It’s just bloody marvelous

How was it? Did you do it? You know. Christmas? Did you partake?

If you didn’t. Congratulations, you’re definitely about 5 kilos lighter than me right now and I imagine your bank balance is looking a little healthier than mine. If you did, Merry Christmas, well done, take a deep breath, it’s over.

We went to the Four Seasons in Doha this year and it was absolutely gorgeous. It wasn’t just the food, the location and the people, it was the whole deal. Going to a hotel for Christmas can be dodgy, you’re missing the “home cooked” thing, the coziness of it all. There’s nothing quite as sterile as sitting in a vacuous room looking at hundreds of other families doing exactly what you’re doing – it’s like Valentines day for families, without the bonking.

I don’t usually mention our locations and please don’t think this is any way a sponsored post, but I wanted to give the Four Seasons credit, because they made my day. The Little Travelers bounced between the buffet and the bouncy castle. There was Santa, toys, activities, beach, pools and grass to run on – and the fourth traveler tells me he visited the chocolate fountain roughly 23 times. I know how he feels, I lost count with the champagne after the 124th glass.

We spent the morning at home, watching the Little Travelers open their presents and speaking to family on Skype, but it all felt a little empty. Presents were opened too quickly, the Skype went in and out and I could feel an attack of the mopes coming. From the moment we arrived at the hotel the world was good again. It felt like, well, it felt like Christmas. I watched peoples faces as they wished each other a Merry Christmas, I saw friends introduce their parents who had traveled across the world to be with them, I met sisters and Grandparents. I marveled over ice carvings, parmesan blocks and chocolate snowflakes. It was seriously posh, seriously special and seriously good fun. It was so far from normal it became an event. Someone said “it feels like a wedding, but without the speeches” a fellow Aussie said “it feels like cup day” and a girlfriend’s father said “it’s just bloody marvelous” and I looked out over the Arabian Gulf as the sun was setting and agreed.

In the lead up to Christmas I got a bit lost in the madness. I wanted to say thank you, I wanted to wish you a Happy Holiday, I wanted to find Polly Pockets – none of these things eventuated.

I’ll be back again tomorrow, I’ve got lots of news (I’m going away, on my own, without a husband – I KNOW!) but until tomorrow – thank you. Thank you for coming back and seeing me here, thank you for voting for the blog and thank you for making me feel like you’re here with me on my travels.

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Comments

  1. I’m glad you had a good Christmas. I find the change in weather from the chilly Irish winter to the hot Australian summer enough of a challenge but you are dealing with much greater culture shock. We too tried the multiple Skype calls between kids and grandparents but somehow came out a bit flat. In the end we had a good day and being together (as corny as it might sound) was the best part. Happy 2012. I look forward to reading your adventures over the coming year!

  2. That was lovely. I know what you mean – Christmas Day was dangerously teetering on the mopes at various points. There’s just something rather flat about Christmas without your family and close friends. The Four Seasons sounds fab, though – I’m usually allergic to the idea of Christmas lunch at a hotel, but you have given me ideas for next year!

  3. Lynda Otvos says

    Happy New Year and many more to come, I hope.

  4. Sounds like a perfect Xmas away from home – you deserve it – enjoy!

  5. Marina Pater says

    Sounds like just the thing.lots of champagnes,kids having fun  and someone else doing the dishes. well done. I suppose it doesn’t really make up for missing family but it must come close. Merry Xmas and Happy NYE if you do that over there as well.

  6. Very nice reading! I had the mopes too, spending Christmas away from family, alone with my man here in Moldova. Cooked a goose and invited other “stranded” expats and it was good to have company but it wasn’t the Real Deal without the kids and other family.

    No 4 Seasons here to make my day. Loved reading about your experience there. Sounds w0nderful if you can’t have the Real Deal.

    A happy, healthy New Year to you and your family.

  7. A bit late to the party (have been in digital detox!) but just wanted to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas Kirsty! I hope the new year is full of laughs and fun times (the trip away by yourself sounds like a good start!!)

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