I guess I have been good

The weekend was full of Sinterklaas related activities so I couldn't help but join the fun. Hubby was more excited for me to experience my first Sinterklaas in the Netherlands. Apparently Sinterklaas only give gifts to children (and perhaps adults as well) who are well-behaved, otherwise the black piets will carry them and deport them to Spain (how cruel). We had guests over last Friday and little did we know that they will play Sinterklaas, and sure enough they provided us with really funny gifts. After singing some Sinterklaas songs, we opened the gifts and had to shout "Dank u Sinterklaas" (Thank you Sinterklaas). On Saturday, hubby and I, together with A&W, went for a very nice Sinterklaas dinner at Chalet Royal. The restaurant is part of the Alliance Gastronomique Neelanddaise. It was surely a gastronomic four-hour feast. We chose the alliance menu and the staff won't even give us a clue as to what to expect. They only recommended the kind of wine that will go with the food. It is also the type of restaurant where the chef comes out to chat with the guests to explain what he had prepared. For starters we had some pike fish with wasabe mayonnaise, lobster with a few dash of greens for the first course, a very tender venison (deer) for the main course and a delectable dessert mixing grapefruit, sorbet, and yoghurt. The food was superb, presentatation excellent and every course was such a culinary treat. The only thing was when we were about to leave, the maitre-d told me "enjoy the rest of your stay in the Netherlands". I was so tempted to say " it has been a delightful five months and I'm still counting". Mmmm, I guess I looked like a tourist! When we came home from dinner, hubby and I prepared for the coming of Sinterklaas the next day. We had to put our shoes near the heater with some carrots for Sinterklaas' white horse. We also had to write him a letter. The next morning, we woke up to find this. Beside our shoes, we found some gifts and traditional goodies such as the chocolate letters, pepernooten, marsepein and a poem specially made for us. I must have heard Sinterklaas around 6:30 am but pretended to be asleep. He even left his backpack near the gifts in his hurry to leave the place. Sinterklaas??? Dank u Sinterklaas! You have been very generous. I got a voucher for a new mobile phone, nice Japanese slippers to replace my very old ones and a very personal poem (all in good fun). I shall quote some parts of the poem:

Dear, oh dear...oh dear Lovely L...... is finally here For the past few years in a row Sinterklaas had to ask his friend to go Because London was the destination of L....'s gift But Ryanair was happy to provide the lift Moving to Holland has been a big step and Sinterklaas knows it sometimes feel like a trap being at the mercy of **bleep** and her IND makes Sinterklaas very sad and he needs to pee But Sinterklaas has a cunning plan and he indeed is a very influential man He will go to Siquijor and ask a witch to put a nasty spell on the **bleep***

Next year Sinterklaas will be back to see if your life is back on track

Dank u Sinterklaas. I know you love me very much! The Christmas spirit is indeed in the air. I can't help but feel very excited. On sunday night, our neighbour started to light his lair after Sinterklaas gave all his wares. Ahhh, Pasko na naman!