Christmas countdown

Ok, ok, it's kinda late but better late than never!!! Well, look at it this way - it's early for Christmas 2008!!!!

Best Christmas movies!

Ok. This is tricky. What actually constitutes a Christmas movie??? What if the movie was based on something which happened in the month of December? If that's the case, then could arguably be a Christmas movie!! And then what about those which has events which took place over the Christmas season and then also the new year? Like I am legend, While you were sleeping and About a boy? Complicated-eh? Oh well... here's me list anyways, based on me own criteria of what is a Christmas movie - it must have some Christmas song/carol featured in it and the Christmas theme must be pretty central to the show!

1. Love, Actually;
2. While you were sleeping;
3. Home Alone 2;
4. Die Hard 2; (Yes!!!)
5. Scrooged

This year's new entry - The Holiday

Favourite Christmas songs/carols - this one is not much easier too!!!

1. Have yourself a merry little Christmas (The Pretenders' version);
2. Believe in him (Juwita Suwito);
3. Do they know it's Christmas time (Band Aid);
4. Oh come all ye faithful (any version);
5. That night (Bright coloured lights) - an original song by Cheryl;
6. Happy Christmas (War is over) - John Lennon

This year's new entry - The 12 Days of Christmas by Boymongoose(?)

Unforgettable Christmases

1. Receiving the BEST Christmas gift ever on 25/12/2006;
2. Caroling in the OA settlements in the jungles of Pahang in 2004;
3. A chinese Christmas - countdown with me fellow workers in a Chinese restaurant after work;
4. Staying up all nite chatting with RTG. Well, almost all nite;
5. Attending the Christmas Eve service in Edinburgh in 2005

The most unforgettable Christmas for all the wrong reasons was the one in 2004 where most nites before Christmas was spent at the hospital accompanying a fren who's husband was in ICU. It din help the spirits when the tsumani struck on Boxing Day.

Things i miss about Christmas in the UK

1. "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire" and "folks dressed up like Eskimos";
2. The excitement and anticipation in the air!
3. Yorkshire pudding, turkey with cranberry sauce and that... that thingy... the cocktail sausage wrapped in bacon!!! Yes, i know we can get it here too but it's just not the same!
4. Carols in the Square - the caroling session in Square 3 on the UoE Campus;
5. Listening to Kost FM which plays Christmas songs non-stop all day long during the weeks before Christmas. Kost FM is an American radio station but i was listening to it while in the UK (thanks to me American flatmate, Michelle).

Special mention - experiencing the post Christmas Day sales - quite an experience!!!!