CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS!

We're departing African soil tomorrow for a place far north where Santa Claus lives. Above is a picture of our little elve that will be travelling with us to meet him.

Rovaniemi is a city located on the Artic Circle in Finland.

After spending two nights in Helsinki, we arrive in Rovaniemi on Monday, ahead of the week's activities laid out for Chritmas! We will be visiting Santa and his post office, and will go husky dog-sleighing, reindeer sleighing, and snow-sledding, and may even have a glimpse of Northern Lights. For a once in a lifetime experience! We have never ever had a "white Christmas"! This year we will have a Christmas Eve dinner surrounded by snow. Wow, I am so excited, as I'm certain Paul and I will be transported back to a fantasy world. We can't wait to see the look on Torden's face when he sees this white, icy, fluffy stuff with which to build a snowman!

When we ask him what he wants for Christmas from Santa, his usual reply is: "I want a stinky shoe!" So now I have a "stinky hat" in my stocking, and Paul has a wishlist for a stinky sock. I have no idea where he gets that from....

And for those of you thinking about the cold, here's Rovaniemi's weather forecast from when we arrive next Monday, 22 December 2008;

Monday NightOvercast. Low: -6 °C . Wind light. Windchill: 0 °C Heat Index: 0 °C .
TuesdayPartly Cloudy. High: -4 °C . Wind NNW 10 km/h . Windchill: 0 °C Heat Index: 0 °C . Tuesday Night Scattered Clouds.Low: -16 °C Wind NNW 3 km/h Windchill: 0 °C Heat 0°C . WednesdayChance of Snow. Scattered Clouds. High: -5 °C . Wind South 10 km/h . Chance of precipitation 20%. Windchill: 0 °C . Heat Index: 0 °C .
Wednesday NightChance of Snow. Scattered Clouds. Low: -7 °C . Wind South 10 km/h . Chance of precipitation 20%. Windchill: 0 °C . Heat Index: 0 °C .

I'd like to wish all of you a Joyful Holiday Season, and an uplifting 2009!