Do you or your family make any special dishes for the holidays?
Me and my son, we don’t have any family left where we live.
When we moved to the Netherlands (for my job) six years ago, my Dutch stepfather (husband of my mother) followed us, to help me with my son, but he died unexpectedly a year later and my mother died two years after him while still living in England.
I lived in England for eleven years before the move. My son was born there and we loved our life in Sheffield.
I adored British traditions. Everything, including the food and the weather. It was never really cold or too hot, perfect climate. I never really got why the Brits always complain about the weather! Gas used to be cheap and it was really cozy in winter. The city centre was decorated in perfect Christmas ornaments and Christmas was the best holiday ever, with amazing food: roast Turkey, roast potatoes and vegs (Brussels sprouts and carrots), gravy and ‘pigs in blankets’. I loved it and my son too.
When we moved I ended up cooking a lot in order to preserve our family British and Russian traditions, while incorporating the Dutch ones too. Celebrating Christmas twice, as well as New Year and giving Christmas presents also on the fifth of December. It used to be a lot of food, even if a bit simplified: chicken instead of turkey and no extra sauces such as bread sauce and Cranberry jelly.
Still, it was delicious.
This year I am dreading Christmas. We have no family left and no one to help us. I am a single mother with bipolar disorder, and life has become very difficult. I survived the most difficult part when my grief for my mother was raw, but it is still very hard to live. I cook a lot but am exhausted for any extra celebrations.
In fact, leave it to me and I would just cancel Christmas and not bother with the Christmas tree.
But my son needs it, and so I will have to find somewhere a bit of energy and do the tree, presents and Christmas dinner. Last year my bestie from Sheffield, Becky cooked Christmas dinner for us, and it was nice and cozy in Sheffield, but this year I am tired, a bit down and a bit despaired.
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