Now, off we go to work off some of the pudding!

Matilda's new bike works well.Perfect pool weather.Warming up with Mormor, so cozy.

Christmas Morning

Waiting for Matilda to wake up to start opening pressies, so we hit the leftovers with mucho gusto! Ready, start, go! Trying on the first dress...Tessa gets in on the action.We did it! No recession here!

We're part Swedish so we get one in early!

Thankfully Mum is Swedish and we get to open a present early on Christmas Eve!

Julafton / Christmas Eve

We hosted a dinner with good friends, the Castles family. It turns out that Anette's parents who were visiting knew my parents from Singapore days 25 years ago. Very fun evening!The kids' table.Isabelle and Jessica, star gymnasts and both in year two at DESS.Matilda and Nicholas, both in Nursery at DESS. "Can I have the pink one, please?"Mmmmmmm, turkey.Schnaps! Skal! Matilda is beyond her years.

Christmas party at Green Village

It's party time in the compound!Have you been a good girl Isabelle? Ummmm, maybe...I know it is Santa, but he's a bit scary...Phew, it was worth it though!(Note: Just what we need... more tiny accessories for Barbie!)

Evening Entertainment

Every evening, we are blessed with the dulcet tones of our girls performing endless yuletide duets. Hmmm, just lovely.

Even Rudolph gets to take centre stage.

Purple is the new Pink

Matilda and BFF Shannon are total ballerinas.

The Pearl

Saturday morning... we head out in the lovely winter sunshine for some coffee at The Pearl. Have you heard of Dubai's The Palm? Well, we've got our own development here in Doha. Quite an amazing feat really. Not quite finished, but a few coffee shops and boutiques are now open.

Mormor and Kong Kong have arrived!

After allowing the grandparents to have a little nap after their early morning arrival, we dragged them out to Christmas carols at the Singing sand dunes. It's a great expat event with plenty of spirit!

ANZIQ Christmas Picnic

Enjoying the winter sunshine at the Rugby club for ANZIQ's annual Christmas picnic... Doha-style with shwarmas and chips!

Facepainter extraordinaire!

Here comes Santa! Go get him kids!

"Yes, of course I've been a good girl Santa!"

Fun School Holidays

The weather is PERFECT for a couple of hours at Al Biddha playground on the Corniche. We love winter in Doha! Isabelle and Matilda catching up with some ballet & Doha College friends.

Street Performers in Souq Waqif

It is pretty cool that these street performers are flown in for our entertainment. Here you get a glimpse of Qatari people too, men wearing traditional white "dish dash" and women in black "abaya".

Here we go (camping) again!

Is this a good spot to camp Matilda?Jim checking out the dune on his quad bike.Our wonderful campsite.Boys checking out their bonfire.Bbrrrrrrr, it was so cold at night. Tessa and I keeping each other warm.

Off to the Ritz

The girls are all dressed up and ready to hit the Ritz Carlton for some Christmas carols, mulled wine, hot chocolate, Santa sighting and Christmas tree lighting.