The 12 days of Christmas - part 1

We are spending most of the 12 days of Christmas at home in Nairobi, enjoying our second tropical Christmas. Its been a good mix of family time, hanging out with friends, relaxing and eating and drinking.

Christmas Eve, saw Santa on a camel and us singing carols and enjoying mulled wine and mince pies in the sun. I somehow (through the power of a mojito a few weeks ago) found myself playing handbells at the carols along with three friends - fortunately there isn't audio evidence (or photographic I hope) but we weren't anything like the Kmart Christmas boxer ad that is doing the rounds

Christmas day was at home. It started early with all the kids up before 6 to open stockings. Matthew's tea making was a small compensation (even if it was intended as an incentive to get us out of bed).


Matthew loved his remote controlled car to bits (literally).





Katie was just so excited and loved her robot dog


and Jamie (with a couple of sous chefs) treated us to a seafood extravaganza for lunch.

I wasn't sure anyone would have room for turkey later. A valid concern until Tim's brother flew his brand new remote control helicopter out of range and into a hill that we didn't know how to access. A rescue adventure ensued, with Tim and Andy racing round the neighbourhood trying different back roads to get to the site. I took the kids off for a swim to create some space at home if tragedy ensued. And then I couldn't start the car. Much pushing and efforts with jump leads followed and we made it home just in time (and with plenty of space) for beautifully cooked turkey and all the trimmings thanks to my lovely sister in law Cathy. The helicopter also returned in one piece (mostly) and was swiftly put back in its box to avoid further Kenyan adventures.

Boxing Day was with picnicking with friends eating leftovers, drinking Pimms, swimming and playing Victorian parlour games.

On the fourth day of Christmas we went for a safari and campfire breakfast in Nairobi National park with friends. We saw loads - giraffe, rhino, a huge Eland, antelope, zebra and monkeys. Tim and the kids saw lions and eagles too. We then met up at a picnic site to cook breakfast. 10 adults, 10 kids, 5 packets of bacon, 5 tins of beans, pancakes, scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, cereal, fruit, bread, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, marshmallows to toast. No matches. No smokers. Oops. Luckily a car cigarette lighter, rolled up newspaper, dried grass, crumbled fire lighters and a cardboard box did the trick. Breakfast was delicious and well worth the wait.

The 5th day was a forest walk (me and kids) and run (tim and friends) followed by lunch and a swim. We built twig rafts and tested them in a waterfall, climbed along logs and generally got muddy. The runners wondered what had happened to us (from the comfort of their pool side table).

On the 6th day of Christmas we mainly stayed home. Katie and I tried to build a gingerbread house - she has wanted to do it all Christmas and we had lots of fun making dough, cutting templates, going shopping for sweets and then trying to stick it all together. Sadly the roof was too heavy and caved in, bringing down the walls with it. She was pretty pragmatic about its eventual collapse, seeing it as an early opportunity to eat biscuit and icing. We had a brief outing in the afternoon to let the gingerbread house dry and to squeeze in a swim and some football with friends and then Cathy and Andy got back from a few days in the Mara with lots of animal sightings to share with us.

It has been busy and lots of fun.


Anne