SEASONS GREETINGS FROM GOA

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!!!

Well, this has been my first Christmas away from Europe, and I must say Christmas kind of doesn't feel so much like Christmas (as I know it) here in Goa, though I have been having a great time.

On Christmas Eve we went to an Italian restaurant, and had the most delicious Italian food I thought possible in India. We attempted to attend midnight mass and got to the church surrounded by the local Indian folk looking stunning in their best saris and suits. It was a beautiful church with twinkly lights everywhere and the sermon looked colourful with the robed priests, but seeing as we were right at the back without a seat, and didn't understand a word of it as was not in English, we didn't stay for the whole thing. Still, it was nice to have a taster of the local Goan Christmas experience!

On Christmas day, after having spent the day on the beach, our Christmas dinner was BBQ Kingfish and Rockfish which was absolutely delicious (though nothing beats your Christmas cooking, of course Mumsie).

The hardest thing was calling everyone who isn't (either in England or France) here with me and should be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We had an opening present ceremony with the Christmas tree and lights flashing on our hut and xmas music playing in the background, which made it almost Christmas as I know it bar 2 things. 1) The weather 2)My family missing! (wish you were here guys). However, it has been really fab to have our lil' clan joined by Pete n' Sal from England-yipeee!

I have been getting into the swing of Aramble and doing Yoga in the morning, and taking a dog from the local animal rescue home for a walk, and of course enjoying the sea, which I have missed so much being a Londoner in my previous life...

Just wanted to say, thanks so much Mumsie for my lovely new camera (I can take pics agin and put on blog-note this one!!! whoooopie!) and Tim for the card! AND YES ITS A GREAT PRESSIE!!! Love to you all xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx