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Published: December 24th 2010
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Well..I'm pleased to report that it has just in the last half hour started snowing quite heavily. Just as well as I had to bury the ice cream to go with the Christmas Pudding in the snowdrift outside my dormer window! Although we have small fridges in our rooms, they have no freezer compartments.
Those of us still remaining in the dormitory are having a multicultural feast tonight prior to going to Midnight Mass at the Cathedral. It is only about 5 minutes' walk from here. We have been warned to wear everything we own. Not only is it a Medieval stone building with no heating but people keep wandering in and out and opening the door!
I have spent the morning making Christmas pudding. I had prepared the fruit last night and soaked it in brandy overnight. Then this morning had to go out and get more ingredients. Had to check a few in the dictionary (such as bicarbonate of soda and mixed spice!). Such mundane tasks prove quite a challenge and are thus quite time consuming. So here's hoping it will be OK. I'll just keep adding brandy as my mother- in- law taught me. That tends to conceal most other imperfections.
While cooking and checking the six hour steaming process I have been singing along to a random shuffle of my very diverse collection of Christmas music, everything from Phil Spector to Joan Sutherland, Beach Boys, Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Australiana and the best of English traditional.
After completing my shopping I stopped for a festive breakfast at a favourite cafe. Orange juice from a real and sweet orange, smoked salmon, brie, prosecco and various kinds of fruit. Plus coffee! Excellent.
Tomorrow I must get up early, walk 15 minutes through the old town to the station and catch the 8.30 train to Cologne. It is a journey of about 5 hours. I am going to the opera on Christmas night. A young Australian friend is singing the role of Tamino in the "Magic Flute". So that will be a perfect and novel way of celebrating Christmas.
There is a really diverse mix of people here. I have just been talking to a nice young Malaysian Chinese man who is boarding here while studying architecture at the university. He explained that it is much cheaper to study here than almost anywhere else. Only 1000 euros a year for international students or locals. Of course he had to study German first in order to be accepted. Then it costs him 400 euros a month to board here. Worth knowing!
Well...a happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
I must say that it is so totally different here that the whole concept of Christmas is to me unrecognisable. As a result I don't feel particularly lonely on account of being on my own for Christmas.
So thank you all for your kind wishes etc. I miss you all and look forward to having some delayed celebrations upon my return.
With love and best wishes to you all.
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jacqueline
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happy christmas
Hi Erica Christmas in Germany sounds like what it should be!!! Idyllic. (although a bit cold) You are very brave to do it by yourself but I guess it has paid off. We are all fine here and miss you too. Love from Jacqueline and everyone here.