from our own correspondent

[teafortwo]

Old thread...
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/2423/576865?ts=1222265998268&msgid=12499051

New thread...

to be created below!

Enjoy!

FOOC - Devon

at snow. It seems to be snowing everywhere in the UK except the south-west. Not that I particularly crave snow at this moment, but it would make a change from the, yes, you've guessed it, interminable RAIN. Hmmpphh.

Although on a brighter note, apparently the last ice-age stopped short of Devon & Cornwall, so should global warming trigger a new ice-age, we will be fine

And yes, I have just been watching 'The Day After Tomorrow'

Saturday sees the first of the Farmer's Markets that run every Saturday in December at our local top attraction, The Big Sheep www.thebigsheep.co.uk/. They're always really good, with lots of crafts, delicious home-made produce to sample and usually a large selection of scarily over-sized vegetables.

The last couple of years I have been unable to resist buying a great stalk of brussels sprouts, as they look fantastic (see pic on link!). The only trouble is, they could easily feed about 20 people, there are only 4 of us, and dh is the only one who likes them. I shall try and resist this year

FOOC Australia

Haven't written lately - been busy but felt that I did not have much to write about.

Here it is winding down for the end of the year and summer holidays. Dd1 will finish school next Friday and she has 6 weeks off.

We will have a huge assembly next Thursday followed by a pizza party and that will be it - bye bye Prep. Hello year 1 in 6 weeks time.

Dh was pretty busy with SES after those recent storms. He was out removing debris, tarping houses, helping clean up.

I know some of you will find it hard to deal with a hot christmas. At present it has been in the low 30's ( celsius) with a few heavy rain storms thrown in.

THe shops all have christmas music etc all out. People are starting to decorate their houses with lights etc. Despite being summer there still is the Eurocentric snow and icicles etc that are featured in people's gardens - north poles, fake snow and other things. It is a big thing for some areas here. My friend's bought a house in a street that had won lots of awards for their christmas lights and the pressure on them to participate to a large extent was incredible.

I have done all the children's presents and just have a few adult presents to buy. that wonderful mid year thing called the toy sale with layby until christmas eve is fabulous. I have picked up one lot, will get the next lot next week and then we just need the trampoline to be delivered.

Have been out for a few break up meals and christmas functions. We are off just before Christmas to dh's work do.

We spend Christmas Eve celebrating with my aunt and some of the extended family - she always hosts it ( she is brilliant at it) and there all family and strays included!! It is always a great time - good food, great company and the dds usually stay up until midnight or beyond. Then we go to my mother's for lunch christmas day. Despite the heat she still insists on a hot lunch!! Makes for a long hot day. Then we come home and chill out.

Boxing day here they have huge sales - not quite the extent that cali talked about but you still have stampedes for goods - hard to imagine people doing that but ah well.

We have lots of community christmas carols - by candlelight usually out under the stars - wonderful thing to be able to be outside in candlelight celebrating christmas.

Cote
Congratulations on your pregnancy.

Will try and come back later to update on life in Geneva. My pc died last week so I am finding it a bit of a pain to go online.

FOOC Tamil Nadu

Haven't been on here for ages. Although in India we are several hours flight (and a million miles in other ways) from Mumbai. Like everyone else we poured over the papers - which told us very little. But without a TV we didn't see any of the reports, and I'm sure are less informed about the events than most people. This town is a business town more than anything else, and most people's concerns are to do with dollar rates, and economic downturn, and what that will do to the garment industry. (Keep buying T-shirts, people!)

Weather report - we had some rain (lots of it) and it cooled down to a wonderful 27/28... then it warmed up again. Still, as long as it stays below about 32 I'm happy.

On a more personal note my 5yo son has finally settled into his school. He is the only white child in the school(we're the only expat family in town), and it has been a long hard struggle. Last week the school had its Annual Show - a 4 hour plus marathon in a local HUGE wedding hall. He danced (to Abba's 'You're so hot...') with 25 other 5yos, on a stage infront of about 2500 people (including the local MP and other bigwigs) and grinned the whole time!

