A very light snow fell over Tallinn as SCCE gathered for this year's Christmas Party and at the second floor of Radisson BLU, Olivier Rochefort and his team had a delicious and tempting Christmas Buffet waiting for us.

Following a glass of welcoming glögg, Ambassador Jan Palmstierna held the first speech and made a summary of 2009 and an outlook for the year to come before he introduced Tõnu Kaljuste.

From 1994 to 2000 Tõnu was the principal conductor of the Swedish Radio Choir in Stockholm and this evening he revealed that next year Estonia will be visited by the Swedish and internationally renowned Eric Ericson Chamber Choir. The choir will participate in an Estonian series of concerts that Tõnu will conduct.

Tõnu handed over the microphone to Veli Lahtmets who gave a background to the Eesti Ågrenska Foundation's Family Centre in Tammistu and rounded up the speeches.

It was now time for the Christmas Buffet, and inspired by SCCE's songbook and a glass of nubbe, singing was heard here and there among the tables. At my table we even managed to perform Hej Tomtegubbar in an almost perfect Swedish language!

I would like to thank the team at Radisson BLU for a nice arrangement and my thanks also go to all our participating members for making our Christmas Party to yet another warm and cozy evening together.

Please enjoy the Christmas Party pictures and though it is a little bit early, I would already now like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Sincerely,

Kristiina Sikk
SCCE Ombudsman