Hello December!

I can’t believe it's already December. Where has the time gone? Before we dive into the festive rush, let’s take a moment to look back and reminisce about November and everything it brought with it.

Why November holds a special place in my heart

Let's start with why I love November.  November 1st has always been meaningful to me. In many European countries, it’s a day dedicated to honouring our ancestors – visiting graves, remembering stories and showing respect. Some may find this tradition unusual, but I’ve always found it profoundly magical.

This month brings back memories from my childhood when our whole family would visit my  grandmother’s house every other weekend. It was a time when my parents were still together. Those mornings were filled with warmth. We would wake up, have breakfast and put on our best Sunday clothes. Grandmother would brush my hair into two long ponytails (I looked like Pippi Longstocking!). I can still see myself standing in front of her big mirror as she gently brushed my hair with the ‘posh’ princess-like brushes you would see in the movies. She was always so gentle and caring. She would tie bright red satin bows at the ends and smile at me with pure love.

“I don’t need to pinch your cheeks – they are already so beautiful, like red apples on a tree,” grandmother would say.

She would give me the biggest smile, full of love. Those simple moments, so full of love and tenderness, are ones I cherish to this day. Sorry – I am writing too much! You can read all about this in my upcoming book, Be Free. So I’d better not say it all!

Sunday was a day when we would all go to church together, then head home to have lunch. Our Sunday afternoons were spent visiting the graveyard. In my country it is very important to take great care of the graves, and the whole of October is spent in preparation for the first of November. If you ever visit any European country you must visit the graveyards.

The whole family dressed in their Sunday best. Shoes and boots would be polished like a mirror. On those dark winter afternoons, the graveyard was softly illuminated by the glow of candles. People greeted each other in whispering voices. Everywhere you could smell the scent of Chrysanthemums (a very traditional flower in graveyards). Every grave was clean and adorned with candles and flowers. I can't describe how very special this day is for me.

The reason I am telling you this is because I hadn’t been to Slovakia for 10 years. This month I travelled back to my hometown to reunite with my cousin. After 20 years apart, I was so nervous and unsure how to feel, but I felt so welcomed.

Revisiting the places that shaped me

My cousin took me to where we played as children, and back to my grandparent’s house. When you read my book you will understand how important this place is to me.

To my surprise - and joy - the new owners had kept the original door my grandparents had. The same door my small hands used to push open to greet my grandmother; the same doorstep we sat on as children. We stood there for a while, reminiscing.

“Seeing that old door again felt like being given the best gift - like being handed a diamond.”

It was an emotional gift - one that brought warmth, nostalgia and a few anxieties. Some painful memories resurfaced, the very ones I write about in my book. But in that moment, my cousin reminded me:

“There were hard times, but your life has also been filled with so many beautiful moments.”

And he was right.

I had a wonderful time, but it felt even better to return home, to the UK. And although I’m not British by birth, the UK is my home and it always will be. And today, as I’m writing this newsletter, I am celebrating that I passed the ‘Life in the UK’ test. I am on the way to becoming a British citizen. I have lived in the UK for over 20 years and I never felt like I had to take the test, but due to the current political situation, I was forced into taking it seriously. I passed the test and that is as far as I go politically!

December is the last month in the year, so a good time to reminisce and reflect on all of the highs and lows we went through in the year, and also be thankful for what we have. It is a time to give yourself goals for the year ahead and try to reach them. It is okay if you don’t reach them and it is okay if things change on the way. This is life and destiny – just celebrate it.

A special invitation

Mid-November, my hubby and I were invited to the Quality Food Awards, which was very exciting. Mention good food and I’m there! Unfortunately, due to childcare issues, my hubby had to stay home to look after the children, so I was able to invite my good friend, and Great British Bake Off semi-finalist, Gill. She is my baking buddy and good friend – please check out her Instagram - @gillyfied_baking. Not only is she a wonderful baker, she is an amazing woman. Did you know that she donates cakes to children who don’t have anyone that can make them a cake for their birthday? You can see all of her beautiful cakes on Instagram. What an amazing gift to give to those children and I absolutely adore her for what she is doing. Anyway, getting back to the event – it was fantastic, the food was amazing, the entertainment superb and we had a fabulous time.

Bringing the team back together - Gill and I even met up with Andy!

This month is also special because I launched my first challenge in my ‘Challenge Me If You Dare’ series. I hope you watched it! If you didn’t, please go to my website and have a look at my ‘7 Days of Pasta Challenge’! I guide you through making a fantastic dough for delicious pasta every time. Please take a look and leave a comment. Explore Fun Baking Challenge Ideas and More | Nelly Ghaffar 

So that was my month and I am super excited about December. As I write this I am creating my new challenge ‘7 Days of Christmas Biscuits’ so don’t forget to keep an eye on my website. And don’t forget to comment and send me your ideas for my next challenge!

So, goodbye November and roll on December and all the festivities!

With love, Nelly

Ps. Have you read my blog yet? You can find my latest post here.