It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Our annual Christmas party is an event our whole family looks forward to - a time to meet up with old friends and enjoy a fabulous evening together.

This year, we had four families over - the usual three plus my good friends Isabelle, Joon and their two cuties.

One of the highlights of the party is, without doubt, the spread. Last year, we had just enough food, not having quite realised that most of the kids had become teenagers overnight and that their appetites had ballooned accordingly. So this year, we had generous portions and of course, ended up with lots of leftovers. Murphy's Law! Well, better too much than too little, I say.

Delectable cheese and pate platter from Hooi Ming.

That fantastic oversized bird was contributed by Isabelle and Joon. Doesn't it just put you in the Christmas spirit? Homemade oriental salad (with secret sauce!) by Lim Nah.

Sweet endings - a log cake from Molly.

The best part though, is still coming together with friends. These are individuals I've had the privilege of knowing for at least a decade and call me a sentimental fool but as I get older, I realise that there really are few things in life as precious as friends like these.

Isabelle and Joon's duo received lots of attention. It's been a long time since we've had babies and toddlers in this house. Suddenly, all the "aunties" re-discovered their cuddle instincts!









The kids, on their part, got along famously. It's interesting to me that they only see each other once a year, yet can bond almost immediately. They had a blast and were making a total racket in the rooms. I couldn't take photos as adults were banned... of course. You can see how they've grown in just the course of one year, comparing with pictures from last year's party.

I made blueberry muffins for each family to take home. The boxes were decorated by Lesley-Anne.

Maybe it's my imagination but we seem to enjoy this evening more and more every year. The kids had such a great time that they didn't want to leave.

Christmas is in the air, folks - may you be as fortunate as I am, to share this season with great family and friends!

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather is one of those things that give value to survival." - C. S. Lewis