Christmas is just around the corner

Schiphol Airport has been a popular destination the last couple of days and will be the next coming days. I have been really tired entertaining guests but on the other hand, being with a long time friend and my favourite cousin is one of the best ways for me to beat any winter blues. It is nice to just chill out and have company during the day for a change. Furthermore, I am able to enjoy again the coffee bonding and shopping sessions with peeps. The best part of it is that a lot of shops are now on sale. This surprised me indeed, sales and more sales just a week before Christmas when shops normally would take advantage of the holiday fever. Retail sales must not be doing very well. There is so much adrenaline going just to make sure that everyone is comfortable, content and enjoying their visit to the Netherlands. Although I had a very long day today, I am still very much active and could not really bring myself to sleep. I also told my guests that December is not really the best time to visit Europe so I had to be more creative to plan for an itinerary. It is so darn gloomy but then this also adds to the mystery of Europe. After Christmas I am just so looking forward to get out of this gloomy weather. I badly need to see the sun so I usually make it a point to be out of Europe in January. Lately I have also been thinking about how other people will be celebrating their Christmas this year. I can't help think that for others, this Christmas will not be a very good one. There has been so much tragedy happening--the recent calamities, sudden deaths (FPJ, Speaker De Venecia's daughter) and today when I had the chance to check my email, I was so shocked to hear about the untimely death of a former colleague. She was very young. At times like this I do tend to think more about the people who are very close to me and wish that I will be given a lot more opportunities to be with them and celebrate Christmas or other special occassions. There are also new developments for next year which I don't quite have the energy to discuss right now. All I can say is that I am certainly looking forward to another year and perhaps to a very busy start. I also realized that I have to enjoy the last remaining weeks of my "vacation days". I guess I won't have much time to blog until Christmas. Guests will be coming and going, while in between I have to do some Christmas and pasalubong shopping. I feel a little bit stressed out from the traveling and entertaining but overall I am just happy and content that I am able to enjoy the company of my family and friends. Since I won't have the chance to write the next couple of days, please allow me to say now: Merry Christmas!