The 12 Days Before, During and After Christmas

It's been a while since our last post, we've been quite busy trying to survive the holidays.

The week before Christmas was very full with preparations even though it was just going to be the two of us. Adding to the insanity was some of the craziest weather Aberdeen has seen in quite some time. Snow and temperatures consistently below freezing left the roads in an awful mess. Aberdonians not used to icy roads proceeded to make an even greater mess. Airports were closed, flights were cancelled. Then came the rain, followed by more freezing temperatures, so now a few weeks later we still have a thick layer of ice everywhere. It was nice to have a white Christmas, but now it is getting old.

We also had trouble shaking the colds we had developed early in December. While the worst of it was gone in time for Christmas we both had nagging coughs that still haven't gone away.

We had a great Christmas Eve, though. I worked for a half day before coming home. We had decided on a somewhat non-traditional dinner of buffalo wings, which worked out perfectly. It also gave us a reason to invest in a deep-fryer, which we couldn't quite bring ourselves to do before.

We also got a good start on our Christmas puzzle. Having finished one already this season, we were in the groove and mostly done by the time we called it a night.

Christmas morning we had a good sleep-in, one of the first times we've done that, and then tackled the pile of presents left by a generous Mr. Claus. I scored some blu-rays and hiking equipment (for my planned assault on the peak of Ben Nevis in May) while Fiona received some jewelry, books and a some painting equipment - artistic painting, not industrial.

We put a great turkey in the oven and experimented with the British tradition of roasting potatoes in goose fat. Add sprouts and cranberry sauce and Christmas dinner was complete and fantastic. Gladly there was enough left over for a turkey and leek pie the next day.

We haven't been out and about too much during the holidays (icy roads, remember), but the last couple of days we've managed to go see the new Sherlock Holmes movie (average at best) and attend the annual Aberdeen Snow Ball, an event we loved last year. Then we went with a large group, but with the exodus of ex-pats this year we couldn't scrape the necessary people for a full table. We decided to go anyway and found that the organizers has set a table for two for us in amongst all the other tables for 10. It was nice for dinner, but a little lonely afterwards. Fortunately some kind people came over and invited us to join them. A great table full of Scots willing to teach us a few more of the dances we didn't already know. Fiona went round the floor doing a Gay Gordon and I joined a group for a Round of 8 Reel. Both of us sat and stared in amazement at the complicated maneuvers involved in the Reel of the 51st. Maybe next year we'll be fleet enough of foot to give it a try.

Snow shoes ...

Fiona and I have both been quite ill lately. No worries, nothing swine-y, just a pretty bad cold. I started and Fiona ran herself down taking care of me and succumbed a couple of days later. Hers, of course, is worse than mine was.

So we were both in need of a pick me up this afternoon, and we got one in the form of a wonderful, thick, fluffy snowfall. It was really beautiful to see all that white covering up the dull greyness of Aberdeen in winter.

I think there was one in our family that enjoyed it even more. Casey ran around like an absolute nutcase, burying her nose in it, trying to catch snowballs and thoroughly loving every minute. We think it reminded her of her puppy-hood back in Canada. She used to come back into the house with gigantic "snowshoes" - clumps of snow that accumulated on her paws, and she'd sit in front of the fire and let them melt on our rug. Today she's decided to try and lick them off. How considerate.

The Christmas Spirit

We're a little miffed that we're missing the snowy weather in Houston. It snowed the day before we arrived 5 years ago, and now again after we're gone. But we're having no problems getting into the Christmas spirit over here, for a couple of reasons.

The first of which is that it is Sinterklaas tonight - the Dutch Christmas. If you've been good all year, Sinterklaas and his assistant Zwarte Piet (Black Peter) will leave presents in your shoe and throw candies in your door. Fiona and I have been ever so good and will be singing at the top of our lungs tonight in an effort to score some pepernootjes.

Second reason - fabulous neighbours. We had our old neighbours from Belgrave Terrace over for dinner last night. We had a great time. Fiona made her signature ribs and everyone laughed at the giant platter I hauled in from the barbeque, but at the end of the night there was not one left. Death By Chocolate for dessert and a fabulous new shrimp recipe as an appetizer meant that we were all too stuffed to think straight for the games of Sequence that followed. At least that's my excuse - the ladies trounced the men 3-0.

Third reason - Christmas movies. We just finished watching Fred Claus. Quite amusing with a great soundtrack that will be playing while we finish our Christmas cards tonight.

