I hope your Christmas is a Merry one, no matter what poultry is gracing your table! At home when I was a girl we tended to have ham as the staple meat and of course because it is such a big lump of meat we ate ham on toast, ham fritters, ham surprise (ham with bubble and squeak) etc etc for several days. That made sure we didn’t want to see ham again for at least another year.

My mother still gets a ham (my brother is a butcher and he sends her the smallest one he has but it is still too much for her). Since my father died three years ago that means all the visitors are treated to ham sandwiches, ham fritters etc etc. As I am now a vegetarian i am spared these treats!

Speaking of butchers, I am most intrigued by the ‘Aussie Butcher of Bishkek’, the world is certainly a small place these days.

I have to say i have much enjoyed reading your emails. as you can imagine, Kyrgyzstan is far away from Australia in terms of news stories. After our own national news comes America, England, Europe and SE Asia. Your writing is always so interesting and I pass your emails on to a couple of friends who also enjoy your stories and observations.

Now the family is heading our way for the season and we are definnitely not prepared!

I shall raise a glass of good Central Otago pinot in your honour during the celebrations.

Have a peaceful 2011…

Maybe I might even meet you at some point…