Hi MMeLindt, Yes , I would love to know what is happening on your side. Here in Greater Manchester, we were promissed 20cm of snow last night and instead it rained and rained. I was so disapointed. Lately I am absolutely craving a fondue but just broke my "caquelon", I will need to find another alternative to top up my cheese levels.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/661412-Onthewarpath-HAS-NAMECHANGED-FINALLY

Goronine
Did I spell your name correctly?
I have not had fondue yet as I am not really able to eat lots of cheese, my friend said she had a meat fondue recently that she enjoyed.

FOOC Geneva
We were at the Xmas tree party yesterday. Or rather the turning on of the lights party, Illumination du sapin du village. The children from the village school each made an angel that was hung on the tree. Everyone brought a small dish, of biscuits, cake, sandwiches or crisps and we warmed ourselves up with some vin chaud. The street wAs blocked off so the children were able to run wild with their friends from school. It was a lovely evening.

We had this letter through the door this week:

"Chaque sour - du 1er au 18 decembre - entre 17h30 et 21h00,une fenetre decoree d'une maison s'illumine.

Every evening in early December a different family plays host to the village, serving vin chaud (mulled wine) and a snack.

We are hosting tonight's fenetre. Will let you know tomorrow how it goes.

Does she mean Fondue "bourguignone" cubes of meat or fondue "chinoise"(very thin rolled slices of meat)? yum, sorry, I am obsessed with food lately.

What a lovely thing this "fenetre" hosting I had not heard of it before.I really like the idea.

FOOC Greater Manchester
There is STILL not a snowflake in sight arround here.

FOOC AUckland

Weather - sun and more sun only interupted by 2 days of rain this week, 'tis Auckland after all ........

All quiet here, I shan't dwell as I've vented on another thread at how sad I find Christmas here in NZ but in an attempt to raise some festive cheer we bought the tree yesterday. It's become a bit of a tradition, dh takes the boys to the same place every year, they choose the tree, the boys are given lollies and I wait at home to see the tree of their choice. We then all decorate the tree, usually over a bottle of wine. No wine yesterday though as dh and I went out to yet another corporate christmas function. ds2 is practising 'jingle bells' - very cute - day and night for his christmas performance this Friday. ds1's school does nothing festive at all. This years end of year performance is a 'wearable arts' show as this terms theme has been recycling. All children have made and outfit and accessories for recyclable goods. I'm doing the pre-show nibbles and bubbles, so will be cooking and dipping strawberries in chocolate all day trying not to sample the bubbles . There's a red carpet reception and catwalk for the children. Ds1 is less than impressed as he's quite shy and the thought of parading in old boxes etc in front of 400 people is not his thing. Personally I think it's great but would still rather they did something festive, maybe at least one carol. ANyway, off now to the local farmers market before we return for another day around the pool - another hard day in the sun!

Oops the reason for posting ds2 went to a birthday party yesterday and there was a chocolate fondue. Now I've had meat and cheese, but never chocolate. Needless to say he was very excited on return and it's now top of his christmas list. He tried to convince me it's healthy as he dipped some fruit although after a bit of probing I think he dipped more marshmellows than fruit

FOOC Geneva

The window party went well. We had about 25 guests over the course of the evening and 5 bottles of vin chaud were consumed along with large quantities of cheese, salamis and my puff pastry salmon nibbles. I made some with cheese and ham as well and they were scoffed too. We decorated the front of both houses and had enough candles lit to celebrate a mass (as my DH commented).

Yesterday we walked along the lakeside with our new puppy. She takes ages to walk anywhere, not just because she walks so slowly. She is incredibly cute so we get stopped every 10 m so that some strange Swiss woman can have her face covered in doggy kisses. DH is horrifiedthat they all hold Daphne up to their faces so that she can lick them.

Photos on profile if you don't believe how gorgeous she is

I have just ordered a doggy handbag for her so am turning into one of these chichi women that we ridiculed recently. She can't walk far yet and when I carry her I cannot carry anything else or hold the DC's hand

oh choc fondue is fab - I use marshmallows, cut up oranges, strawberries - I also use nougat and apricot bars too.

oh I missed the pics on the profile!!

Oops, forgot that I have my xmas name on. Pics are there now

FOOC Galicia.

Weather - nice enough, according to my google task bar it's 13 Degrees and sunny.

Today is the last day of the puente de la Inmaculada y la Constitución - or long weekend of The Immaculate Conception and the Constitution.

