Christmas Party at Holman Hall
Upper Kyrenia
By Margaret Sheard…..
Nigel and Lynn Holman invited us along with many other guests to join them at their new home, in the Old Turkish Quarter of Girne, to celebrate Christmas with a party and what a swell party it was. We unfortunately missed Nigel’s birthday party in the summer when he and Lynn had just moved into their new house, which they had lovingly designed, developed and restored into a beautiful traditional house with many antiquities and beautiful paintings, and so this was the first time we had seen it in its completed state. Having wandered in when the work was still being carried out, we were lost for words when we arrived on the 19th December for the party, the house is just magnificent.
There was a huge crowd of guests in the main hall and other rooms as well as the outside terrace with as usual many familiar faces. The main hall had a huge tree with a vast number of lights which carried on all around the gallery balcony, it was a wonderful sight and very much in the Christmas spirit.
Everyone was enjoying chatting and part way through the evening we were all asked to go into the main hall where, on the balcony there was George Ward playing an electronic piano and a group of singers on the staircase led by Edward Barrett, and they proceeded with carol singing with all of the guests joining in to sing favourite well-known carols. The whole of the hall resounded with the music and voices.
We had noticed a huge cauldron bubbling away in the large kitchen and occasionally being stirred by the helpers who were also busy serving drinks and canapés and later the guests assembled to partake of hot chicken curry, a vegetarian choice, pasta, salad and bread. It was delicious and people were finding a place to sit, inside and outside on the terrace, to enjoy the lovely meal.
We had to leave a little earlier than most and when we were departing there was music and dancing going on which probably went on well into the rest of the night.
Thank you Nigel and Lynn for inviting us to your lovely home and for your excellent hospitality. We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
For more pictures of this lovely Christmas event see the slideshow below.
