Season's greetings, social distance style!

Like many other people who celebrate Christmas, wonder | wander | women changed plans this year to celebrate at home. Like many other Filipinos, we're used to spending the holidays away from our families, and have our own long-distance traditions. 

My favourite window: sun in the daytime, Christmas lights at night

This time instead of calling each other one by one, we had a virtual banquet hall on Zoom! Coordinating three time zones was hard and some of us had to wake up very early, but it was worth it to all see and hear each other.

It's Catholic tradition to have the big feast on Christmas Eve, before going off to midnight Mass. This feast is called Noche Buena.

Photo courtesy of Positively Filipino

I decided to make my Noche-Buena-for-one with one of my favourites, lechon manok. And because it was for me, I was free to make it with only my favourite part, the thighs.

I added roast vegetables and, of course, lots of rice.

A ramen bowl full of good stuff!

The feasting was not over - a dear friend who lives here decided to play Christmas elf and cycle around town on the 25th delivering her turkey dinner and salsa monja to her grateful friends.

We met in Granary Square in the cold, windy early afternoon. I walked and she arrived on her bicycle.

University of the Arts London, Granary Square, Kings Cross

The canal was chilly but very pretty, and there were a lot of people, as Tier 4 lockdown only allows you to meet outdoors. The Coal Drops Yard was crowded, considering all the shops were closed!

We had a short chat to catch up, admired each other's Christmas finery, and took some appropriately distant selfies. 

My face mask by Baba Torre and jingle bell earrings by Mom,
Tita Gina's jacket from the V&A shop. (The cool hat is from a secret supplier.)

And when I got home I had not one but a double serving of turkey, stuffing with sausage, mashed potatoes, amazing homemade mushroom gravy, and caramel sauce, along with the salsa.

Photo by Gina Lim

Because life is not complete without dessert, I blended frozen berries with cream to make a homemade Berry Blizzard.

We wish you all Happy Holidays with love, gratitude, and a prayer for safety and wellbeing.