Little Wandering Wren …. chats!

Christmas trees I've seen a few,  but rarely has a Christmas tree stopped me in my tracks  quite like the one at the Sofitel, Bangkok Sukhumvit. Wow, it is delightful.  It's hard to get a decent photo amidst the busy foyer entrance but I don't remember a Christmas tree that has me drawn me in, wandering round and around,  like this one! Every where you look there is something interesting. From the choice of books 'Beautiful Youth' to the rich luxurious cushions, candles and gifts just waiting to be unwrapped... Just look at the detail, can you spot the reading glasses? They've used hundreds of books through out the hotel. Of course on top there is something special Not a tired old fairy, or a wobbly star, but a whole black chandelier. So tall, it almost reaches the foyer ceiling lights. Oh the fun they must have had designing this tree!  The book theme is central to the Sofitel's Christmas dec...

Christmas Aussie style is different... We don't go in for a lot of festive palaver. All we need is a blow up Santa with a blue sky,  and we're  pretty much good to go! Santa at the Melbourne Star It's not that Australians don't love Christmas It's just that it comes awkwardly  at the start  of our Summer holidays. And... Well, we have buckley's chance of having a white Christmas. It's just not quite the same  for those of us used to Frosty the Snowman. I can't stand anything red in the house... just in case we have a hot one. No, not even a poinsettia makes it across our doorstep! Poinsettia's in reception at The Windsor Hotel this week My red rule cuts out 80% of all my traditional Christmas decorations. The rest  you may remember were impounded anyway  by Australian customs  on our arrival in 2000  on account of them being a threat to national security having pine cones amon...

Hello there,  I hope you had a lovely Christmas?  We did!  An Aussie Christmas takes some getting used to for those of us born and brought up in colder climes...  ' It just doesn't feel like Christmas! '   we used to cry...   It is crazy busy towards the end of November and early December. Whoever planned Christmas and end of the school year together, had to be not thinking straight... My Aussie friends go for very few holiday decorations and minimal fuss. Why bother decorating the entire house when you leave for your summer holidays on Boxing Day or shortly after, and don’t come back till school starts at the end of January? An Aussie Christmas and the beach beckons! We start getting into the Christmas spirit mid December by arranging to meet the neighbours in a local park, BYO chairs, wine and nibbles. The whole street is invited, over thirty houses, and no-one has to clean up before everyone arrives. We ar...