Dear Gran,
this is us ready for a traditional Polish christmas dinner at a homely local restaurant which starts at 4pm just after sunset.
Christmas Dinner the tables were laid out with crackers, honey, green grass, pine sprigs and tea candles in hollowed apples. The crackers were thin white crisps decorated with christmas images that you break with someone else and say your wish for the coming year - you then eat it with honey. Strangers in the restaurant visited eachother's tables to wish each other happy christmas (at least that's what I think they were doing!)
These briney Roll-mops were the first course of fish - much to Meg's obvious delight. There were apparently 12 courses in all - one for each disciple - but I lost count, so the following photos are only a sample!
Stephen and the carp-in-jelly dish.
Mushroom soup was next.
Joan and Pauk look enthusiastically at the sauerkraut course.
Alan finds some surprise ravioli treats hidden in his borsch soup.
Which was followed by fresh trout.
Poppyseed gnocchi was served with the trout. Some of the cakes in the finalcourse also featured poppyseed.
Back at the pension Julie and I organised a treasure hunt for the others. The cryptic clues led to a breathtaking high-paced trail of peril and intrigue that put Dan Brown well and truly in his place. Here I think the adventurers are pondering the clue "The lion only roars once a year..."
Peter and Andrew searching the old house high and low for the clues.
Julie looking very pleased with herself whilst the others ponder a clue - it was great to see that each person contributed to getting an answer. The final prize was fireworks which we let off at the local park. Joan, Alan and I watched the midnight mass at back of the local church where hundreds of people, who had all earlier in the evening crammed themselves with many courses of fish, now found themselves crammed together like sardines.
:)
Brendan
