Holiday Season

Holiday update 

I know this is a bit late to share the doings for our December and January but I have an excuse. I spent so much time on the slow computer using a hotspot that I didn’t have the stamina to yell more creative bad words when things would not work the way I expected them too. We now have real wifi and I am mostly caught up with things.  I have sorted the accounts for electric, gas, council taxes, National Health Service, broadband, bus passes, library cards, household set up, Alexa working (mostly when I remember what I named things) and the cat signed up with an account with the local veterinarian. That is my poor excuse, but we also did some fun things that seemed more important in order to maintain a semblance of a good mood and sanity. That of course, took time away from this joyful task. Now that may sound like a bit of sarcasm, but honestly, I enjoy sharing our settling down adventures here in wonderful Scotland. So let’s get on with describing some of those “important” things we did for fun.

As in the US, the holiday celebrations start around Thanksgiving even though, of course, that is not celebrated here. Kinross started off the season celebrations setting up booths and barriers on Main Street and down one of the side streets on the Thursday of Thanksgiving and had their Christmas market on the following Saturday. It was a relatively small, but well attended affair. It was more akin to a sparkler that starts as a bright exciting light that burns out quickly as it was a five hour street party.  There was plenty of food, one booth selling mulled wine (not nearly as good as glühwein) and the local girls dancing studio providing entertainment. In true Hallmark movie style, the big excitement was the lighting of the lights on the tree and along the main streets. It was a good start for the season.

Edinburgh had quite a different atmosphere at their Weinachtsmarkt as it very much lived up to the name in that it was very German. It was large, well lit up and had authentic food and glühwein. There was a huge ferris wheel and appropriate music throughout. They even had a vegan wurst! We visited the market midmorning so it wasn’t too crowded but it was filling up fast!

Glasgow’s market was a disappointment as it was small, unpleasantly noisy with a very much controlled availability of alcohol. It didn’t help that it was pouring down rain, so maybe on a better night it might have been more enjoyable. They did have a carousel but no one was interested due to the weather. 

Our little corner of Milnathort was pretty incredible. The street that leads to our house seemed to have a bit of a contest of lights and yard decorations. The whole place was lit up brilliantly. The best part was when Santa came through our town (as I guess he does with most of the towns in our shire) and interacted with the kids and adults. He told my me that; “ Ye neever tou olt ta enjoy Chistmaas!” We all got a real kick out of the affair.

We did get lots of rain, snow and ice for the season and that enhanced it. It sounds crazy, but to Susi and I the cold, snowy, windy and rainyweather made it feel much more normal and fun, especially after spending the last two Christmases in Arizona.  Christmas day was very cold and not fit for dog or man, but we enjoyed our typical set of Christmas movies (White Christmas, Scrooge and Muppets Christmas) in our roomy warm home. Susi prepared delicious Wellington for our feast. We had the house well decorated thanks to one of our new friends (Paula) who had a bunch of decorations that she no longer needed after moving to a smaller apartment.  

Thats quite enough for now. I had more on my list of things to share, but I will add them to the next installment

Susi and I hope you all had a great holiday season.