By Margaret Sheard ….
As seems to be normal in the TRNC, Christmas Day 2017 in Girne dawned bright and sunny with a cloudless blue sky.
It is a much slower pace of life and Chris and I and my sister, Brenda, after opening our Christmas presents, made our way at lunchtime to Al Shaheen Restaurant in Karakum for a traditional Christmas Day lunch.
Gradually the restaurant was filling up and all tables were eventually occupied by people who had chosen to have their Christmas lunch away from home to enjoy with other like-minded people. The Al Shaheen staff were kept very busy during the afternoon, always smiling, and making sure the diners were looked after with food and drinks.
We had a 3-course meal with a choice of Turkey and other meats and a large array of vegetables for the main course, so with a starter and a following dessert we were very full and just about managed the coffee and brandy, mince pies, chocolate finger biscuits and after-eight mints which also appeared.
It seemed we were eating all afternoon, but with the restaurant being so full, we were grateful for the gaps between courses to give our stomachs a rest.
There were a few people we knew who had chosen Al Shaheen for their Christmas Day lunch, including Janet Bartholomew and her husband Stephen (Friends Line Dancers) who were there with friends. Janet was also celebrating her birthday. Happy Birthday Janet. As I was also born during the Christmas period, I can appreciate the almost non-event of a birthday at this time of year.
By the time we left, the sun had gone and evening had arrived so we made our way home to relax for the remainder of the day. Another Christmas done and dusted! Now we can look forward to a brand new year and I wonder what 2018 will bring for us all.
Well done Imtiaz and your staff for a lovely Christmas Day lunch.
