Although I was unable to travel home for Christmas, I had a busy two-week holiday that included festive fun at home with the family I live with in Nottingham and visits to Northamptonshire, London and Cambridge.
My "English Gran" and "English Mum" find a spot amidst the present wrappings to watch the Queen's speech.
First and foremost among traditional English Christmas pursuits is watching the Queen's annual Christmas speech. Given each year by Queen Elizabeth II since 1957, good British families know that they will settle down in front of the telly at precisely 3 pm.to hear the Queen's message. Of course many Britons could care less about the Queen's speech these days, but I live with a rather traditional family that is proud of its heritage, and I am glad to be here experiencing English life with them.
I hadn't ever seen it before but felt that the Queen's 2008 speech, which emphasized that the happiest people in troubled times are those who give of themselves, was excellent. Especially as it was under 10 minutes long! The other television highlight of the day, of course, was the first broadcast of a new Wallace & Gromit televison show, "A Matter of Loaf and Death."
The rest of the day was occupied with walking to the local parish church for the Christmas Day service, attending the neighbors' annual Christmas drinks and appetizer fete, and spending time with my adopted English family. We ate a delicious, traditional feast of locally-raised, free-range roast turkey served with roast potatoes and parsnips, Brussels sprouts and carrots, pigs in a blanket (sausages wrapped in bacon), bread sauce, cranberry sauce and giblet gravy. Then, of course, there was the flaming Christmas pudding, platters of cheese, biscuits and fruit (a selection of rich English cheeses served with crackers, chutney and fruit) and the omnipresent boxes of chocolates. It was truly a festive occasion and, for the first time that I can remember, I fell asleep after eating--while I was stretched out on the living room floor in front of the fire in the midst of several loud conversations. It was bliss.
On Dec. 26, or Boxing Day, which truly is a second day of Christmas, I was picked up at 9 am by my dear friend Ruth and her brother Stephen, who drove an hour each way from their family home in Kettering to collect me. Ruth and her family had invited me to spend a few days with them relaxing with another English family, this time in Northamptonshire. As soon as we arrived at Ruth's house her mother instructed us all to get ready for a bracing country walk, so we obligingly pulled on our boots, hats and scarves. England has been in a prolonged cold snap with daytime temperatures hovering right around freezing, which is, of course, much warmer than Chicago but unusually cold for the UK, so we wrapped up and tramped out into the frosty air. Stephen laughed at all of the rest of us as we put on our coats, and instead got himself up in two jumpers, a woolly hat, and his father's Wellington boots, which was a rather amusing sight.
Here is the young English man on his traditional Boxing Day walk.
It was certainly cold outside (I do think the dampness does makes 32 degrees F feel colder in England than it does in Chicago), but the rare sunshine that favored us that day made everything look more beautiful, even this rather humdrum park scene.
One thing I do love about England is that no matter how cold or grey it gets, the grass always stays green.
After our brisk walk we were more than happy to sit down for generous helpings Mrs. D's delicious sweet potato soup, which I was delighted to discover was served with more cheese and biscuits. We then played a few board games, which got us nice and hungry for an afternoon cup of tea and rich, fruity slices of Mrs. D's deliciously moist Christmas cake. I'm sure many Americans wouldn't care for English Christmas cake (which is, essentially, fruitcake with a sugary icing) but I adore it. When it's made right it is an explosion of wintry flavors.
Ruth's mother made this very delicious Christmas cake from a Nigella Lawson recipe.
I found something very comforting this Christmas in sitting around the fire with friends who've become like family as we enjoyed Christmas treats, played board games or did trivia quizzes, or even watched the television Christmas specials as I worked on my knitting (thank you to Katie & Shanel for the fun care package filled with knitting materials!) Of course I did miss my own family very much, but England is feeling more and more like home.
Leave a comment