I did think I was going to try and let Christmas sort of by-pass me beacuse it just isn't the same but sucker for spingly spangly things that I am, I couldn't resist throwing a few baubles and some hanging decorations at the nearest pot plant.
I was kindly invited to lunch by my landlord and his family - a feast of nsima and goat and relish, finished off with a special Jamaican spiced cake and custard. There was a strange mix of guests...the landlord, his wife and their 4 children, an MP, her husband and 4 children, her mother, sister, father's mother and 2 other random grannies and well as some additional children and pastor who had wandered in as well. Someone told someone else that I was a doctor and before I knew it one of the grandmas had scooted over and I was kept busy for the next couple of hours taking her medical history and diagnosing TB (I think!).
During the meal the conversation turned religious, as I knew it inevitably would - the pastor was very vocal and had some pretty strange ideas, certainly not the usual interpretation of Bible stories I've read before! As soon as he was done though, he was off - no doubt popping in to all the houses in the neighbourhood Vicar of Dibley style!
It was very sweet of them to include me but I know I won't be doing this again next year - a chilly Christmas with a proper tree, midnight mass, mince pies, stockings, family traditions, thats what I'd like...only 360 days to go!!
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