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Location: Home Sweet Home, Grampound Road, Cornwall We want to welcome the New Year 2018 with a bang!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO MY FAMILY, RELATIVES and FRIENDS!!! Everyday is a new opportunity to have a fresh start. Learn from yesterday, live for today and hope for tomorrow. Wishing you a New Year filled with new hopes, new joy and new beginnings. May the New Year bring joy, peace and happiness to you and your entire family. Happy New Year 2018! Greetings from Rob and Rowena Nicholls I cannot believe it, but it’s now my 8th year celebrating Christmas and New Year in Cornwall away from my family. Oh how I miss them so much most especially this time of the year. Christmas and New Year is a family celebration (in Philippine culture). I’m a bit nostalgic at the moment. I have been browsing and looking at our family photos. I have been remembering all those precious moments with my parents mommy Angie and daddy Leon, brother Russel, sis-in-law Myla, nephew Gabriel Angelo and Miguel Angelo and sister Rachel. And I told myself, ROWENA, you’re one lucky girl. You have such a loving, caring, thoughtful and amazing family. I have everything any person could ever want. I am so lucky and blessed that God almighty have given them to me. My family is the source of my happiness, the reason I enjoy living my life. Although they are miles away, they make sure that I always feel their presence plus the always sent me presents too. Hahahaha… See how lucky I am? They never fail to send me money and loads of goodies. I am very thankful indeed. To my parents, mommy Angie and daddy Leon, thank you for making me the person I am now. You thought me to be happy and content on what I have but at the same time to achieve my goals and do my best in everything I do. To my brother ]Russel and my sister Rachel, thank you for always being there for me. For always sharing your blessings to me. For always sharing your success and achievements to me. You’re really the best brother and sister in the whole wide world. I love you to the moon and back. And of course having a husband like Rob Nicholls is such an added bonus from God. Not only have I got a husband, I got a bestfriend too who encourages me to always follow my heart and do what I love to do. Rob had always beenmy number 1 fan, my staunch supporter, my loyal ally, and most of all, the one and only love of my life. As per my own personal yearly tradition, I have 13 different kinds of ROUND-SHAPED FRUIT on my fruits tray. In the Philippines, 13 round fruits are traditionally are eaten on New Year’s Day since 13 is considered a lucky numbers. The best part is that fruits are filled with lots of vitamins and nutrients and can also protect against certain types of cancer. LENTIL is for luck. With their coin-like appearance, lentils are a natural symbol for luck. BLACK-EYED PEAS is for success. Black-eyed peas represent success because each pea represents a coin and a whole serving equals prosperity. PORK is for progress. Eating pork on New Year's Day symbolizes progress in several countries, as the pig is known for pushing forward. NOODLES is for longevity. A long noodle represents a long life. CABBAGE is for prosperity. Greens of any sort symbolize the almighty dollar. Have some cabbage and prosper in the New Year. POMEGRANATE is for good health. With so many delicious seeds inside a pomegranate, it's easy to understand how it represents an abundance of health, fertility and prosperity. ORANGES is for abundance. The Chinese culture considers oranges to represent good fortune, wealth and gold. In addition, oranges naturally ripen this time of the year, so you'll also enjoy an abundance of vitamin C. GRAPES is for happiness. Try the Spanish and Portuguese tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve - sweet ones supposedly lead to 12 happy months. 2018 is a Year of the Dog. In Chinese astrology, each year is related to a Chinese zodiac animal according to the 12-year cycle. 