thanks to Marg & Kailana
for giving us this great tour.
The blogs have been fantastic…
with just 2 sleeps to go I thought I’d share some thoughts about
Christmas in Australia.
Some key ingredients are required:
Heat,
did I say heat?
oh I meant H E A T!
And a few flies…
an increasing hot wind, and the potential for a storm and rain (which will occurr at the worst possible time no matter where you are or what you are doing)
Children up early, cicadas singing; just so we know it’s going to be a stinking hot day.
Brekkie on the verandah: coco pops, bacon eggs toast, fresh mango, juices, spilt of course.
Relax for 10 mins before the turkey has to be stuffed and the vegetables prepared.
Kids riding bikes or whatever new form of kiddie-transport is the in thing. Up and down the street, the howls when they fall, crash or can’t stop/get off.
‘Relees’ arriving for lunch wearing horrible outfits. Bringing their annual offering of whatever
“Mum you said Auntie Shirl wasn’t gonna make mince pies this year”.
“Oh mum, do we have to eat Auntie Phoebe’s pudding? It’s disgusting”.
A mad scramble for each and every chair in the house, or garden.
“Mum can you get Uncle Rod to stop telling me I’m cute”
“Mum I am not sitting next to Cousin Wayne, he reeks of grog…”
“Steve put some music on love will ya”?
“Aw mum she broke it”
Mum and her helpers are dripping sweat in a still un air-conditioned kitchen
(Next year Luv, I promise)
The kids are at the little tables and the adults at the big one. Covered with butchers paper and
red wrapping paper down the middle, the tables that is not the guests. But hey give them time.
Matching paper serviettes. Green paper plates and plastic cups. Gold crackers. Ya gotta have crackers.
Enter the food:
prawns
turkey
mountains of roasted veggies
a plate of greens
ham
gravy
salads
cranberry sauce (the youngsters like this new fangled stuff)
Sweltering in close to 40 degrees. Everyone hoping for a breeze.
“Mum can’t we bring the fans outside?”
Ah, here comes the traditional Christmas pudding.
Fruity and heavy, just what over full stomachs need.
Hot custard poured thick and a dollop of King Island Cream.
“I know what the Doc said luv, but it’s Christmas”.
“Time for the Queen’s message”.
“Mum I’m hungry”
“Mumm she hit me. “
“Mum, mum Uncle George is telling that joke”.
Mum mum mum!
This scene can be relocated to the beach:
This is proposed about mid November as an attempt to lessen mum’s load
(but it’s really to add cricket to the day)
Everyone out of the car…
“Who has the wickets?”
“Aw I don’t want to be Ponting. I wanna be Johnson”.
and to the above ingredients you will need to add:
sand
more flies
sand
salt water
sand
and flies.
Maybe some seaweed.
Overheated kids, and sticky 30+ sunscreen. Hats, towells, water toys, buckets spades, aerogurard.
Did I mention flapping umbrellas and sand on the blanket, in the food. Uncle Joe sprained his ankle bowling
and Jenny wants to bat again coz she wasn’t ready. Emma is mortified to be seen by school friends.
Don’t forget the Stingoes for the bites…
and well there you have it: a great Australian Christmas.
I will be having a relaxed pleasant breakfast in air condtioning with just 3 friends. and one cat.
I will rest and watch DVDs all day. Make and recieve some phone calls.
Pehaps eat a sandwich in the middle of the day. Or stone fruit?
Then sensibly dressed, with a touch of glamour I will travel to a local resturant
therein eating food bought cooked and served by someone else.
While they slave over the dishes, the valet parking service will return the car.
A brief journey home. A rest to digest, then a leisurley dip in the pool.
For me though whilst all this is fun, or not.
The day will be poignant as I contmeplate the birth of Jesus Christ.
and celebrating without my mother.For the first time.
May Your Christmas Be Merry and Bright.
and safe..above all safe.
Here is the rest of the tour:
Memory from Stella Matutina
Debbie from Friday Friends Book Blog
Cari from Book Scoops
24 December
Carl from Stainless Steel Droppings
Kailana’s Written World
Sherry at Semicolon
How many more for you? 
learning to use the macro setting on my camera
