If you’re just joining me for the 2023 Christmas countdown, I’m doing something different.

Rather than the Cheesy Christmas series (2020 & 2021), and the tour of our favourite Christmas tree ornaments (last year), I’m going to share some Christmas memories with you that I’m pulling from deep within the bowels of my Apple Photos library.

Day 1 was Holland, yesterday was Paris and today is Belgium…

Belgium

I have a long history with Belgium. One that pre-dates marrying Liz who is from there.

In the early 1990s, I lived there for 2 years as a Baptist volunteer missionary. So when I go back there, there are people and places that I like to revisit in addition to spending time with Liz’s family.

On this same particular European trip, after Holland & Paris, we all spent some time with Liz’s family in the tiny village where she grew up. Sophie & Dominic enjoyed being spoiled by their grand parents, and this included devouring little white-chocolate Christmas cottages which, as you can see, were presented to them in the most distinguished of manners… on a silver platter!

We had a visit from some Liège-friends (the city where I lived) – Isabelle was my piano teacher while I lived there. Friendship between our two families has continued to grow, despite the distance and we still take great pleasure in seeing them.

The Santa Statue

Yes, the vulgar little boy-statue in the Santa suit is indeed relieving himself, but this is not just any statue. This is Mannekin Pis and the story goes that, if he has been immortalized in this fashion, it’s because at some point in history the city of Brussels was to have been under threat of explosion by old-fashioned dynamite. The unwitting little boy saw a long lit fuse and, needing to pee, chose to relieve himself on it, extinguishing it and saving the city. He has many costumes, but regardless of what he’s wearing, he’s always in the same position and the fountain runs day and night.

… Brussels is still safe!

Tomorrow…

… for tomorrow, I’m reserving a particularly Canadian memory as we head back across the Atlantic to where we were still living at the time.

Thank you sharing this memory and…