A Princess can Dream

Well, here is little Princess Rebekah watching Shekinah and Mohamed take their first dance as man and wife, yes this little princess was keenly watching and surely will one day be dreaming of a prince charming for herself.

It is a different kind of wedding that I've ever been to, and I have been to a number. I suppose I was expecting a Madeiran Lebanese Muslim fusion of a wedding but it turned out to be just a wedding reception as to the actual wedding vows which I believe happened earlier with even the father of the bride not even knowing yet alone giving his daughter away. Is this the Lebanese Muslim way of getting married? Surely not, well I actually don't know. What I do know from already experiencing a Lebanese Christian wedding that is not the case.

Anyways, it was a great wedding reception as receptions go, with local Lebanese dancing much similar to most Mediterranean cultures like the Greek and Israeli except this time with Lebanese music. No keep the tune but just replace the singing and I could be in the Palestine countryside or even Turkey.

Mixed Christmas

Christmas Day we all gathered at Robynne and Marco’s home for a Christmas lunch of mixed traditions. The normal Christmas foods that we are used to plus traditional South African braai, Madeiran Espetadas, and Durban Indian curried prawns. Ahhh these mixed families gatherings like to spice things up.

Merry Christmas everyone

Iconic Christmas

Family means a lot to me even though I am not one who enjoys too much family company but on Christmas Day family means the most to me especially big family gatherings. During today’s Christmas lunch at Marco and Robynne’s home, Robynne handed me her phone to take a photo of the family and this is the iconic photo taken.

From left to right are Marco, Shekinah, Kojak, John, Joshua, Bradley, Dael, Lynda, and Robynne all in different poses. Sadly Hilton, Matthew, Rebekah and I were out of the photo. Hopefully next year I will rectify that.

Hey Granddad, why did you leave me out?

So as for my family pictured above and those who are not, we wish you all a meaningful Christmas with much peace, joy and most of all, LOVE in abundance.

Revenge of the Potatoes

On Thursday was Rebekah’s 1st birthday and today was the party to celebrate her first year with family and friends. Robynne put a lot of effort into making sure that today turns out just right for her daughter even baking the birthday cake herself.

An inflatable jumping castle was blown up by Marco Rebekah's daddy, I hope that is the right word for inflating an inflatable jumping castle. The trampoline had to be moved to one side to allow this monster of a children’s inflatable to fit into the garden. Tables, chairs and couches were set up outside for the guests. Food and snacks were set out and the braai prepared. But as things happen, not all things can go according to plan as the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry, things did go horribly wrong.

Last night it rained hard and this morning it was looking like it would continue but the weather predictions look favourable with 89% no rain for the day. Even though the rain threatened throughout the day, it turned out that it wasn’t the rain we should have been worried about, it was the potato salad.

Aah the story of the revenge of the potato salad, well where do I start?

After finishing up with decoration the birthday cake, Robynne, set out to complete her signature dish that her man, Marco, loves so very much, the potato salad. Once finished, she carried the huge glass dish filled potato salad out but somehow as she stepped out of the kitchen her foot caught an uneven paving and without a word she fell hard on top of the salad, CRASH potatoes and glass flying everywhere. Rushing to her side, Lynda and I pick her up from the potatoes and glass and discovered that the shattered glass had sliced a large gash in her forearm. So off to the emergency room, Marco and Kojak rushed Robynne.

An hour and 8 stitches later, Robynne returned and the party resumed with the last of the espetadas being placed on the braai, the Madeiran way. So along with the braaied chops, steak, wors, chicken and espetadas, was more potato salad which Shekinah made while Robynne was at the hospital.

It was little Rebekah’s 1st birthday party and it was a lovely get together of family and friends. Like most family functions some family members are well, you can only wonder why we keep inviting them but they are family none the less. But today it was all for Rebekah, even Robynne can now wear a scar with pride of how the potatoes tried to spoil her daughter’s day but she got the better of all those potatoes.

No Room

With Shekinah back from Madeira, Marco thought it is best to have a family evening out. The first choice restaurant was fully booked, and the second had no water, so we headed for Montecasino which had plenty of restaurants to choose from but with a party of nine and no pre-booking we were turned away from just about all of them.

Finally a Greek restaurant made some room for us and the celebration began. With the belly dancers distracting the men, baby Rebekah got stuck into the chocolate cake.

Rose amongst the Thorns

The last day of our holiday means the last big meal before the dieting starts and I found myself the rose amongst four thorns, Shekinah, Robynne, Rebekah, and Lynda. Dish up ladies as this might be your last big meal of the month before the shock begins.