2018 is an Earth Dog Year. The Dog occupies the eleventh position in the Chinese zodiac, after the Rooster, and before the Pig. This year’s lucky colors are: earthy tones, brown, yellow, beige, green and blue. Brown and beige are the colours of earth. They represent stability, safety and loyalty. Brown can be used by those who have a scattered or volatile attention, but used excessively, it can become restrictive and constraining. Warm or cold tones of beige can induce a state of relaxation, but also of boredom. Yellow is the colour of joy, happiness and creativity. It’s energizing, stimulative and it brings forward optimism, clarity in ideas, intelligence. It keeps at bay depression and anxiety. It is recommended for lazy people, for people lacking energy. Location: The Lost Gardens of Heligan, St Austell, Cornwall Lovely winter walk at The Lost Gardens of Heligan... Location: Trebah Garden, Falmouth, Cornwall After walking in the rain in Trebah Garden, we had a lovely Cornish cream tea to keep us warm.... Location: Home Sweet Home, Grampound Road, Cornwall Post Christmas dinner... Another evening of fun fun fun... xoxox Location: Home Sweet Home, Grampound Road, Cornwall Boxing day dinner with Rob. Location: Home Sweet Home, Grampound Road, Cornwall Totally stuffed now just like my homecooked turkey!!! Hahaha While Rob went out to visit his family this afternoon... I am busy preparing and cooking our Christmas Dinner! For starters: Seafood Paella Square served with pickled walnut, caramelized figs, roasted chestnuts, butternut squash and beetroot. For mains: Apple, Lemon, Onion and Rosemary stuffed Roast Turkey served with roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts, honey-glazed carrots and parsnip plus my homemade cranberry sauce and homemade gravy with red wine and port reduction. For desserts: I had Leche Flan made by my friend Ning Sales. Thank you very much. It's sooo creamy, soft and delicious. Rob will have his Christmas pudding later on as he is still full. 🌲⛄🎅🎉🎊 Location: Home Sweet Home, Grampound Road, Cornwall It's Christmas Day! Hooray! Wake up sooo late today. So instead of having the Christmas Dinner at 1:00pm, it's now move to 6:00pm. Hahaha... Me and Rob ended having a late brunch of the same food I prepared for our Noche Buena. Then we OPENED all our gifts. Of course, my favourite gift is Rob's gift which I had chosen myself. Hahaha... My favourite perfume, Estee Lauder Instense Pleasure and my favourite make up brand from Estee Lauder as well. Thank you to everyone who gave us gifts and send us cards and heartwarming messages and greetings. We love you! My TURKEY is now in the oven still cooking... To those we love and see each day and other loved ones far away, to all good friends who means so much and those with whom we're out of touch... May the Christmas season fill your home with joy, your heart with love and your life with laughter. We don't have great wealth, but having you for a family, as relatives and friends is more than enough. You are our treasure. We're really lucky and blessed that God has given you to us. We love you loads. Merry Christmas! Greetings from Rob and Rowena🌲⛄🎅🎉🎊 Location: Home Sweet Home, Grampound Road, Cornwall Just prepared a simple spread for our Noche Buena... homecooked honey glazed ham and oranged glazed ham, pickled walnuts, chestnuts, figs, onion and gerkins... fruit salad... my ultimate supreme cheese board (25 kinds of cheese, some of them not in the photo coz there's no more space)... and loads of wine and champagne. Cheers! To those we love and see each day and other loved ones far away, to all good friends who means so much and those with whom we're out of touch... May the Christmas season fill your home with joy, your heart with love and your life with laughter. We don't have great wealth, but having you for a family, as relatives and friends is more than enough. You are our treasure. We're really lucky and blessed that God has given you to us. We love you loads. Merry Christmas! Greetings from Rob and Rowena🌲⛄🎅🎉🎊 Location: 1881 Restaurant at The Grand Hotel, Torquay, Devon A huge breakfast to start our day... Yum yum yum... Happy tummy!!! Location: The Grand Hotel, Torquay, Devon Just relaxing after that lovely breakfast... Location: The Grand Hotel, Torquay, Devon Coffee break after that lovely walk... Location: The Grand Hotel, Torquay, Devon CHILLAX 😍 😍 ... Location: National Trust's Greenway, Galmpton, Kingswear, Brixham, Devon The Grand Hotel, Torquay, Devon 1881 Restaurant at The Grand Hotel, Torquay, Devon 23 December 2017, 8th Wedding Anniversary. 