NEIGHBOURS (3)

Today we invited our neighbours round for glögg (mulled wine) and æbleskiver (literally "apple slices"), something which is becoming a bit of a Christmas tradition. I don't know why æbleskiver have the name that they do, since they don't look like slices and have nothing to do with apples. They are in fact small, round, doughy buns, a bit like a doughnut without the jam. You eat them - three at a time - with jam, sugar and icing sugar, if you are a bit piggy. Normally, with sweet things, I am; but with æbleskiver I limit myself to the jam. Blackberry is best.

When it's freezing and dark outside by 4pm, it's nice to be inside in front of a log fire. After the glögg, we had a fair amount of our neighbour's homemade beer. Very nice, with a hint of liquorice. It was a good way to start the festive season.

Walter Blostcher