Dreaming of a White Christmas

Oh the weather outside is frightful...
I'm sitting here in my room watching the whirling snowflakes fly past the window... The cars and rooftops have a beautiful dusting and, with only 7 days to go, perhaps this year it will be a white Christmas.

Normally, the idea of snow on Christmas Day would fill me with a childlike delight, at the thought of mulled wine by the fire, with snow laying round about, deep and crisp and even.

However, I think I've finally grown up because I do not want it to be snowing right now. I'd rather it didn't rain either, but if I had to choose... I might actually choose the non-frozen kind of precipitation.

I'll be home for Christmas... hopefully
The truth is, the last couple of years have warranted dreadful horror stories. People getting on the Eurostar with big sighs of relief... only to get to Calais and be told that they're being sent back to Brussels because of the snow... Others were stuck at St Pancras for 12 hours, whilst others were turned away at the barriers!

I'm terrified that this will happen to me, and I really wish I'd taken this week off as well, or at least worked from home. Even a train on Thursday would have been more sensible. But no. I decided to leave on Friday because I hate taking time off work.

You're a mean one, Mr Grinch
The weather forecast doesn't say snow, so why am I worrying? Well, it wasn't predicted for this weekend, yet Friday evening it began to snow, and had settled by 7pm, meaning I was pushed back and couldn't meet the boy at the station.

Wet feet, wet socks and a coat covered in snow was not the way I'd planned on spending my weekend. There were a few flurries yesterday amongst the rain, and then this evening after I bid a fond farewell to my boyfriend, down it came, thicker and faster than ever.

Yes it's beautiful, but it's also deadly. I don't have any suitable footwear for snow, as both pairs of sensible boots have now got holes in thanks to the cobblestones. Ten mins of walking, and my feet are frozen...

All I Want for Christmas...
So here's my Christmas wish. It can snow all it wants on Christmas Eve once I'm back in England, but ideally it won't snow until Boxing Day evening, when I'm all snug by the fire with my boyfriend, and don't care if I'm stuck there until February!

It's Christmas time, there's no need to be afraid... or is there?

Christmas time, mistletoe and (mulled) wine
Christmas is a tricky subject. Everyone seems to like Christmas, yet at the same time we all hate it. 


Normally I like the run up to Christmas - buying presents, decorating trees, wrapping gifts... and drinking copious amounts of mulled wine and Baileys hot chocolate (although not at the same time).


But on Christmas Day I become the Grinch. Traditions have changed because we're all older and we're not all in the house for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We all want to sleep until 11am, and the concept of Christmas food is far less exciting when you're older and know that eating an entire packet of chocolate fingers is not a good idea.


Overall though, I love it - especially winding everyone up by playing Christmas songs the minute I've opened the first door on my advent calendar.


Fairytale of Brussels
However, living abroad is entirely different and I admit I've been disappointed with the preparations in Belgium. As there is St Nicholas' Day (December 6th), the focus is on that for the whole of November (once Hallow'en is over), and even now there are very few Christmas decorations, and a shocking lack of Christmas lights.


I was on Oxford Street a few weeks ago, and they know how to light up the world - I don't care if it's tacky, overdone or a waste of electricity. Lighten up people - it's Christmas - the one time of year England actually does something properly!


Over here the concept of Christmas markets is a famous tradition - we have them in England now, and they're nice for a few hours. Plenty of 'stuff' available, and sometimes mulled wine.


Belgium however has a different approach... the focus is on outdoor ice rinks, which people queue up for... after drinking Glühwein (pay an extra 1€ and you can even add amaretto or rum), or perhaps Chocolat Chaud (with Baileys, rum, Cointreau etc.). I find this an excellent combination, especially as you often get offered a free shot if you buy two cups. Nothing like a bit of drunken ice-skating when it's cold and dark...

 If you get hungry at a market in England, you perhaps indulge in a mince pie or two... whereas the Belgians prefer a Big White Sausage, some waffles and crêpes.


I've been to loads of Christmas markets so far this year, including markets in Brussels, Bruges and Gent, and they're all very similar (Gent was a bit more festive though as the choir of Queen's College, Cambridge were singing in the cathedral, and it was beautiful), although with a sort of magic about them (I think it's the smell).




I'll be home for Christmas...
My main problem is that I'm not home for the Christmas preparations... and it upsets me. There's nothing I like more than decorating my parents' house, glass of mulled wine in hand and the Christmas 'tape' in the background. The smell of Christmas all around, and the joy of 'remembering' decorations as they come out of the box. 


My silver and purple Christmas tree won't be the way I like it, I'll miss the Christmas carols in the high street (free mulled wine and mince pies), and I'm going to have to wrap my presents on Christmas eve - something I despise. I'll also miss the Christmas food shopping. I like food shopping anyway, but at Christmas it's so much more fun because you can spoil yourself. 


I also like general Christmas shopping - scarves, gloves, coat and a red nose... traipsing in and out of shops where you have to undress because it's too hot. The best part is sitting in Starbucks afterwards with an empty purse and a bulging bag, drinking out of the red cups, and mentally crossing things off a list. Not to mention teasing everyone about what you've got them, and keeping it all secret.


Here? Well, it's not quite the same sitting in front of a computer, or asking people to buy things for you. I'm also paranoid it's going to snow so I won't be able to get home!


Where are you Christmas?
Just to prove that I'm not the Grinch, I must say I'm very festive right now - how can one not feel festive with the prospect of carols around the corner, and more vin chaud?


I just don't think that it's quite up to England's standards - call it commercialised, I call it wonderful. One month out of twelve when we're all slightly less selfish than normal, and indulging in festive cheer - why do people complain so much.


I'd also just like to point out that if people don't like Belgian produce, or gifts from Amazon, they're going to be very disappointed this year!