Black Christmas

Before anyone gets all excited and thinks that something bad has finally happened to me, I was only referring to the complete opposite of the traditional "White Christmas" that can usually be seen outside the window in where we are around this time of the year. I wasn't either referring to the rap song by the Army of the Pharaohs, although I have to say that this has been banging in my earplugs several times lately.

As some might have already figured out, this is the first time ever we have been this far south for Christmas and it shows. I know that because of the Global Warming and whatnot things have not been the same in Finland either, but in there we have at least had hope that things might turn fairly snowy any day now. Back in the days when I was young, around the holidays we would reach temperatures around 20 degrees below zero, have snow knee-deep and enjoy crisp clear sunny winter days. Now only thing left the "and" it's stuck between "very little snow" and "barely below zero if that". We are indeed living sad times, and I wonder if anyone happens to have any sort of timetable for the beginning of the Global Freezing? Or maybe we need to follow Eric "Snipe" Sewells footsteps and move to Yellowknife or something. According to BBC Weather the temperature around there is pretty steady at mellow -20 degrees. In other words, perfect weather for some pond hockey!

Regardless of the non-Christmassy landscape, warm temperatures and never-ending sound of sirens around the East London, it was time to get this Holiday season started! And the perfect way to get this time of spirituality, self-thinking and being together started was to invite Llewellyn "LJ" James over for a piece of elk accompanied by a civilized amount of alcoholic beverages. Evening was filled with amazingly deep conversations, advice on how one should probably live in this world, how has the modern society changed human beings and what is the current state of well-being of youths in general.

It is once again time to represent you the visual bombs, because I have a ton of pictures for ya'll this time.

Spicy wedges and elk.

Mmmmmmm.....elk.

LJ. Not used to this "cold" weather.

Becks Vier

LJ & Sara having a conversation

After LJ's visit, it was time to start the first Christmas alone with our little family, just me and Sara. I had dragged a ton of food and presents from Finland in order to recreate the Finnish Christmas in Poplar, and it actually worked out well! Sara prepared some more elk, very traditional Finnish casseroles (potato, rutabaga and carrot) and rosolli (a sort of salad with beetroot, apple, pickles and carrot). Very Finnish indeed and she really pulled it off. I hadn't felt that Christmasy since last years Christmas.

Meal

The Good stuff.

Plates full of goodness.

A tree from Argos, for £9,90. 

And the presents under it :)

Found a card for Sara.

Marimekko -shirt and a glass of fine. Very, very Naantali. Taken with Sara's new camera.

While Christmas day is drawing to its close, things are looking very nice. Wine is flowing and people from Finland are eager to video call us and have a nice little chat. It is good to catch up with old friends and relive of memories in order to create new ones. Although, I have to say that I am getting very concerned about myself. I used to be a man who enjoyed a pint and a Big Mac, and used to think that cheese accompanied by wine was only for artists, gay people, women or people who are in general just more sophisticated than me. But now, I have grown in to it, even somewhat enjoying white wine with my beautiful girl alone at our house. Red wine has yet to convince me, but I have strange feeling that we will get there eventually. Nevertheless, I try to keep the rest of my manhood together or at least combine my new interests with my old interests. Maybe some day I will even enjoy cheese with my wine. And my god, will our old housemates be proud of me if that happens.

Merry Christmas to everyone, regardless of location, religion and sexual orientation. Have a good one, and hopefully see you lot soon!