TI'S THE SEASON TO BE MERRY

.Angels from the realms of glory

Hi everyone.. greetings.
   This year we spent Christmas we spent with two very dear friends, and yes we enjoyed a full traditional Christmas lunch, they enjoyed themselves so much they want to spend New years eve and day with us, {must be gluttons for punishment} but now I am getting ahead of myself.
On Monday we decided to go to Riga to find a shop that we had been recomended by a friend where we might find some pepermint essence and red food colouring,{needed for pink coconut ice} no problem finding the shop it as it was on our side of the city,it was an Aladin's cave of all things cooking and catering. From spices to foil dishes, dessicated coconut to coffee machine's, a cash and carry open to the public,did they have the one thing we most wanted ! not a drop!!, peppermint essance is just something Latvians don't do. But all the same a very useful place to go
Tuesday 20th we joined with 30 or so folk for a trip to the theatre in Riga  to see a Christmas show, the theme was a christmas visit to all of the EU countries with a song or carol from each one, and it was very entertaining and the dozen or so performers did Great Britian proud with a rendition of 'Deck the hall with boughs of holly, fa la la la,la la la la, and others. The theatre holds about 1500 people and would you believe it the man in front of Valerie and me was an English man

Ten or so days ago when I wrote my last offering I said we would be off to the forest to collect our Christmas tree, so last Wednesday  we set off with the dog to the forest, and it was a little like choosing wallpaper, the conversation went a little like this 'here's a nice one'    'perhaps over here there's a better one'  ' that ones a bit lop sided' ' how about this one?' 'no maybe if we go on a bit there may be a better one' If anyone was watching  it was just like choosing anything where there is a large choice In the end I did the only thing a wise man would do in any situation like this. 'Valerie I said you choose and I will cut it down' so that's what we did,so armed with what we thought was the right shape, size and overall correctness we headed back to the car. ' While we are out lets drive on a bit and give the dog a nice run' I said and we duly headed deeper into the forest, now the road we were on was a little used onewhich is usually no problem but all was well. The loggers had been about and there was only one place where the Mazda slipped a bit so all was well. Lilya loved the run through the woods and then we headed back to the car and home. 'Lilya's had a good run, be nice to get back in the warm and have a cup of tea and a slice of cake,' was the comment I made as we set off, my line of travel was just a tad off, as we reached the dodgy bit of road and as we got to the middle of this patch, the wheels started to spin and we ground to a halt while the wheels continued to spin, Ground to a halt is the correct term in our situation as the car settled down comfortably on its belly, AND WE WERE GOING NO FURTHER!!!!!!
     The words of Corporal Jones from Dads Army came to mind 'Don't panic Capt Mannering'  No worries Valerie all we need is something to give us a bit of grip and we be through it and away for that cuppa, not a dogs chance!! all I could find was some Scots fir branches which still had a few needles on them, would they help! not a bit!! they just went in the front and were spit out the back, I just couldn't find anything that would work and in a forest the size of a small county in England, how frustrating is that!!!!! whats plan B? I know phone a friend first one didn't answer, second one said it's not possible, I'm in Riga and there wasn't a third we could try. { I don't mean we only have two friends, we have many, but not close enough to help out in this situation} so we did the Latvian thing, we gave the problem some thought.
 Whilst this process was going on a young man in a 4X4 came along, 'Is there a problem here ?' he asked I felt like saying no not at all I always park my car up to it's axles in mud in the middle of the road!!!!!!! but he was so nice I didn't have the heart too.{and they just don't understand our English humour} Anyway the next question was more practical ' do you have a rope?  and maybe I can pull you out Great, two broken ropes later I had moved some 12----15 inches  but had gained an audience as a man in a white van had arrived on the scene, with hands on hips he and my would be rescuer discussed the situation as if I didn't exist.{ part of their conversation probably went something like ' see this stupid English man can't drive for toffee,should get himself a four wheel drive, what is he thinking about coming down here in a thing like that.!!!} { donations for a new 4x4 will be most welcome} But now my best buddy turned to me and said 5 minutes and he {the white van man will be back} and sure enough a Latvian 5mins {read 15} he returned with a stronger rope and another man,'well if all else fails perhaps they can push me out' By now I was just an observer watching the experts. First thing was to put the new improved stronger rope round my tow hitch, then around the bar in the 4X4 which the older man did, or thought he had, as when the towing vehicle moved off he found he wasn't connected at all!!. After a few comments by the two other Latvians all was joined correctly and the problem was sorted. 'and we were free. can I give you something for your trouble?, a drink?' I asked only to be told  'This is not necessary, it's what we do.and as the all drove off leaving Valerie and myself still in the middle of the forest but mobile once again. We decided to return via another direction which was about 15k further but much safer all round. And if you think I'm going to put a picture of me stuck in the mud well you've got a another think coming!!
Whilst all this was happening I was reminded of Jesus parable of 'The good Samaritan' So who is my neighbour?? in my case on that day it was three complete strangers who I probably will never see again. And next time I see someone who needs help I hope I might be a neighbour to them. Somewhere in there is a lesson for us all.
By the way the cup of tea and slice of cake we planned tasted all the better after our adventure in the forest, even if it was an hour and a half late.
A stand was made for the tree which Valerie decorated and it looked very festive along with tinsel, Christmas cards, baubles bells and other decorations our sitting room looked very cosy.

.Not sure if attractive is quite the right word.

