MY CHRISTMAS: BAKING PART 1

Me, mom and my sister had our first Christmas bake session. We made peppercookies, which basically is gingerbread cookies with pepper. So tasty.

We're gonna decorate the cookies tomorrow hopefully.

Shot by one of my sisters, the 8 year old one

Stay tuned for more baking! Merry Christmas :)

Today's song: Glee Cast - Do they know it's Christmas?

MY CHRISTMAS: HOW MANY SANTAS DID YOU SAY?

In my house, at the moment, we have 134 santas of all sorts! In Scandinavia we have "santas" and of course Santa Clause too. In Norway we say that santas lives on farms, woods or mountain, hidden from humans.

 

Traditionally they are red. But about 10 years ago a children's series, "Blåfjell" (Blue Mountain), introduced blue santas.

Giving the people a choice to either dress up in the traditional red or the new blue. Nothing more right or wrong than the other. Normally I'll see both colours out in the streets in December.

I saw New Years Eve with Hansa, Christiane and Simen yesterday evening. Liked it. It's one of those feel-good films. I recommend you watch it. It will give a warm fuzzy feel to start your Christmas celebrations with.

Merry Christmas :D

Today's song: I'll be home for Christmas - Rascal Flatts
 

BREAKS MY HEART

Today I hosted my third Kids Away activity. Went okay, made loads of gifts.

But what hurt my heart today was a amazingly cute 6-year old girl at my project told me "Daddy is funny when he's drunk. Last time he fell down the stairs and mummy started yelling at him. He often gets drunk." ... Some people doesn't deserve the great gift of becoming parents !!!!!! Human scum! 6 YEARS OLD! 6! So tomorrow I have to file a report to Social Services, which is no fun, but it has to be done.

In 9 out 10 cases of domestic violence the child(ren) is in the same or neighbour room, again causing them problems; anger, tantrums, anger, depression etc. Violence against children is the absolute worst thing I know! They have done nothing wrong and gets beaten. That is wrong.

I actually considered becoming a social worker, helping. Funny as it might be, it was the character Maxine Grey in Judging Amy that inspired me to think of that. But then I said to myself, I would rather make something like the series to motivate more people and maybe change more lives. Her character, and people like her in the real world, sometimes see hell when go to work. Kids beaten so badly that their whole body is bruised, alcoholic parents who forget to make food for them cause they're smashed beyond recognition. But still these people keep fighting. These children survive. Some of my friends have gone through hell and more when growing up, they're still dealing, but they're bouncing back.

This is no fun for kids. As with most kids, my parents argued when I was younger, it broke my heart and I used to go to bed so angry and sad. So many times I wanted to trash absolutely everything in my house. And sometimes I did, knocking over books, bed lamps, kicking stuff outside. I even had a period where I asked my mum to buy me a boxing pad. She asked why, I said just going around angry and need to hit stuff. What I didn't tell, was where I got parts of my anger from...

BUT kids all over the world is abused and experience serious forms of neglect. THAT is something to fight against.

Yelling and shouting in front own children should be avoided at ANY cost. It doesn't belong in a childhood. All parents fights, but they should at least have the common decency to don't do it in front of the kids. Growing up with this causes stress on the kids. Your kid often get tantrums and get angry? It's not always its fault, it gets from somewhere. Normally it will copy how it sees the parents react. There's a saying: "Monkey see, monkey do"

So to all parents, you should be ashamed of yourself.

Today's song: Placebo - Running up that hill

1ST OF DECEMBER

1st of December guys!



The magical time of the year. I'm not in Christmas mood yet, but I'll get there. Really looking forward to Sunday though! Having the Christmas workshop I'm hosting for the kids. Yesterday I went shopping for about 3 hours to get ahold of all the arts and crafts stuff. It took a bit longer than anticipated cause of the general strike in the UK. I still need to get a hold of paint brushes.

I belive that every single child should have the oppertunity to give a gift to someone they love, something they have spent a lot of time making. That's all what Christmas is about, showing your love and being gratefull and giving. It's doesn't matter about the pricetag, but the thought put behind it.

My wishlist

I've only wished for two things this Christmas, "Europe on a budget" and "The man in seat 61". Two apperently great books about interrail. I really hope to go backpacking through Europe next summer, making a documentary about my travels and meeting new and amazing people. That's my dream, exploring the world.  If I can manage to make a piece AND explore and have fun in the same time, that's great.

Besides those two, I'll be happy for anything and nothing really. I've got most of what I want/can have. Know this is gonna sound a bit Miss America, but I really want to make a differense for the kids. If I can get them into Christmas spirit, I'll be so happy words can't even describe it.

Christmas

Been listening to Michael Bubles Christmas album for weeks now. He's spiced up the classical Christmas songs with a bit of jazz and 50-60s style. Check it out on Spotify.

Merry Christmas to all!

Today's song: Coldplay Christmas Lights