We celebrated Christmas 2025 with the family in London. Nadja, Lotti & Alma flew in from Germany. We drove to London from Harrogate to stay with Diluk & Cliona in Islington.

Christmas Eve

Diluk, Cliona, Alma and Lotti first went to see Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes at Sadlers Wells before joining us at Nick & Renuka’s home in Harringay for a Christmas Eve dinner

Two vintages of Pier-Gimonnet Gastronome were sipped before dinner.

Borsch with sour cream, Roast Gammon with Potatoes and Salads were followed by two desserts and Colston-Bassett Stilton with green and red grapes. A Viognier was poured with the Borsch, a Sonoma Pinot Noir accompanied the gammon and Tawny Port was enjoyed with cheese.

Christmas Day

It was a cold but sunny day. Christmas Lunch was prepared, wines chilled, table arranged and guests arrived in the afternoon. Champagne Henriot Brut Souverain was uncorked. The roast turkey with stuffings, potatoes – roast & mashed, sprouts, roast parsnip, red cabbage, carrots and the vegetarian option of nut roast were washed down with Capensis Silene Chardonnay and Joseph Burrier Fleurie. Christmas Pudding, cheeses with grapes and chocolate with Tawny Port followed.

Boxing Day

We had lunch at Sabiib, a Somali restaurant in Haringey. A selection of Somali dishes including vegetable soup, salads, humus with fried beef, Biriyani rice with fried sea bass, chicken, beef and lamb shanks, falafel and flat breads were eaten with relish. Somali coffee with ginger however, failed to impress.

It was also Nick’s birthday. Back home, champagne was uncorked and Renuka & Nick went out to celebrate at the 1930s style Jazz Club – “58th Street.”

Next Day

Alma, Lotti & Nadja flew back to Germany. Renuka, Nick & Seren flew to Austria to ski. We drove back to Harrogate. Diluk & Cliona stayed in London.

Post published 28 December 2025