The One Where There Was Christmas in Saudi

So as you have read, it was too expensive to fly back for Christmas this year, and with the snow problems last year, a little fear was involved too!

In true Lloyd family form, Christmas began December 1st! Christmas music blasting out, the decorations at the ready and home made (non alcoholic of course) mulled wine!

The burning question - what goes on first the lights or the tinsel??? Every year my husband asks me this, if you don't know the answer just ask my kids, they know!

We managed to bring a Christmas tree back after the summer holidays - one case filled with the tree and one filled with the decorations! So up with the tree, with Sir cliff in the background. A friend came round to help, or rather supervise, but the help wasn't required it was just nice to share the Christmas spirit. A lot of people here are away from their families, which I imagine is easier to cope with any other month of the year, but Christmas is a time for families, and to us, our friends are family. Especially when living overseas like this, you make friendships, close friendships, very quickly. It's survival.

Continuing with the decorations, up went everything on the ceiling, around the doors and even the air conditioning! By the time it came to putting the lights on the window, I was the only one left standing, barely, and the lights looked like some type of Harry Potter shield, needless to say in the cold light of day I changed that!

We managed to have everything we needed for the perfect Christmas, the only thing missing was the pork and beer! We had our Christmas table stocked with all the usual treats, we had Christmas wrapping paper, the music, the movies and even chocolate advent calenders for the kids! Inside it felt like Christmas. Outside it was 28 degrees, so not so festive!

Next came the obligatory Christmas party. What I love about being here, is that you can do this sort of thing and people are overwhelmed with joy. To have the same kind of party back in Britain would have been strange, but here it is really appreciated. And our party wasn't just British ex pats, in fact not even just Christians, we had Muslim guests who thoroughly enjoyed themselves too. Engaging in the festivities and the warmth of friends!

We had home made mice pies, a Christmas log, sausage rolls (made from beef but taste strangely like pork ones!?), mulled wine, the only thing missing was the crisp, crackling winter fire!

Not for long!

My clever husband had a trick up his sleeve!!!

One little download from the net and boom, we have a real fire film playing on our TV! Much to the delight of our guests!


Next was Christmas itself. As we saw all our friends leaving to go back to their native lands, a slight feeling of melancholy came over us. I was missing my Dad and Aunt terribly by this point. We knew we had made the right decision though. The emotion really came to a head when we went to a church service just before Christmas day.

The warmth in that place was wonderful, and the words the Pastor spoke touching. It was something we really needed at this point, and brought us closer to enjoying Christmas.

I must also add here that just before Christmas the kids received a letter each from Santa, the relief in their eyes that he knew where they were and could still deliver their presents was simply magical!

Christmas morning came.

Perfection!

Two overwhelmingly excited children ripping at the paper, with giggles and screams, we could have been anywhere in the world at that point. What made it special was that we were together. Even more wonderful was their Nan, who was back in the UK, called on skype, we angled the laptop camera so she could join in with us. Technology is a wonderful thing, on December 25th 2010 it brought 3 generations together in a moment of pure magic!

Christmas dinner was wonderful, the turkey, the herb butters, we even got sprouts and parsnips when were in Dubai ready for this day! Truly fabulous!

We had a great Christmas, it just took a little more planning and organising to make it happen here in Saudi. This just proves that it is possible to do anything, anywhere. It isn't always about where you are, it is about where you heart is and who shares the moment with you.

The Lloyd Family, once again proved that we can pretty much pull off anything if we set our mind to it. We are a very determined little foursome when required!

God Bless Us, Every one!