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Through My Eyes

Through My Eyes

Author: Kasia Yoko
Date: 2013-12-20
FatigueI think I have discovered a new meaning for this word. The Oxford dictionary describes it as a noun.

"Extreme tiredness resulting from mental or physical exertion or illness or a reduction in the efficiency of a muscle or organ after prolonged activity or a lessening in one's response to or enthusiasm for something, caused by overexposure or a weakness in metal or other materials caused by repeated variations of stress".

My own definition is something I see each year when I watch the brave and determined Comrades runners cross the finish line after completing one of the most gruesome marathons on earth. In my imagination of my fatigue I am on my hands and knees, my tongue scraping on the gravel as I am trying to reach the finish line. Can you see it?

I know that I am not the only one feeling this way. Its like we are all waiting for that finish line to come and there is no chance of quitting now.

With just a few days left before my annual break and with all the functions happening at once, it's no wonder they call it the crazy season.

I live on the image that will soon materialise into reality. My beautiful family and friends gathered around the extended Christmas table. Gentle fairy lights flickering in the background, Christmas carols sounding off on a distant speaker and the smell of vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon wafting through my home.

Oh and now that feels so much better.

In between planning our annual holiday, chasing business, attending year end functions, shopping for Christmas gifts and making sure that there is enough food for my boys and their extended pack of friends that materialised on my doorstep in the last couple of days, I am also planning a complex Christmas menu.

I think I am looking forward to the preparation of the Christmas feast as much as I am looking forward to the three weeks in Seychelles.

This year I will be making the family favourite; home made ravioli stuffed with ricotta and spinach and another one stuffed with porcini mushrooms - this is my sons' favourite. There will be cabbage leaves stuffed with savoury rice and baked in spicy tomato sauce. 

There will be traditional Melanzanealla Parmigiana for my mother.  There will be barszcz (beetroot soup) for my dad and spicy beans for my father in law.

This year I am also going to bake the family favourite poppy seed cake and maybe, just maybe if I feel inspired I will bake the cheesecake as well.

I am planning a big Christmas feast this year. It is my mother's wish to have an enormous festive bash - she loves everything about Christmas and as I am getting older I think Christmas is coolif only it would just come already!

So here's to you whatever your plans are, may your Festive Season be surrounded by your loved ones, may you feel the glow of love around you and may you all be blessedMerry Christmas everyoneplease enjoy responsibly.