, we are awaiting our flight back to the sun and sand to ring in the near year beachside. 🏝️ More on that once we get settled in.

M is a December child, so we generally try to respect his birthday as separate to the holiday season.

However, in recent years, he seems to be more into the Christmas spirit than his birthday – aside from his 50th last year – perhaps aging is less desirable the older he gets? 🤷🏽‍♀️ This year, one reason for an early start has been because we are excited about the new house and we love that we can decorate to our hearts’ content for the holidays.

In fact, M wanted to potentially decorate straight after Thanksgiving, but we both agreed to wait until December 1st. We started with our gonks/gnomes and it was rather exciting for me to decorate a mantel as that is like a real adulting thing in my brain. 😅

Once the first came around, though, we were off to get a real tree 🌲 since previous years usually involve a fake tree, which isn’t so bad, but the smell of pine in the house does add to the spirit of the season.

It’s not quite what I’m used to, but we bought ornaments adding to what we got lost year and have made it look festive! 🎄

Our mantel/fireside now looks like this, though I’m not yet done with decorating it!! We have friends coming for Christmas, so obviously we needed more stocking 🧦 hooks, which are just the best invention ever! 😉

As a bonus to our decorating and completing of the living room, our made-to-order sofa came when we were putting up the ornaments, so now the room is looking fully festive!

So, although the decorating is not yet done – there is still 17 days left after all – we are having a grand time preparing for a joyful season ahead!

~T 😁

For the first time in a while I have started to feel a bit relaxed. Although our troubles have not faded away, we are focusing on enjoying and looking forward to the upcoming new year.

Here’s a slideshow video I made on FB of our Christmas Day brunch:

We had a lovely time with old and new friends along with their visitors. It was nice that a group of us staying in the desert could get together for good food, good laughs and good times. 🙂

Boxing Day is not a thing for us Americans, other than recovery, but it is for the British influencers. Therefore, we made plans to have a nice quiet cook up at home. I finally got my home-made turkey and fixings in. It was a small consolation to having missed Thanksgiving.

We had Z and her mum over to share in our meal – everything was delicious with more fun and good times.

The 27th was a day of relaxing for the most part. We started out at the pool to enjoy the sun and while I had plans to try to do some writing, posting, etc. I ended up just reading my book. 😀

In the evening, we forced ourselves out of the house to go out to the Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival just less than an hour’s drive from us. I had gone to its earlier version about four years ago when it was further out and not nearly as organized.

Some have said it is a little bit like a mini-version of Dubai’s Global Village, but as I have never been there, I cannot concur. However, there were areas for different countries around the world. Most were Arab countries or those with connections to the Arab world and trade; therefore, no need for the U.S. or U.K. presence. 😛

Each area had performances going on showing local dance and culture.

There were even fireworks around 8pm, which was a nice touch.

We tried to watch an Arabian Horse Show, but in usual desert-time fashion they either never showed it or delayed it by over an hour (which is how long we waited according to the published time…). It was fun and we were both glad that we got out to enjoy one of the few local cultural activities that happen here. It has been on for a month nearly and happens every year, so we can now say that we have done it.

So, this has been our little staycation activities over the Christmas holiday. We are slowly working our way into normal life again as the new year is not such a big deal to either of us. Still, no doubt that we will do something fun if we can, but in the meantime, we are working our way into routine and preparations for all the amazing things promising to come in 2017!

~T 😀

On the 14th of this month I posted about our/my new traditions for beginning our Christmas celebrations due to M’s birthday being on the 12th.

So, I determined that it is basically 12 days to Christmas from his birthday to Christmas Eve, which means that we can have some fun putting the song into reality.

Here is our 12 days to Christmas.

On the first day of Christmas, my hubby and me, we put up the Christ~mas tree.

On the second day of Christmas, my hubby and me, we welcomed the supermoon and (see first day)

On the third day of Christmas, my hubby and me, we had a vegan dinner and (see first and second day)

On the fourth day of Christmas, my hubby and me, we saw the canal lighting, (see first, second and third day – you get the idea…)

On the fifth day of Christmas, my hubby and me, we drank ourselves sil-ly!!

On the sixth day of Christmas, my hubby and me, we saw another Christmas tree…

On the seventh day of Christmas, my hubby and me, we went to Ras Al Khaimah…

On the eighth day of Christmas, my hubby and me, we watched a Christmas movie…

On the ninth day of Christmas, my hubby and me, we streamed yet another movie…

On the tenth day of Christmas, my hubby and me, we drank mulled wine…

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my hubby and me, we went to Christmas Carols service and did some baking (stealing some extra lyrics here…😜)

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my hubby and me, we met friends for Christmas Eve….

And tomorrow is Christmas Day!!!! 🎄👏🏽🎉🎁

~T 😀

One of the challenges to having married someone with a birthday in early December is having to wait to start the Christmas decorations and celebrations!

Although we had much different plans for Christmas this year, there is no point in wallowing in the “what could have been” mindframe. Instead, we are here now and should enjoy the season.

Therefore, as will be forever our tradition, December 13th means the beginning of the true 12 days to Christmas started by decorating the tree. While I had thought perhaps I would be left to do it on my own during the day (today), I decided to start it last night even though we could have easily sat in front of the TV instead.

Also, M got to help. We had Christmas songs playing to create the mood and had the tree up in no time with lights and stockings hanging waiting for Santa’s goodies. 😉

So, we can focus on enjoying the holidays here in the desert as there is much to take advantage of during this time of year. We are together, healthy and as happy as we can be at the moment. We have each other and we know we are loved near and far. Therefore, let the holiday spirit begin!

Now, the only question is what do we do for the 11th day of Christmas…? Perhaps some cranberries, orange, cinnamon and spices to fill the air…? Hm…

~T 😀

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31

Creative Meanderings

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Christmas Day, Boxing Day and the Day After….

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