Aside from when I was very small and still believed in Santa Claus, I've never really been one for Christmas and all its related commercialness. It all seems a bit too much and forced jollity to me although I do appreciate the tinsel and baubles or bubbles in my case.
What I do love about it is the chance to catch up with family and friends over good food, drink & general merriment which we certainly got to do these last three days.
The main event chez my Filipino family during this festive period is Christmas Eve where a big party took place full of said good food & drink & general merriment.
Most of the day was spent welcoming various guests and helping prepare for the evening meal. Well, I say 'helping' but it was probably more getting in the way!
No expectation or pressure of major Christmas gifts either. Everyone is asked to contribute a small unisex gift as part of a 'secret Santa' type gift exchange & games are played afterwards. What brilliant fun! We had such a laugh & got to make ridiculously strong mojitos for all. The wifi also wasn't working at this point so everyone was forced to interact with each other and not just sit there staring at a small screen social media-ing.
Christmas Day was more of the same with an added visit to 'Camp John Hay', essentially a large park with various entertainment facilities. It was full to bursting with people & at one point as a result of overcrowding, confusion & general d*ckhead behaviour from one entitled other customer in a posh cake shop we were in, there was nearly a full blown Christmas Day argument! You can take the girl out of Essex... Honestly, it would have made a good film scene!!
Christmas Day evening was spent playing cards ('Shithead') & consuming vast amounts of booze till the early hours. Good times!
Boxing Day was again more of the same but this time, Mat and I treated everyone to his legendary coconut curry for dinner (made by us whilst listening to the Bee Gees) followed by a visit to 'Baguio Craft Beer' to yet again corrupt my cousins, this time with strange tasting beer. Of all the places, in all the world, a craft beer place!
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