St Lucia’s Day

“The night treads heavily
around yards and dwellings
In places unreached by sun,
the shadows brood
Into our dark house she comes,
bearing lighted candles,
Saint Lucia, Saint Lucia.”

This was always one of our special days when we lived in Warsaw. The Swedish Embassy laid on a lavish function at one of the poshest hotels in the Polish capital. When the candlelit procession and musical performances were completed the Swedish buffet was the most sumptuous in the Diplomatic Year! To be fair the U.K. did our country proud too on the then Queen’s official birthdays in June. The USA also marked Independence Day on 4th July in best beef burger and fries style!

While we were in Warsaw we saw Barack Obama twice and met Lech Walesa when he opened the new British Embassy building. I also met Prince Charles at a small dinner at the Presidential Palace. Sadly this was to be one of the President’s final engagements before his death in a mysterious plane crash near Smolensk in Russia.

Promise no more name dropping! However, as ex pat Brits we were enormously privileged to represent our country at these events.

(Our kitchen is finally back in commission today and we are very pleased with it.)