• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Go to Expat Living Hong Kong
Get our Newsletter

Lifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living HomepageLifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living

Moving to Singapore and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Singapore.

Login Pelcro Shop

Menu
  • Living in Singapore
      • Living here
      • Neighbourhood Guides
      • Schools
      • Property
      • Work & Finance
      • For Guys
      • Environment
      • Readers’ Choice Awards
        • the-mindful-campWhat’s On: Things to do, what’s new and more
        • horoscopes for julyHoroscopes for February 2023!
        • SAS American curriculum cheersWhich is the best international school curriculum for your child?
        • candle holders jewellery shopShop for a Valentine’s Day gift at Cluny Court!
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things to do
      • EL Events
      • Calendar
      • Competitions
      • Noticeboard
        • horoscopes for julyHoroscopes for February 2023!
        • answers to puzzle expatlivingPuzzle Page answers for February 2023!
        • HYDRADASH55 Best Things To Do In Singapore
        • Singapore islands trips8 Singapore islands for easy day trips!
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Enrichment
      • Kids Things To Do
      • Mums & Babies
      • Schools
      • Tots & Toddlers
      • Tweens & Teens
        • SAS American curriculum cheersWhich is the best international school curriculum for your child?
        • sawing wood Dulwich College experiential learningGreat outdoor education at international schools in SG!
        • stroller rental singapore Wee WhizzStroller rental in Singapore plus car seats & baby carriers!
        • HYDRADASH55 Best Things To Do In Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Decor
      • Readers’ Homes
      • Furniture
        • ArtifactHome News: New furniture, home décor & services
        • Originals best sofaWhere to buy a sofa in Singapore
        • Orignals s26 of the best furniture stores in Singapore with online shopping!
        • cleaningHome Cleaning services in Singapore, helpers, housekeeping & more
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Asia
      • Australia & New Zealand
      • Rest Of World
      • News
      • Travel Offers
        • The-AnamTravel News & Hotel Deals
        • holidays in marrakechHoliday 2023 – Chinese zodiac signs & your best destination!
        • bali villas where to stay in baliA gorgeous new villa in Canggu, perfect for family time!
        • borneoHiking in Kuching and Miri: Trails to add to your bucket list
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Asian Cuisine
      • Western Cuisine
      • Bars & Clubs
      • Groceries & Speciality Services
      • Recipes & Classes
        • Maple-Apple-TartNew Nibbles: Foodie news!
        • Afterglow by Anglow vegan30 fantastic vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Singapore
        • Nutritionist Singapore with her family eating healthy plant based dietHer Story: Aleksandra talks healthy food
        • Kopi breakfastAll you need to know about kopi
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
      • Beauty Offers
        • Charlotte-TilburyBeauty news: New beauty products, makeup and more!
        • more-than-diamondsFashion News and Sales in Singapore!
        • luxury spas in singaporeLuxury spas in Singapore – Massages & treatments to try!
        • the bared clean beautyHer Story – Amanda Smith talks clean beauty & living in Singapore!
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Dental
      • Fitness
      • Medical
      • Wellness
        • yogaHealth News: What’s up!
        • luxury spas in singaporeLuxury spas in Singapore – Massages & treatments to try!
        • the bared clean beautyHer Story – Amanda Smith talks clean beauty & living in Singapore!
        • sexual health relationships and sti'sHow to talk about sexual health – relationships, sexuality and STIs
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • PRINT MAGAZINE
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINE
    • BOOKS
    • Close

Last Christmas in their Orchard condo!

11th December 2022 by Georgina Hockley 5 Min Read

https://expatliving.sg/last-christmas-in-singapore-at-orchard-condo-gramercy-park/

Christmas isn’t just the most magical time of the year – for global citizen NMITA DOAK, it’s also a time to reminisce on Christmases gone by, to recreate traditions and decorate her home in truly twinkly style. Nmita doesn’t believe in doing things by half; she goes all out every season with a new divine Christmas theme. Newly relocated to North Virginia, we show off her home last Christmas and Orchard Condo – Gramercy Park and ask how she creates a memorable Christmas for her family no matter where she is in the world!

last christmas in singapore nmita doak

Tell us about your family and your journey to Singapore.

My husband Bill and I are both Kiwis, but we’ve lived an expat life for over 14 years. We’re parents to our Zhanna and Wyatt and fur-child Ralph. We moved to Singapore after a stint in Dubai and instantly fell in love with Gramercy Park condo in Orchard. It was smaller than our home in Dubai but had wonderful facilities such as a 50-metre pool, aqua aerobics pool, kids’ waterpark, tennis court, gym, barbecue pit and a large grassy area. We were lucky to have such a brilliant community. As one of the first families to move into the condo, we had a fabulous choice of apartments and ended up on the 22nd floor with stunning views from Dempsey Hill to Marina Bay Sands.

You’ve now relocated to the States; how did you find the transition?

Right, we’ve just moved to the US after five years in Singapore, and have settled in Tyson’s Corner, North Virginia. We’re currently living in a condo which is a short walk to the kids’ school and a 20-minute drive to downtown Washington DC.