👩❤️💋👨👩❤️👨 I love you for your thoughtfulness… Your understanding way… And for the countless little things you do for me each day… I love you for the hopes and dreams you’ve helped to make come true… But most of all I love you for just being you… Time flies sooo quickly... I cannot believe that its been 8 years. I'm really lucky and blessed to have a husband as well as a friend in you. We've become really great friends, we do things together... we really enjoy our daily adventures. Looking forward to spending the rest of my life with you. Happy 8th Wedding Anniversary Rob Nicholls! Love you to the moon and back Location: Chef John Burton-Race Hotel and Restaurant, Torquay, Devon Wake up so late today... So me and Rob ended having a huge brunch instead of breakfast... As always, the food and service is excellent! Location: Chef John Burton-Race Hotel and Restaurant, Torquay, Devon Just relaxing after that lovely breakfast... Location: National Trust's Greenway, Galmpton, Kingswear, Brixham, Devon Lovely winter walk in GREENWAY, the home of one of my favourite bestselling mystery authors, Agatha Christie. Even saw my first Daffodils for the season. It's great to see some of the original manuscripts and first edition books of Agatha Christie, one of my favourite bestselling mystery authors. Location: The Grand Hotel, Torquay, Devon Arrived at The Grand Hotel... Spectacular view of the sea from our room... Location: 1881 Restaurant at The Grand Hotel, Torquay, Devon A feast to celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary. Cheers to everlasting love and happiness. 💝💜 Thank you 1881 Restaurant for the champagne, anniversary treat, superb food and excellent service. As always, you make our dining experience a memorable one. Starter: I had a Dressed Crab Salad served with avocado salsa, compressed watermelon and pickled cucumber; Rob had Orkney Hand Dived Scallops served with soy braised pigs cheek, charred sweet corn and rhubarb chutney. Mains: Me and Rob both had Pancetta Rolled Pheasant Breast served with stuffed thigh, wild mushrooms, chestnuts, butternut squash, spinach and pearl barley. Dessert: I had Coffee and Walnut Cake served with expresso ice cream, blood orange gel, orange curd and chocolate buttercream; Rob had Banana and Rum Parfait served with peanut butter ice cream, rum and muscovado jelly, banana crisp, chargrilled banana and yoghurt puree. Location: The Grand Hotel, Torquay, Devon Just chillin' after the sumptuous dinner... Location: Seafront, Torquay, Devon To end our fantastic and fabulous evening, we went for a midnight walk along the seashore... Location: Trelissick House and Garden Amazing day at Trelissick House and Garden. The house was looking so fabulous with Christmas tree in every corner. There's even a lovely lady entertaining us with her beautiful music on the pianoforte. The lights around the garden and the house in the evening was spectacular as well as the sunset. It's picture perfect. Winter walk around the garden is just enjoyable this time of the year. Loads of gardens birds around. Location: National Trust's Lanhydrock House and Garden Lanhydrock house came to life with its Victorian Christmas. It's amazing to experience the excitement of the Agar-Robartes family's Christmas dinner. Lovely winter walk around the woodland. Location: National Trust's Trerice House and Garden Lovely weather today. Sunny but with a chilly northerly wind. I enjoyed my winter walk at Trerice House and Garden. Quite refreshing. 🎄🎄🎄 Location: Padstow, Cornwall I had a fantastic and fabulous time at the "2017 Padstow Christmas Festival". I thoroughly enjoyed watching my favourite 2 Michelin Star Chef, Nathan Outlow with his cooking demonstration. I bought the three Padstow Christmas Festival Cookbook, one Nathan Outlaw Cookbook and one Rick Stein Cookbook. Location: Metropole Hotel After watching Nathan Outlaw with his cooking demo, me and Rob went for a lunch in Metropole Hotel, For mains, me and Rob had Pan Fried Ribeye Steak served with saute potatoes, rocket salad and pan juices. For desserts, I had Lemon Posset with raspberry sorbet, almond crumb and ginger biscuit. Rob had Cornish Artisan Cheese Plate with homemade chutney, grapes and biscuits. Hmmm yum! Happy tummy indeed! Location: Padstow Harbour After the delightful lunch at Metropole Hotel, we went back for a walk around the harbour and for some Christmas shopping. Location: Eden Project, Cornwall 🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲 I had a brilliant time watching the Festival of Light and Sound in Eden Project. The smell of the Spanish Paella in the Mediterranean Biome tantalized my nostrils and the amazing lights has really put me in a relaxing mood. Looks like this is going to be my activity every weekend. I shall definitely come back again. |
Rowena
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