Fourth reason - a well-decorated Christmas tree. It is up and it always seems to change the atmosphere of the room. Just puts you in a good mood to see it there.

Fifth reason - a big pot of chill cooking up in the kitchen.

Sixth reason - ESPN America. Got signed up just in time for the big Alabama-Florida game this evening. Football, a brewski and a steaming bowl of chili - fabulous!

I'm freezing cold ... and I'm not going to take it anymore!

The weather has taken a turn for the worse, something I didn't think was possible a few weeks ago. It has gotten cold, with nights well below freezing, and the rain continues. We're having to drag Casey out of the house for the walks that she used to beg us for. We'll walk out of the house and she'll stop dead in front of the car and look at us as if to say, "Don't you think a drive would be a better idea?"

We tried to heat things up by trying once again to replicate our favorite Texas fast food restaurant, Chipotle. We met with the greatest success we've had to date. Chilli corn - check. Lime-cilantro rice - yes. Carnitas - perfect. Salsa and guacamole - flawless. Did we write down any of the recipes? No. Lightning in a bottle, I guess.

We've been a little remiss with updates recently and that's because our beloved MacBook spent the week fighting for its life. Having already died and been ressusitated twice, it lost the third of its nine lives via a full glass of wine and a clumsy dog. We were completely hamstrung and unable to function. We were trying to write Christmas cards, but the addresses were in the computer. Trying to study for the driver's exam - no access to CD-ROM, computer is out. Want to look at photos - sorry, computer's down. A little disappointing that lack of CPU can cause such distress, but we're 21st century digital creatures.

I did pass my driver's theory test today. It comes in two parts, 50 multiple choice questions followed by 14 video clips of normal driving scenes where you have to click to identify the hazards. You need 43 out of 50 on the multiple choice and 44 out of 75 on the hazard perception. I scored 48 on m/c and 63 out of 75 on the hazard perception. I now know that you are not to use your horn in a built up area between 11:30pm and 7am. The world is a safer and better place. And now on to the practical ... and good luck to Fiona, who writes her test on Monday.

Paris in pictures

One of the greatest benefits of living in Aberdeen is the proximity to the rest of Europe. We promised ourselves when we moved here that we would take advantage. We did again this last weekend, with a quick jaunt to Paris to meet our good friends Christian and Tara, along with their cute little brood, who had come from Singapore for a conference.

Fiona went over on the Tuesday. EuroDisney was on the menu. The kids enjoyed it, but I'm not sure it went over quite as well with Fiona. She did enjoy reconnecting with Connor, Sydney and Zoe, who, I think, liked having their "two Moms" back.

On Thursday I took an evening flight and we got a new hotel in the St. Germain area of Paris. Christian was still at the conference so on Friday Tara, Fiona and I took the kids on a walkabout. We walked through the Tuilleries, enjoying a "le hot dog" and a plate of crepes. We walked through the Christmas Market on the Champs-Elysees and toward our destination - the Palais de la Decouvert - a great children's science museum. As an added bonus, while waiting outside the museum we got a tap on the shoulder from some Teamsters standing around a pair of trucks. They were organizing the delivery of a new dinosaur exhibit (they had a great big box labeled "Guts and Poo interactive display") and offered to give the kids a sneak peak. Connor was duly impressed.

Saturday was another great walkabout, or sailabout, as the case may be. We took the Batobus to the Eiffel Tower. Connor offered me the fantastic sum of 20 eurocents to climb to the top. I declined.

Fiona and I went out alone for dinner on Saturday night, taking the concierge's recommendation and going to "le Coupe Chou". Utterly fantastic. A bottle of Rothschild Bordeaux, ouefs en cocotte, shrimps and foie gras, boeuf borurginon and steak au poivre. We'd go again in a second.

On Sunday we had a mid-afternoon flight, but still managed to squeeze in a visit to the Pantheon. Very cool. Voltaire and Dumas, Rousseau and the Curies, Braille and a whole platoon of Napoleon's buddies. If there is one thing we like, it's large building with friezes and statues and lots of dead people.

Misery, movies, vacation plans and Paris

I think someone has informed Scotland that we are no longer keeping a rainy day counter. We continue to be inundated with miserable weather. It's not just the fact that it is raining, but it is cold and windy and constantly wet. Combine this with darkness at 4pm and it starts to wear a little thin. We haven't changed our minds about what a great place this is overall, but it is a few more weeks of rain away from sliding a little on the list. I'll give it a little extra time because I don't think we've really helped the situation any. With the move and the myriad of other things we've had going on for the last little while we haven't gotten out and about as much we used to. I think if we get exploring again and enjoy the wonderful scenery and history again, it will help balance out the weather and keep Scotland in the good books.

