There are 19 days until Christmas and New Sunday Times contributor Dr Koh Soo Ling is feeling Christmassy!
She knows that successful gatherings need good planning and preparation for her first Christmas in Ireland started early.
In addition to the traditional decorations and tree, she will be introducing Malaysian cuisine on the Christmas table.
I asked her to describe her Irish Christmas "fever" and this is her reply via email.
If you are meeting Soo Ling for the first time, read about her here.
"My freezer (Mat Sallehs have this very serious business about having an extra freezer in the shed) is stocked up with Christmas game and frozen food, my windows and two fireplaces are decorated and I'm
expecting two Malaysians to come over and stay during the Christmas season.
expecting two Malaysians to come over and stay during the Christmas season.
"So I will dish out turkey, cranberry sauce as well as ketupat (bought earlier from Malaysia, so just throw into boiling water), satay sauce (Brahim's) and satay (now this is authentic) except that it has
to be grilled in an oven.
to be grilled in an oven.
"I have three in one teh tarik too.
"We will print out carol sheets, Audrey will play the keyboard and we will sit by the fire crooning. Chocolates like Quality Street sweets are very cheap and I've stocked up a few tins to fill up the stockings.
"I like the Christmas celebration here, it is very very warm and even the streets are lighted up.
"As for church, we have quite a number of activities too. One of them is packing toys into shoe boxes for children in Africa and poor countries.
"Then we also have Christmas hampers (we contribute the goodies) that we leave at the door steps of the needy during Christmas day but we remain anonymous. Just ring the doorbell, leave the hamper
and run."
and run."
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| What an attractive Christmas window display! |
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| A fireplace with X'mas decorations. |
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| The snow on the trees is really pretty. |
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| Meet Michael Howard, Soo Ling's other half. |
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| Soo Ling is looking forward to her first Irish Christmas. |
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| Soo Ling has created a warm and festive atmosphere in her Irish home. |
Wintry Charm
When the snow falls
On the icy ground
And the wind calls
A curious sound
It’s a mystery
That every snowflake is unique
And everything flies in a flurry
As we shuffle our feet.
When the snow falls
And the robin goes and hides
Behind the walls
That are frozen and white.
The branches are bare
The leaves brittle and light
In the cold thin air
Through the long dark night.
When the snow falls
Wrapped in warm coats and mittens
We hurriedly open the doors
With our wooden tobaggans
We scoop up some snow
Partially hidden we lie
No weapons, no arrows or bows
Ready to pelt snow balls at passers-by.
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