And so this was Christmas

It has been a while since my last post, somehow the festive season always creeps up on me and once that happens there is always so much to do. This year I thought my schedule would be pretty relaxed, but then all of a sudden…. People start organising get togethers, special bee’s etc. and I can’t resist! Have to join in the fun…. So here is a little recap.

There was a Halloween bee

In November we enjoyed our very first ever American Thanksgiving dinner at a neighbour’s/friend’s house, with really the best turkey I have ever tasted. Our host took the trouble (8 hours of trouble!) to smoke that bird…. I can only say thank you to our gracious hosts for this wonderful experience!

Then it was time for a Christmas bee

Ah, an early visit by Father Christmas!

Well, sort of. I had been saving for this for 4,5 years and my negotiation skills have been improved by a few visits to the Far East in the past… the difference between those two facts and the final price… that was the present!

And then the Christmas gift that we as a family gave ourselves, spending Christmas in London, a wish of mine since I-don’t-know-when and it was everything I/we hoped for!

The Christmas lights!

And our favorite this year, Carnaby Street:



Of course (very important to us) great food!

Like the beigel bakery on Brick Lane, open 24/7 in case of beigel emergencies J !



Or Yo-Sushi, where the small plates of sushi slowly find their way to you…yummmm!!

We visited the Houses of Parliament, Eline and I already did so last year, but this year Onno was able to join us as well (no pictures allowed beyond the first hallway)

And – opened recently – the Sky Garden, the most amazing views of London!

We visited late afternoon when it was already dark

And loved it so much could not resist going back there in the morning

Of course we had to go to Covent Garden which had the sweetest mistletoe decorations this year

And Leadenhall Market, which is where the pictures of the Christmas tree at the top of this post was made



During one of the walks we made in the neighbourhood of our hotel, we came across this!

Not just for fun, but for a good cause! Put some money in one of the little brown envelopes and put it through the letterbox of this building, isn’t this wonderful?

After a lovely five days we ended another wonderful trip in London in our favorite breakfast restaurant

Since our return it has been busy with those visits, lunches etc. that usually take place during Christmas, so I have not even had time to take a good look and try out my Christmas present, but after New Year’s that will be top of my list.

That and a get together with fellow Feathergirl Hubertine (click), because I finally finished my second Feathergirl quilt!

And I know she finished hers a while back. So as soon as we can we will photograph our finished second Feathergirl quilts and reveal them on our blogs.

In the meantime I wish you all a safe (oh, those fireworks L )and enjoyable New Year’s Eve and best wishes for a healthy (!), happy, fun and creative 2016!

Phyllis