The kids have settled in so well and have nice friends. We have a gorgeous community which felt instantly like Gramercy Park. I’m beyond excited to see what our future holds. We’re in the process of buying a new home in the area, which is a thrilling project. For fellow expats out there considering a relocation, rest assured it’s been an easy transition. We were sad to leave Singapore behind, but we take solace in the fact that we’re only a flight away. Your home is a veritable Christmas wonderland.

last christmas in singapore nmita doak

What inspires your decorating theme each year?

Deciding the theme for Christmas is dependent on what is going on in our lives at the time. During COVID lockdown, I opted for a sheep theme, which brought a little of New Zealand to Singapore. The year I was pregnant with Zhanna, I had a pink-themed tree, and then later a tree decorated in blue when pregnant with Wyatt.

As the kids have grown, I’ve loved taking them to the store and letting them each pick a decoration. One year, I’ll have a beautiful tree with all the decorations selected by the children. Christmas to me is about creating memories to treasure. It doesn’t have to be over the top; it’s about building on the small things I’ve collected over the years.

last christmas in singapore nmita doak

Do you follow any special Christmas traditions?

Every year, I take a Christmas family photo for good old-fashioned Christmas cards to mail out to family and friends. It’s a little tradition I’ll always hold onto. I’ve been looking back at old photoshoots and I’m surprised, and a little sad, at how fast my children have grown.

I celebrate with friends and family for the whole month and usually arrange a mixture of events. With restrictions now gone, it’s easier as I can host larger groups. I adore cooking Christmas turkey and my favourite Jamie Oliver Christmas cookbook comes out every year. I have this really yummy pistachio and cranberry stuffing I’ve made for years (I make a little vegetarian one for myself!). I’m in my happy place cooking and watching my family and friends happy, sharing stories and singing carols.

candles Gramercy Park Orchard Condo

Growing up, my sister Jamini and I loved Christmas, and even though my parents are Indian, they enjoyed celebrating with us too. We’d set up a Christmas tree and put real socks out as our stockings. Thankfully, Santa always visited! We didn’t take part in traditional Christmas celebrations, but we’d have a picnic on the beach with mum’s yummy Indian potato and fresh peas dish. I’ve now incorporated this childhood favourite into our Christmas smorgasbord.

Creating gift boxes for my kids and their friends with lots of fun activities and games is another special tradition of mine. It’s hard for young kids to sit at a table for a long period of time, so each box is designed to keep them busy. Seeing them all sharing, playing and giggling together brings me so much joy.

Gramercy Park Orchard Condo

You’ve lived all over the world! How do you decide where to spend Christmas?

Having lived abroad so long, we like to go back to New Zealand and take turns between my family in Wellington and Bill’s family in Hawkes Bay. When it’s Bill’s year, the whole family gets together (more than 30 relatives), and we have a fun day together enjoying a true NZ summer Christmas barbecue.

However, over the years we’ve moved further away, so we take advantage of the opportunity to travel. We’ve had skiing Christmases in Chamonix, St Moritz and Zermatt. Building snowmen is the best. In Zermatt, we woke up Christmas morning and saw that the roof of the neighbour’s house had footprints to the chimney with no other prints leading up to it. My kids’ reaction to this was priceless… they knew Santa was for real!

What do you do on the actual day to create memories?

On Christmas Eve, I gift everyone matching pyjamas and a Christmas Eve story. We have a family cookiedecorating session while drinking hot chocolate (and mulled wine for the adults). In Singapore, we used to turn the air-conditioning right down to make it feel like winter.

On Christmas morning, I wake up early to be a part of the excitement. There’s always half-eaten carrots, notes to Santa with replies, footprints and a few oats scattered around from the reindeer. After all the fun, we open a few presents, but I space this out throughout the day so the kids really appreciate what they’ve received. We’ll enjoy a festive family breakfast and listen to Christmas music while cooking our late afternoon feast. We like to wrap up the day satiated and sleepy with a nice family Christmas movie on the couch.

Why is Christmas your favourite time of the year?

I have so many wonderful Christmas memories. To me, Christmas is about being with the people you love – and, if you can’t be with a loved one, calling them and letting them know you’re thinking of them. Everyone we’ve met over the years from one country to the next holds a special place in our heart.

From my family to yours, I wish you all a sparkling and magical Christmas. May 2023 bring many fun adventures you will treasure!

Gramercy Park Orchard Condo

This article first appeared in the December 2022 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy!

 

To make the most of living in Singapore, read our latest City Guide here for free!

 

Get the latest events, stories and special offers
sent to your inbox.

By signing up, you'll receive our weekly newsletters and offers, which you can unsubscribe to anytime.

Categories: Homes Readers Homes

Georgina Hockley

When Australian ex-lawyer and serial expat Georgina isn't writing about life in Singapore, she has a side-hustle of ferrying about four active children. By and large, she’s successful at keeping them and her husband, two turtles and hamster Vanilla fed, watered and having fun!

You May Also Like

Christmas spread

An artist’s home at Christmas

Melinda Murphy and family, American expat in Singapore

Christmas Decorations Full of Memories!

Christmas Homes – We take a look at Jacqui’s house

Primary Sidebar

  • Competitions
  • Noticeboard
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2023 Expat Living Singapore, All Rights Reserved.