Today is the last Sunday of the year. And it has been quite an eventful Sunday because we had our last Christmas celebration of the season.

Everybody has just ONE celebration for a birthday or a festival. But in our busy lives and with scattered family, we often have multiple celebrations. Birthdays are often celebrated more than once. Obviously, on the real day, then on a convenient day and sometimes with certain friends.

Like most celebrations in my life, Christmas too is celebrated many times. Well before Christmas, in early December we had a Sinterklaas visiting us the way he visits the kids in the Netherlands. Ms. Papaya was going away for Christmas so we had Sinterklass visiting our house on the 6th of December.

We were introduced to this concept by our Dutch colleague who stayed with us early December. On the 6th of December, I found some bits of rolled up paper near the girls’ door. Thinking it was some rubbish I put it in the bin. That evening, Erwin couldn’t help but ask if the girls had got their presents from Sinterklass. Naturally, we didn’t know a thing about this and when he explained that St. Nicholas, or Sinterklass, gave presents to the children in a boot kept outside the door. He also slipped in a $100 bill under their door, rolled up in a piece of paper.

I went to the garbage bin immediately. I hunted out the paper and gave it to the girls. Of course, they didn’t know what to do with it!

So before Ms Papaya went on holiday, I gave the Little People their Christmas gifts.

Later, the Little People had a Christmas celebration at school. Then, they also had a Christmas party with their own friends. Then last week, a cousin hosted us in her house.

Finally, we had our last Christmas party today.

Our Own Secret Santa

After she grew up, Anna Shetty started her own Christmas tradition. She invited the whole family over for a Christmas breakfast. The highlight of the day was the Secret Santa. Normally, she hosts us on Christmas Day itself. Unfortunately, both Little Po and Wow Dinga were unwell this year. So she postponed it to today. Which is why we had an enjoyable Sunday morning opening Christmas gifts. Both boys entertained us with music while we sipped Apperol Spritzers and chit-chatted.

Then came the opening of the gifts, which was fun as we tried to guess who our Secret Santa was. We enjoyed a hearty brunch of sausages, bacon, croissants, cupcakes, quiche, Christmas cake, and plum pudding. Finally, we wound up with a game of Dare to DING.

Goodbye 2025

This will probably our last celebration of the year because New Year’s Eve is like any other night. Since it is the end of the first quarter of this Century, I might make it slightly special.

Maybe I’ll stay up till midnight!

Cheers and here’s hoping you have a great 2026.

Ciao,