For the first time ever I decided we would go away to Cornwall for Christmas!

Yes it was a bit more effort on my part, food prep before we left, lugging lots of food and pans.

Some things will never change in the Polish Catholic calendar, nor the Krawczyk family tradition.

I prepared fresh mushroom soup and other food at the cottage the day after we arrived, which turned out to be a wise move since there was a 5 hour power outage that evening!

Mums Salata was made at home just before we left, packed in sealed containers ready for Christmas day and beyond.

I also baked poppy seed cake, one normal and the other split into poppy seed buns, which turned out quite well. Another 20 years and I will get better at this baking lark.

The Holy bread mum left for me is more than enough to last all our lifetimes and it is also another nice memory knowing she and dad are always with me, especially on Christmas eve.

Merry Christmas for 2023 and lets hope 2024 will get better.