We had a bit of a pick me up on Sunday afternoon. We went to Cineworld to go see Up. North Americans may chuckle a bit at that, but it has only recently come out here. Fabulous. One of the best animated movies I've ever seen - somewhere in the mix with "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs", "Wall-e", "the Incredibles" and "the Emperor's New Groove". Probably the most heartfelt of the bunch, there were not many dry eyes in the theatre during the first 10 minutes. Highly recommended.

Our Cote d'Azur vacation for April of next year is coming together nicely as well. We've booked flights, a car and most of the hotels. The only place we couldn't get in was Cannes - there was some kind of convention in town and the hotels were full and doubly expensive. With each progressively darker day we look more and more forward to the beach at St. Tropez. Whatever gets you through!

We're also off to Paris this weekend. Actually, Fiona is leaving tomorrow and I'm joining her on Thursday night. Friends of ours from Singapore were going to be there for a conference and since it is only an hour and a half away we thought it would be nice to see them again. Fiona will get to see Tara and the kids during the week - Eurodisney is on the agenda - and then we'll all get together in the city on the weekend. Zut alors! C'est tres bon!

I'm Watching NFL Football!! Woo-hoo!

We said goodbye to Fiona's dad this week after a nice week together. Fiona and Roger took a day trip to St. Andrews before he left. They also took some nice walks along the old Deeside railway line. The last night was a bit long, as we all went to go see the great comedian Eddie Izzard (look him up on Youtube - especially the "Cake or Death" or "Death Star Canteen" bits!). Unfortunately we only got home close to midnight and Roger's flight required us to be out again at 5:30 the next morning.

We've spent a very nice, relaxing weekend getting everything in order in the new house. Hanging pictures, moving the knick-knacks, tidying up, etc ... With everything in its proper place it really feels like home. We even met the new neighbours.

Polished it all off with a great roast beef dinner. Roast beets, potatos, green beans and yorkshire puddings made it all very authentic. Now I'm sitting with a full belly watching a good Houston Texans team give the Indianapolis Colts all they can handle. Typical - as soon as we leave they get good.

We're also starting to plan our next vacation. We're looking at a nice three weeks touring around the Italian and French Rivieras. With the prospect of another Christmas at home (I have to work through the holidays) I think by the time spring rolls around, we'll be ready for some sunshine and time off.

Autumn in Aberdeen

We're coming through probably the wettest period of our stay in Aberdeen, with rain on and off for the last two weeks. But we seem to always have a little bit of luck when visitors arrive. There are always a few days of glorious sunshine and pleasant weather. This time it was Fiona's Dad who brought it with him. He decided to drop in on his way to Germany from his home in Mexico.

His first day here was probably one of the nicer ones we've had all year. Blue sky, a light breeze and the trees in full autumn colours. While I had to work through it, Fiona and Roger took advantage and went for a walk out on the dunes, close to where Trump is building his new golf course. They took Casey with them and ran her ragged. I always like the dunes. With mountains and forest so close by, they are hardly the type of features you'd expect to have in the neighborhood.

Friday was spent doing some shopping, or buying rather. Mostly just those things that you find from the old house that are not quite right in the new one, or now have a reason to buy. We're settling in rather well, things are in their place and we have everything connected and attached.

On Saturday we hit the golf course and played 9 in nearby Inchmarlo. The weather was brilliant yet the course was deserted. It was like playing on our own private course. I started and finished poorly with some good golf in between, Fiona played steadily with some fantastic shots off the tee and excellent putting and Roger beat us both quite handily with his usual great play. The rain had left the course a little soggy in place and while it didn't affect play it made some of the hills a little treacherous. We all took a tumble, but Fiona was the only one lucky enough to find the mud.

On Sunday the rain came back with a vengeance and we were forced to spend a day indoors. Fiona and Roger stayed productive, covering some of the old dining room chairs. It was kind of astonishing how dirty the old tenants had let them become. Fiona had picked out a great tweed to cover them with and Roger gave us a lesson in the proper method.

Fiona and Roger hit the old Dee-side railway line today to take advantage of another nice day. They did a good 11 or 12 kilometers before hitting the pub in Peterculter for lunch. They had Casey begging for a break. After going nose-to-beak with an angry goose she was ready to go home.