All the family is engaged in dressing the tree. Jennifer mostly high up precariously balancing on the top platform of the scaffolding trying to put on an angel or star at the top of the tree. Mikee and Riza supporting on a ladder or further down on the scaffold. Eric mainly climbing up and down like a monkey and Papa behind the camera. It is nine metres to the ceiling in the Great Hall, so a tree has to be tall to be a focal point. Jennifer selects a theme each year, but now we have had gold and yellow baubles several years with red and gold ribbons. The lights are a combination of traditional Swedish lights that I brought over and more modern LED lights. And outside we have a natural fir tree in the park that Lewis and Richard dress up with lights.
For a couple of days the Great Hall looks like a battle field, but on Monday I know by experience that everything will be back to normal again and everyone will start carrying Christmas gifts to place underneath the tree.
And on Friday the Choir at Ottery St Mary Church is coming to sing Christmas Carols and we have around 60 guests drinking Mulled Wine and eating Minced Pies. As English as it can get. One day later we have our traditional Christmas Party with a Swedish Smorgasbord and around 120 guests who have accepted. And on Monday we have what has become a very special day for us. With the help of the church and lots of wonderful helping people we have another 60 guests coming for a traditional Christmas Lunch. But these are the elderly in the parish, who can tell their stories from long time ago. Last year the eldest, Winifred, was 106 years old. And then it is time for the family to celebrate Christmas at Ottery St Mary.