December 6th 1978 saw the Spanish Constitution being signed, 3 short years after Franco's death, and marked the beginning of a new, democratic, period of Spanish history. It is marked with a public holiday.

However, it falls two days before the much longer standing public holiday to mark the Immaculate Conception (December 8th), and so many many people hacen un puente - make a bridge, i.e. take the day off in the middle to make a long weekend.

Unfortunately, this year the holidays fell on a Saturday and a Monday, so there is not such scope to squeeze a long break in before Christmas.

I asked DH what people usually do on this puente, but he didn't seem to think there was any special activity. If you live near enough, or have enough money, a trip to the mountains to ski is a good idea. Otherwise, people stay at home and put up their Christmas decorations.

True to form, we got out our little Christmas tree this morning and I've put on my Christmas Carols CD, and have been trilling along to "The Holly and the Ivy" while stringing beads and ribbons aroud the house.

All the shops are closed today, but we're going to head off to an exhibition of wildlife photographs in a couple of hours, when DH wakes up from his siesta - an integral part of any public holiday.

FOOC French Riviera

This weekend, we went skiing on the French Riviera. That's right - skiing

Door to door, it takes 1.5 hours to drive to
Auron from our place in Monaco. Half an our on the highway, then off highway at Nice and head towards the mountains. About an hour in windy roads between steep mountains and voila, we are at Auron. Nearby Isola 2000 and Limone in Italy are also 1.5 hours away.

These little resorts are cold but not too cold, very often quite sunny and pleasant. This weekend was the opening of the skiing season. DD (3) had her first real encounter with snow and was flabbergasted When we go back in a couple of weeks, I intend to start teaching her to ski. It will be fun!

Very CoteDAzur. I wanted snow, but all I got was rain

If it's any consolation, I had snow but still couldn't ski because I'm pregnant. I don't remember the last time I fell while skiing (possibly in 1980s) but still didn't dare it.

FOOC Paris

We had snow! Well frozen rain which fell from the sky and was white. Cue a long discussion about when seasons actually start and finish.

I don't honestly think that we will get much snow here - 100km away there is 15cm of thick white snow. DP has sent me photos.

The thought of Christmas without snow makes me upset. I don't know how you Southern hemisphere/warmer climes people cope with it all the time...

FOOC Paris

Some friends of ours are Muslims - actually many people in our neighbourhood are - so we were busy celebrating Eid last night...

I was a bit nervous I might make some faux pas celebrating something I didn't know much about. In the end I just copied what the Muslims were doing - which turned out to be eating lots of sushi and drinking martini - I don't think our friends go for tradition much!!! Ha ha ha!!! Happy days!!! Happy days!!!!

CoteDAzur - My DH and I love reading this thread together... He loves your posts - today he told me to tell you that he used to go to a summer holiday camp in St Etienne de Tinée (the village in the valley below where your family were skiing)!

Fooc UK UK UK UK UK

Just in case you missed it, I'm back in the UK. It's a bit chilly and when I went out this morning I realised I'd forgotten about dressing for the weather. It took aaaaages to locate and don coat and shoes and I completely forgot gloves. But still, it's good to be home and the very first thing I did in my effort to kick start my Xmas plans was have my eyebrows waxed. Absolutely essential, to the festivities imo. I've purchased the tree and ordered some presents online as well as more mundane stuff such as go through months-worth of mail.

The final few days before leaving Nigeria were very busy, with the char-i-dee bazaar I was involved with. The night before, we had a storm with tremendous thunder and torrential rain. Next morning I had a job even getting to the venue due to flooding. The car lurched into a massive, waterfilled pothole, with a dreadful grinding sound, and at first seemed marooned there like a ship on undersea rocks. Eventually the driver freed us but one of the tyres suffered some damage.

One advantage of the unexpected rain was the lowering of the temperature. It has been around 36deg for a while but came down to around 30-ish. The downside was the humidity, which meant it felt like a Turkish bath all day as I scurried about at the bazaar. The mud lawn at the venue took a battering from all the feet scuffling about - apparently the High Commisioner will go mad when he sees it.

