December 2018
Saturday 15th December 2018
Christmas crafts
Today we could have been out with the masses doing Christmas shopping. But instead we went to a Christmas crafts afternoon organised by my daughter at her home in Effretikon. An assortment of friends and family members attended and we sat round the dining table, loaded with all sorts of arts and crafts material, and each did some kind of creative activity.
Some did decorative lettering…
Some did decorative lettering…
…on cards…
…or on shabby-chic pieces of wood.
One favourite was these glass lanterns, which look good by daylight…
…or lit up by a candle.
And what did I do during this time?
Apart from taking a few photos, I sat down and tried writing a little seasonal poetry. I started working on a Christmas song, but that is not far enough along to share with you here.
However, I did complete a little limerick which describes a little of our afternoon in Effretikon (Effi).
Apart from taking a few photos, I sat down and tried writing a little seasonal poetry. I started working on a Christmas song, but that is not far enough along to share with you here.
However, I did complete a little limerick which describes a little of our afternoon in Effretikon (Effi).
In Effi one Advent weekend
we followed the modern trend.
We sat round the table
and (as we were able)
made Christmas cards for a friend.
we followed the modern trend.
We sat round the table
and (as we were able)
made Christmas cards for a friend.
Monday 24th December 2018
Christmas Eve
This year our usual family celebration of Christmas was moved from Christmas Eve to the afternoon of Christmas Day, because our daughters had arranged to celebrate Christmas Eve with some of their friends.
But before they went out this evening, the two of them kindly mixed a batch of dough for a plaited loaf, which is the centre piece of our Christmas Eve cold buffet supper.
The resulting “Zopf” looked very beautiful.
But before they went out this evening, the two of them kindly mixed a batch of dough for a plaited loaf, which is the centre piece of our Christmas Eve cold buffet supper.
The resulting “Zopf” looked very beautiful.
However, when we put it on the table we discovered that it hadn’t risen at all, and was only half the size it should have been, and was oddly heavy. We rummaged through the kitchen bin and found that there were no empty yeast packets in there, so we were able to work out why the loaf hadn’t risen.
Well, we managed to find enough sliced bread in the freezer to get us through the evening, and a very pleasant meal we had.
After supper I wrote this limerick which I WhatsApped them:
Well, we managed to find enough sliced bread in the freezer to get us through the evening, and a very pleasant meal we had.
After supper I wrote this limerick which I WhatsApped them:
From the north, south, west and the east
they came to our Christmas Eve feast,
but we found that the bread
was as heavy as lead:
they’d obviously left out the yeast!
they came to our Christmas Eve feast,
but we found that the bread
was as heavy as lead:
they’d obviously left out the yeast!
Tuesday 25th December 2018
This year, the same as every year, our gospel choir took part in the Christmas morning mass in the manor house church in Grüningen.
Front page story
Look back to 1665: the Plague Year
Contact
If you’re interested in English lessons or translation and checking services, please feel free to contact me in the language of your choice - English, French, German or even Lingala!
Here are my details:
Here are my details:
Mobile
078 609 56 51
+41 78 609 56 51
+41 78 609 56 51
Location
Tödistrasse 9, 8634 Hombrechtikon
(New address from 24th March 2018)
(New address from 24th March 2018)
If you are travelling from Rüti / Wolfhausen, drive past the Hombrechtikon place-name sign for about 300 metres and turn right into Tödistrasse, just before the Tobel bus stop.
Approaching from Hombrechtikon
If you are approaching from the centre of Hombrechtikon, follow the signs to Rüti. At the Tobel junction (the Methodist Church is on the left) turn left. Tödistrasse is the next turning on the left, just past the Tobel bus stop.
The entrance to our new flat is about 100 metres from the junction with Rütistrasse, on the left-hand side of the road.
The house number is number 9 and we are on the first floor.
There are a few visitor’s parking bays a short distance beyond the entrance, on the left.
There are a few visitor’s parking bays a short distance beyond the entrance, on the left.
Arriving by bus
If you arrive by bus from Bubikon, get off the bus at Tobel and follow Tödiweg until you get to Tödistrasse. Our house is on the right.