Yeovil calling!

Well, we arrived to very unusual weather conditions for southern England: snow and ice. Arctic conditions, which caused complete panic and chaos.

So what with stranded relatives and colds and flu, Christmas has been much quieter this year.

Some of you will remember Cousin Valdon who visited us in 2005 with 48 pupils from the Gryphon School, and gave concerts in Schwarme, Bremen and our garden. Some of you may even remember our very first concert in 1996, when Cousin Rosalind gave a concert in our Diele. Now Ros has a band of her own and so this week's link is to their website - she's promised to let me have the lyrics...

Visit them on http://spitdust.blogspot.com

Joy to the World!

Christmas Eve? Unthinkable not to be listening to the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College Cambridge:

www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/christmas/carols_1shtml

We will be fighting our way through the snow - fortunately not the tunnel - to spend Christmas with the family in Yeovil. Today we skyped with Laura, Riko & Anya in Borneo, carrying the laptop to the window so Anya and Riko could see the snow. Robin, Martina and Martina's Mum Renate were here (for an early Christmas dinner )and so we chased Robin outside so Anya could see us throwing snowballs at Uncle Robin.So today was a very happy day for me.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and let's look forward together to what 2010 holds for us.

Maybe you'll find time over the next few days to take a look here; it's perfect:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKk9rv2hUfA

Christmas cards

Some of you will remember - I hope - that great Rolf Harris TV special we watched some years ago about Christmas Cards - this card is believed to be the very first, sent in England in 1843.

Opening the mailbox in the weeks before Christmas is such fun each day: heaps of cards, some from old friends I haven't seen or spoken to for years. We catch up on news; children who have left home. started their own families - and sadder news too of deaths and illness, separation and sadness.

When we arrive in the UK our family's houses in Yeovil will be hung with hundreds of Christmas cards, featuring robins, holly, ivy as well as traditional snowy or Bethlehem scenes.
I loved looking at cards chosen by US Presidents - check them out on:
www.oprah.com/slideshow/food/partyplanning/pkgholiday/20091203-orig-white-house-christmas-cards

where you can also find some presidential trees:wow!

Thanksgiving & The Story of Squanto

Just got back from the Surprise Trip to Schwerin...

Many years ago I caught the name "Squanto" in a Stevie Wonder song, and - as a Brit - had no idea who Stevie meant.

Some of us have been thinking and talking about Thanksgiving recently, so here is a link to the story of Squanto. It's with subtitles and will help y'all brush up your American English.

www.weeklyreader.com/interactivestories/squanto.html

And here's a Peach Cobbler recipe:

http://southernfood.about.com/od/peachcobblers/r/r70913a.htm

Advent Calender

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Why? Because yesterday a large parcel arrived with all the pens with this blog address ready for distribution to students.

My first tip for you all?

Visit The Woodlands.

You will find an online advent calendar which you can open every day.
How nice!
P.S. Woodlands is a Junior School in Kent, UK, with a brilliant website which I often use for information.

The Penguinet: Open for business!

Good afternoon from my laptop:
Keep watching here for exciting news which will help you improve your English...