The bazaar was a success and I think we made a good bit of money for the charities we support so we had a sense of a job well done. And my driver won a silver bracelet in the raffle so he was well pleased too. All that was left to do afterwards was go home and get packed for our flight home on Sunday night, and even the packing didn't take long, as there's not a lot of call for short sleeves and thin linen trousers in a Scottish winter.

FOOC Ibadan, Nigeria
Birth announcement - Emile Cassian 25.11.08

Hello everyone, have not posted in a while as I have been busy in the last two weeks having a baby Nigerian style!
After weeks spent worrying in the early stages about conditions here for childbirth (very high maternal mortality rates) and weighing up the pros and cons of returning to the UK to give birth, I decided that with the recommendation of a midwife friend in the UK for an obstetrician here, I would stay here for the birth. All was straightforward throughout the pg and apart from the effects of the extreme heat towards the last few weeks I was fine (3rd child after all - should be a piece of cake right?!)
We registered in the private wing of Ibadan's largest teaching hospital and I was reassured by the obstetrician who was confident and knowledgable. Then the horror stories from other ex pats began to flood in - you had to take your own water with you for washing, you have to supply your own medical equipment. It seemed like everyone I met was aghast at the suggestion I would deliver here.
I raised all these issues with my trusty obs and he reassured me that there would be 24/7 power, whether mains or gen and that there would be water, also that all medical supplies and equipment would be provided by the hospital. I viewed the delivery room and the private rooms and they were clean and well equipped. The only forms of pain relief available however, were epidural and pethidine, neither of which I fancied.
Late evening on 24th November I had a show and fairly gentle contractions began. My DH rang the obs who had to leave his home immediately to wait for us at the hospital because the gates to his compound are locked at 11.00pm with no exceptions!
We arrived at the hospital around midnight to find the place in eerie darkness, there was no power! I stuggled up 4 flights of stairs, pausing for contractions, to reach the private wing. The security guard on the locked door informed us that it was late - I shall not detail my DH's response to this useful observation!
The private wing was also in darkness as apparently there was a problem with the gen and there was no mains power - ho hum! The heat was intense as, of course, no AC was working. Contractions became more fierce and painful and I was wheeled on a trolley through dark, quiet corridors to the delivery room. The room was lit by torches, held by the anaesthetist and the paediatrician and various nurses. The heat was becoming unbearable and the student doctor fanned me non stop with a magazine as the labour progressed. I was offered an epidural but declined as I thought that trying to insert and maintain this by torch light was asking for trouble! After a couple of hours I thought I could do no more, yet with a few words of encouragement from my DH based on what the alternatives were if I gave up now, a couple of almighty pushes took up the remainder of my strength and our son was born. He was checked over and his apgar score taken with the aid of the paediatrician's mobile phone light. He weighed in at 4.3kg or a whopping 9lb 4oz! All was well that ended well.
There was water on tap when I returned to my room and I left hospital 2 days later with only 5 stitches to show for my experience!
Now, 2 weeks on, I have a healthy squirming baby feeding as I (try to) type this post.
Childbirth in Nigeria is possibly not for the fainthearted, but it has certainly given me a good story to relate to my friends and family back in the UK!
I have just spent a good while catching up on the posts I have missed, Christmas has rather caught me by surprise. Here in Ibadan the balance of Christians and Muslims is evenly split and the celebrations for Eid have just ended. I imagine Christmas will be fairly low key here. I must say that I do not miss the frenetic, panic driven run up to Christmas that I recall from the UK!

Diddy Massive CONGRATULATIONS! That's an awesome birth story, well done you. Pah to the all those woosy BHC expat types.

DIIIIIIIIIIDDDDDDDDDDDDDYYYY!!!!

Wow wow wow wow - congratulations on your third bundle of joy - I am sure you will have many dinners out on that birth story!!!! You are much much braver than me!

I think if every FOOC blows a kiss from where they are into the air for Emile he will have a welcome to this world kiss from most corners of the World! I just sent mine!

The Parisians do get excited about Chrissy time but it has a different feel. Perhaps a little more reined in - Not quite as crazy manic as in the UK.... when I was living in England it used to really piss me off and I was quite bar humbug - but here - because noone else is doing it right (IMHO) it is me singing Christmas songs, telling Christmas stories and decorating my apartment in the first week of December!!!!