When my computer crashed for me just after Christmas, many pictures got stuck in the system for a whole, until I could recover them and move on. Therefore, I am now publishing some pictures before, during and after last Christmas.
Eric had saved money all year in his money jar for Christmas. Already the year before he went to buy Christmas gifts for some of his friends and class mates with his savings and he showed it off very proudly.
Equally proud is Jennifer of her dress, shoes and handbag that she is wearing to John’s and Ann’s party. I just had to take a couple of photos.
In England the Christmas gifts are given and opened on Christmas Day and in Sweden on Christmas Eve. The Philippines have found the right balance between the two. They have a tradition of opening the gifts after coming home from Christmas Mass. We followed the same tradition and opened a few gifts on the night after the Mass, while we saved some until Christmas Day, when Magnus and Claudia joined us. Ludvig and Ulrika could only come away a couple of days later, when they came down to Devon.
Both Mikee, Eric and Jennifer got computers, while I got a new ultra wide lens (11 – 24 mm) and Riza a new guitar.
Close to New year all of us went to London and watched Matilda, the musical and celebrated New Year at the Rectory of the Swedish Church with Michael, Camilla, their children Caspar and Amanda and boy- and girlfriends and lots of other friends. It was a lovely occasion And during the night we watched “Grevinnan och Betjänten” a very funny comedy that every middle-aged Swede will remember with great fondness.
Eric wanted to buy Christmas gifts to his friends and classmates. He had saved all year and got more than £ 120 in his jar. Now they were going shopping
Jennifer and I went to John's and Ann's Christmas party and Jen wanted to show off her new dress, bag and shoes. Oh these women!
The shoes made her taller than I
We opened the first Christmas gifts on Christmas night after we had gone to midnight's mass. Mikee and Eric got a computer each.
Eric is just trying out his computer
And showing his gift to Riza ...
...and Mama
Enjoying the Christmas gifts
We couldn't get the children to bed due to the computers
The next morning Eric was inspecting Mikee's and his socks in case Father Christmas had put any gifts in there
And behold - hadn't he delivered something!
Later on we played a game, where you had to guess what person or profession you were
Caleb came and joined us ....
...together with the rest of his family, here with father Lewis
Mikee tried on her new roller skates with mixed success. The lights on the left and right side of the path were turned on by two different timers that were offset a little, and Mikee happened to try on her new skates as one side had lit up but not the other!
Mikee trying her new roller skates
Mikee trying her new roller skates
Mikee trying her new roller skates
Riza got a guitar
Daniel Preger came for a visit. He lives normally with his family in the USA, but theycome back around Christmas and in the summer. Daniel is a couple of years older than Eric, but they are very good friends and enjoy a game together.
We were in London over New Year. New `Year's Eve we were invitedto the rectorage to celebrate New Year with the Persson family. Here are Jennifer, Mariana, Caspar's girlfriend, Mikee and Eric
Mikee and Eric
Riza with the hostess
Jen, Eric and Mikee
Celebrating outside the church. From camera left: Amanda, Caspar, Jennifer, Markus ,who is like an adoptive son to Michael and Camilla, Magnus, Camilla's brother and to the right
