Merry Christmas

[Martin]

Its hard to believe that another year has come and gone.  It seems that every year passes faster and faster.  Of course, for the guys that are still waiting for their wives to arrive, the year passes quite slowly.  But all in all, this past year has seen pretty good times for our members.  For our Australian brothers, it has been quite a successful year.  We have seen a couple of the guys from down under bring home their wives, and one has a baby on the way.

At long last, Rhonald has brought his wife home, and in keeping with Canada, Neil also got married, and is looking forward to bringing his wife home to his mountain retreat.  Vince has finally gotten his long legal woes behind him, and is preparing for a trip to China.  Our American brothers are always struggling with the slow process of immigration.  Mike and Shawn seem to be waiting forever to finally be reunited with their spouse's.

Scottish Rob gave us all a scare earlier in the year, with his medical issues, but seemed to have recovered quite quickly...and Willy is becoming quite comfortable with life in China...and Jim went from almost divorced, to working things out with his wife, and getting ready to move to China.

Over the past year, we have gained many new friends on the forum, and sadly, some other friends that have moved on.  All in all, it has been an interesting year here on the forum.  I would like to thank you all for your contributions to this site.  Without you, this site would be nothing.  I wish each and every one of you, a very Merry Christmas, and a prosperous New Year.

[Clayton]

  Cheers Martin, and to everyone  here, Cheers

Leeroy

[Scottish_Robbie]

Ditto what Leeroy said.  merry xmas to everyone, hope all your dreams come true in the new year

[shaun]

Martin you think time flies now just wait until you get to be Willy's or David E's age.    Oops.  Happy Birthday uh I mean Merry Christmas to all.

[Rhonald]

At long last, Rhonald has brought his wife home, and in keeping with Canada,
, a very Merry Christmas, and a prosperous New Year.

Just had cataract surgery so looking at a computer screen is still a little glaring. But I hope soon to be contributing again. I have taken some more pictures with her red slippers in it to continue with my "Hunt For Red October Shoes".

And maybe I will started a new book now that as Martin said in his quote about my wife being here. My idea for the book: .....100 & 1 uses of Mistletoe to spruce up your Christmas Love Life 

[Arnold]

Qing and I also wish everybody a wonderful/joyful Christmas and an equally safe/happy New Year .

Like Martin has mentioned , without all of you .. what would I have "other" then .. ? Well , let's say .. I would be stuck just being with my lovely Wife .                Mmmmmh .. actually that is NOT that bad really !!!

[Vince G]

May all of my friends / brotherhood from past and present have wonderful Holidays. I have been truly blessed for being touched by each and everyone of you over the last few years. So I am wishing everyone the best of life… except for the Dude/abigbutt   

[Scottish_Robbie]

So I am wishing everyone the best of life… except for the Dude/abigbutt   

Haha I expect he wishes the same for you vince haha

[David E]

To Everybody...

A very Merry Xmas and a prosperous New Year...

You are the best

David and Ming

[Jason B]

Happy birthday Jesus and to everyone else have a Merry Christmas....

Jason, Xia and Laura (the baby that Martin mentioned)

[Willy The Londoner]

I am now facing my third Christmas here.  It is a joy to see those jolly Santa hats on the supermarket shop staff even if it is just to admire the pretty face below them! 

I have noticed over these years that Christmas gets more popular each year.

The first year I saw a few Christmas trees. Artificial of course but genuinely 'Made in China' last year I saw an assortment of trees plus a few christmas decorations. This year I see lots of trees in the shops, lots of lighting decors and a rack of Christmas cards.  And it gives me a good feeling. I tap my wallet and say to it  'your better off staying in there my friends'.   Now a Christmas Carol and Scrooge always cheerfully comes to my mind at this time. I do not I think I would miss the continual playing of 'Santa Claus is coming to town' in the main superstore hour after hour.

My only concession to Christmas this year is that my resolve has come sooner than normal.  With Chinese New year being early this year I have already made a comittment that I will not be going shopping again until that rush is over.  So its hibernation for me until the festivities of Chinese New Year are on us and I wander round with a batch of red envelopes giving them out to the complex security staff who protect me from the descending female hordes who all want a bit of Willy for the New Year.

But to all you 'foreigners" I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. To another living in a foreign country! I say to Scottish Robbie have a great Glaswegian New Year.   I just have one Nostradamus prediction that 2012 will not be Alien to you in the Love stakes.

Willy

[daghoi]

Merry christmas and a happy new year to everyone

[metooap]

2011 was great -this picture sums it up!

Here's to a great holiday season to all ~ and a happy and prosperous 2012!


Alton

[Mark_in_Canada]

Merry Christmas everyone !!! I hope 2012 will be the best year ever !!! Hopefully my wife will join me here in Edmonton in 2012... CIC has my application and I should hear something next month.

[Pineau]

I want to wish all my family and friends a very merry Christmas. May the Holidays bring you happiness and closer to your families.

It is Christmas eve and I spent my day rushing from store to store trying to locate the last items on my get list before the stores begin to close. The supermarket was so packed. People were frantic to buy those last minute groceries for the big Christmas dinner tomorrow. I took the short cut and ran through the bakery for brown and serve rolls, then the deli to pick up prepared salads and a precooked rotisserie  chicken then swing through the dairy for milk and eggnog.  In and out in 30 minutes. I am feeling proud and a bit hungry. I just remembered I didn’t have lunch yet!  So over to Goodtimes burgers to refuel but the door is locked and small hand written note on the door says closed at 2pm on Christmas eve. Burger king same story. Ah Del taco to the rescue. The Drive through is still open. Panic turns into satisfaction. I can relax and head home with my 4 soft tacos.
 
As I am unloading the groceries from the rear of the car a memory from out of nowhere comes to mind. It is the old man.  The first and last time I saw  him was a month ago in Guangzhou. He is a wretched old man with a bowed back and arthritic fingers.  He was painfully hobbling down the sidewalk in our neighborhood along where all the fast soup and noodle shops are located. I was hiding in the doorway of the restaurant where we had stopped to eat and I watched as he went from shop to shop looking in the window checking the price of a bowl of noodles. He stopped at the shop next door and peered into the doorway at the menu. He sat down on the sidewalk , opened his hand and counted the coins in his palm. He shook his head and stood up and walked past me to the next shop. He must have found something he could afford as he entered the shop.  I can only imagine the meager meal he was going to purchase with the few coins that he had.  I called to my wife and asked her to do something for me.  I took her to the window of the shop and pointed out the old man. I reached in my pocket and handed her a few bills and said go buy that man a good lunch. She was confused at first but then she understood. She took the money and went to the old man. I watched through the window at his amazement. He couldn’t believe it. A total stranger gave him money for food. I was rewarded when I saw him humbly show  his sincere gratitude to her.
 
So now I have lugged all the groceries into the house and put them away I am thinking. I wish I could buy him Christmas dinner but that is not possible. So I will just send him a Christmas greeting.  Merry Christmas Old Man, wherever you are.