The Friday before Christmas was the school party/ concert,{ yes the children and teachers were there right up to the 23rd} with the children putting on a show of singing,dancing poetry and a short play followed by none other than Father Christmas complete with his very attractive fairy helper

             

.A happy sing along

.Everyone loves Santa

.I think someone has eaten to much dinner             

 Everyone has to greet Santa with some small song, poem or performance we were joined by the children we teach in a wonderful rendition of 'Head and shoulders knees and toes' Santa loved it and we were duly rewarded with two bags of mini Dime bars,


Then all to soon the party was over and one last day of school before holiday time, yes children and teachers had to be in school right up to Christmas eve. and the teachers were back on the 26th getting ready for the new year.
Talking of which is as I type this only 4 hours away, and we will see the New year in with our friends Sandra and Egil deep in the forest, but that's a story for the first blog of 2012.

It just remains for me to wish you all where ever you are a peaceful and God Blessed New Year.

WILL IT OR WON'T IT ? {that is th question}

Just a reminder of what snow is like.

Yesterday we were told it might snow for Christmas, but then who knows about these things? this is a typical Latvian comment, the other very popular saying is-- and this is accompanied by the shrug of the shoulders ' I don't know' try getting a straight answer from the kids, and you are rewarded with 'maybe' it gets a little frustrating when all you want is a straight answer to a straight question eg Would you like a cup of tea,, a sweet,, a cold drink,,a biscuit or a million other things. Reminds me of customers from Melksham they couldn't make up their minds either but that's another story. But back to the subject of snow, you know that white stuff we were moaning about eight months ago. Apart from some cold and frosty mornings we so far have been very lucky { some friends to the east have had a light sprinkling}we've not seen any snow so far {sod's law will determine tomorrow when we wake up the place will be covered in it}

Just a card roll and a bit of crepe paper simple!!

       Well anyway theres not a lot we can do about the weather,so, swiftly moving on. this week we were in full production mode making the sweeties for the pensioners party,and as with most things we seem to do theres always something extra so it was mince pies for everyone and a candle for the table, each holding a mandarin orange.
One of the nicest things about life here is the fact that however small a thing might be people do not look down there noses but are happy with the simplest of things. At this time of the year one can get so caught up with the commercial side of things that we loose sight of the simpler things that bring so much enjoyment. Yes here in Latvia we see the start of the season turning into a knees up for the shop keepers, but it doesn't start until halfway through November unlike the UK when Christmas things start to appear in what? August!!! Even today I read on Facebook someone has seen 'mini eggs' on sale still the great god Tesco or ASDA must be fed otherwise their wrath will fall and food supplies will cease. Heaven forbid!!!!

Our table.

Better get of my soap box now, and back to the party. It is so nice to join with our pensioner friends and we know that a seat will be saved for us should we be a little late.We seem to have fallen in with our own special group and always share the same table. A table I hasten to add that is always laden with home made apple cake, pies and savouries,which this year included mince pies and quiche,and as always the odd bottle of home made moonshine,'hic'and this years sample was a very fine brew { not that I'm an expert in any way shape or form, I just tried it 'for medicinal purposes only you understand} the first impression was 'by golly this would make a very fine paint stripper' but it did warm the cockles of your heart. With a warm glow all around, or perhaps just in my head, we settled down for the entertainment. To start there was a dance performed by the small children from school. They were a joy to watch and the expressions on each face made it all the more enjoyable.

The girls were able to show off their pinafores a new addition to their outfit, these were paid for out of a gift given by the choir 'Con Brio' and I am sure you will agree they look very pretty in them. The afternoon continued with musical items poetry and even a 'belly dancer' life is full of surprises. I'm told she was very good but again what do I know about these things??? Valerie said my eyes were popping out like organ stops, but you can't believe everything she says can you? After the subdued lighting was removed the, adult dancers had there opportunity to show off a couple of new dances

This was followed by what could only be called a Latvian version of a pantomime, most enjoyable to watch but difficult to explain, it involved an old couple who it seemed adopted a porcipine{or hedgehog }who played with the pigs,but was just waiting for the beautiful princess to find him and restore him to the handsom prince he once was. Well I think that was the gist of it there was a king and two sisters? and a court jester in there somewhere. The porcupine/hedgehog was played by the school's principal, oh what a gem she is!!!!!,she also played the part of santa's fairy helper, and really kept him in his place,, especially when the belly dancer was performing!!!!.

Just you behave yourself or I'll tell your wife!!!!!

    But like all good things it had to come to an end, we finished with Santa giving small gifts to each pensioner {remember the box's from last week, containing coconut ice and peppermint creams} and a time of comunity singing accompanied by a young man playing a piano accordian, and the we drifted of into the sunset in a warm rosy glow, {in our dreams} it was cold ,wet and dreary, but with a snifter of home made brew we were at least warm inside 'hic hic' I think it could be summed up by saying, 'A good time was had by all'
 Whats on the agenda for this week, well !!!!!!   we have a leak in the front of the house and which was  down the sitting room wall, so that MUST,  be fixed,also logs to bring over from the barn or we will go cold, and bits still to do in the garden, we have another film night for the teenagers {with pizza}and this week we will go and choose our christmas tree from the forest. oh !! so many to choose from,,,,,,,,every home in Stelpe is allowed a tree  from the Stelpe forest..
Will it snow???,,,,,, 'I don't know,  mmmmmm,,,,,,maybe' !!!!!we shall just have to wait and see won't we?


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