Some people love it, other people can’t stand it but the rule remains the same: Christmas dinner is not Christmas dinner without Christmas pudding for dessert. This annual dish has a long list of ingredients including raisins, sultanas, currants and lots of brandy. It should be served with either brandy sauce or brandy butter and a sprig of holly on top for decoration. Sometimes, the cook will add some money to the mixture when they are making the pudding and if you’re lucky, you might get a coin in your serving (but remember to eat carefully as you may end up cracking your tooth!). Finally, as the Christmas pudding is presented to the table, the lights are dimmed, more brandy is poured over the top and then lit with a match. The flaming pudding is then given a round of applause and then (at last!) it is time to eat. Yep – it’s true, Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without this funny little pud!

I can’t believe how time flies! It seems like only yesterday when we were opening our school (in fact it was last March), and now it’s nearly Christmas! It’s been a great year. I’ve met lots of new people and made some good friends. Ed and I moved to Ashiya last May so it’s been fun settling into a new city and a new routine. Ashiya is a very nice place to live, quiet but not too quiet! Also, it’s in an excellent location – in between Kobe and Osaka and next to the mountains and the sea – perfect! Our family will be spending Christmas and New Year in Japan so we’re looking forward to seeing them and showing them around. I wonder if it will snow soon? It would be so nice to have a white Christmas! I hope you all have a lovely break this New Year; relax, have fun and all the very best for 2009!