Languages play a big role in our family life. It is largely due to circumstance – we’re an Irish-German marriage – but partly due to interest. I was brought up by parents who adore France and all things French. When I was small my mother would often say “Oui mon ange” instead of a plain… Continue reading Adding A Little Je Ne Sais Quoi To Your Home
Decorating my home for Advent and Christmas is one of my favourite things to do. I could spend days and days planning, buying, trying out ideas and generally fiddling about with ribbons, wreaths and candles. I could. But I can’t. Time just doesn’t allow it. With work, children and taking care of the housework, sometimes… Continue reading A Festive Jar Of Walnuts
I am spectacularly late on this. Seriously. The production time on this post would rival that spent on any Hollywood blockbuster. The budget was ever so slightly lower though. On the 14th November, on the spur of the moment, I decided I would film the making of my homemade foodie gifts. What I neglected to take… Continue reading Homemade Christmas Food and Drink Gifts – Part Two
During the summer, I mentioned how the memories my children have of summer are so different to my own childhood memories. Today an article of mine was published on The Irish Times website. It looks at how The Bavarian and I have tried to bring the traditions we grew up with into our children’s lives. As… Continue reading Compromising on Tradition, But Loving The Cookies
The commercialisation of Christmas bothers me more with each passing year. Maybe it is because I am getting older. Maybe it is because Christmas is being forced upon us earlier and earlier in the year. Maybe it is because of phrases like ‘the religious side of Christmas’ (hello! it is a religious celebration, only existing… Continue reading An Old-Fashioned Christmas for Us
I though I was doing things right, going to bed with a hotwater bottle and a book at ten pm. But here I am at twenty past midnight, wide awake, drinking cocoa and with the word knoedelbrot* stuck in my mind. Not being able to sleep is not a thing that happens to me. Outside… Continue reading Cocoa and Knoedelbrot
Do: Get them a mug of Kinderpunsch (hot, non-alcoholic punch) Point out the twinkly fairy lights, the Christmas tree and any other light effects Make sure they at least try some of the delicious, sweet and savoury food on offer Let them go on the carousel Bring them to see the crib Make sure they… Continue reading The Dos and Don’ts of Bringing Children to a Christmas Market
I’ve spent the day getting Christmas sorted – the goose and other meats ordered, the presents bought and wrapped, the cards written and posted. I set myself a tough goal and I got through a surprisingly large number of the items on my to do list, but not everything. Tomorrow we are buying the tree and… Continue reading Nostalic Christmas Decorations
I have an ambitious plan for today. I am going to organise Christmas. Tomorrow we are getting the tree. Today everything else is being done. ALL the presents will be bought. ALL the presents will get wrapped. The goose will get ordered from one butcher. The special Christmas Eve sausages will be ordered from another… Continue reading Christmas in One Day
