I felt that after waxing eloquent in my last post about the way Brits do up Christmas, I had to follow up by posting a few photos from the church party. It was quite the festive affair with 700 guests, a flame thrower stationed at the entrance next to the fake snow machine, a hog roast, 2 "snow princesses" walking around on stilts and dressed in long silvery gowns, a live band and party games.
Yesterday afternoon I had several appointments in the city centre and enjoyed walking constantly through Market Square and enjoying the glitter of the lights, the giant tree, the ice skating rink and the pervasive festive atmosphere.
Tomorrow I head off to Istanbul for a week--we'll see if there's a Christmas spirit there! Somehow I don't think it'll be quite the same as in this Christmas-mad land.
Volunteers spent dozens of hours cutting out and crafting the paper stars. Imagine that tree behind it with the lights turned on, as well. (This was taken a few hours before the party started).
My "English sister" Julia and I are quite happy to dance the night away. It was all preparation for the next night, when I threw her an American-style bachelorette party, complete with silly bridal shower games like dressing up girls in wedding dresses made from toilet paper. The night ended with dancing and singing along to the film version of "Mamma Mia!" They loved it! (Around here a "hen do" generally involves dressing in silly costumes and going out for a night or even a weekend on the town, but Julia's guests were charmed by this simple but very fun party at the house).
On the whole the average british xmas is made up of - drink, more drink, turkey, more turkey, the in-laws trying to out do each other, even more drink, a drunken snog underneath the mistletoe, cold turkey, more cold turkey, turkey curry, turkey pie, enough turkey to keep you going until easter when another turkey is bought, the in-laws fighting in the garden, two old blokes in fron of the xmass day disney film asleep with two empty bottles of single malt beside them, more turkey. In saying this I can't wait for the new year, which is made up of drink, more drink, the in-laws trying to ut do each other.....etc... DEEP JOY!