A Christmas Meme

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Most of the gifts we buy in Belgium are gift wrapped at the shops when you purchase them.
I used to own a gift shop of my own a couple of years ago and my customers loved to offer gifts from my shop because of the pretty wrapping. By the time Christmas arrived, I had wrapped thousands of presents, big, tiny or small! I would have preferred gift bags back then, there's a lot less work involved!
If I wrap a gift myself, it has to have a pretty bow made with real ribbons, not the cheap frilly things that are so popular here.

2. Real tree or artificial?

There would have been a time where I would have opted for a real one, a huge big tree filling the house with that wonderful Christmassy scent, wonderful! BUT we live in an apartment with only a very narrow spiral staircase ...
Impossible to get a big tree like that up -( or down, that's even worse when it starts to loose it's needles!) - those stairs, so I use a fake one now.

3. When do you put up the tree?

I'm late this year, I usually put it up the second week of December and I leave it until after my husband's birthday, which is January 15th. That's another reason why I need an artificial one!

4. Wreath on your door?

My front door is on the first floor, and there is a decoration on it.
Only, it's not a wreath but a welcome sign with a reindeer on it.

5. Do you like eggnog?
I always thought eggnog was similar to our advokaat which is made with egg yolks, sugar and alcohol, but it's not. Not REALLY, anyway. Eggnog contains milk and cream, advokaat does not, and it's thicker. Advokaat is often served with ice cream, pancakes or waffles, or in a little glass to enjoy with a coffee. I had that yesterday, mmmm.



6. Favourite Xmas gift received as a child?
We used to get the toys and the fun stuff from Sint Niklaas.
At Christmas we got the practical, useful things.
Stuff like underwear and pyjama's and socks, no fun getting that when you're seven or eight!

7. Easiest person to buy for?
My nephew. He has a wish list with every possible detail.



8. Least easiest?
My husband. He never has any special wishes, and he has no real hobbies.
He likes chocolate and sweets, but we're trying to loose weight!
I'll probably end up buying him shirts or something.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes. My Boyds Bears nativity scene.
I put my three wise men on a boat, isn't that cute?



10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Both I guess. But I suck at sending Christmas cards!
I usually end up sending them halfway through January or something!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
A Senseo coffee machine.
I am a coffee lover, but already had a regular coffee machine and an espresso machine when I got it! My kitchen counter is not big enough to house three different types of coffee machines!

12. Favourite Christmas Movie?
Something from Disney.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
A couple of days before Christmas? Eww, I know, I'm terrible!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
No. I mean, YES. The Senseo Coffee machine.

15. Open presents on Christmas eve or morning?
When the family gets together to have our Christmas party, there's no real set date, this year it's going to be on the 4th of January!

16. Lights on the tree?
Lots and lots of lights!

17. Favourite Christmas song?
We have the loudspeakers of the shopping street right next to our living room window.
I hear Christmas music ALL DAY. Need I say more?

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
I prefer to stay home.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's?
I'm sorry, we're not very familiar with them in Belgium, I'm afraid.
I know Rudolf, that's a start isn't it?

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
A have an antique ornament, but it looks nothing like an angel or a star.

21. Favourite thing to eat at Christmas?
Nothing in particular really, although my family requested me
to bake Christine's peppernuts again this year!

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?

Crowded shops. I know I should do my Christmas shopping a little bit earlier, I know!

23. Favourite Tree ornament, theme or colour?

I like different themes each year.
Last year I did snowy roses and glass and I liked that a lot!



24. Favourite for Christmas dinner?

No real traditions in our home, maybe some game or something.
I really love venaisson.

25. Brussels Sprouts - love or hate them?

Brussels Sprouts are no delicacy where I come from.
They're just ordinary every day vegetables.
Every child hates them, I used to too, but now I like them a lot, but NEVER in my right mind am I going to serve them at Christmas! Okay, ... I should never say never, you're right about that too!

26. Favourite accompaniment to the Christmas Pud?

Christmas pudding is not a Belgian tradition either.
But I've tasted it, and I would serve custard with it, we call that Crème Anglaise.

27. Favourite Christmas Carol?

Silent night, holy night.

28. Your very Favourite Christmas Thing?

The lights and the decorations in the the streets.
But my absolute favourites are the dangling Santa's. They really make me smile!
Everybody seems to want to have one dangling from their window or balcony!

29. A Christmas wish!

Good health and happiness to all the people.

30. Tag six people?
Sorry, I don't do the tagging bit.
I nicked this from someone, and I don't even remember who!
Feel free to take it if you want to!