Tuesday 25 December 2018

Christmas Morning

Christmas Eve was beautiful, sunny and warm.  Christmas Day has dawned very slowly and the light still has not penetrated into the house.  There is a fine drizzle and the temperature has dropped a few degrees.

We'll all be inside today, all day long.  I've cleared off the treadmill, turned it from a coathanger to a mean fighting machine.  The kids will need it today to burn off all that extra energy, rocket energy from the kilos of sugar they are consuming,  Who gives them all that chocolate anyway?  It's Santa's fault, nothing to do with Mrs Santa!  I tried years ago to fob them off with a walnut and a mandarine in their Christmas stockings but they did not make the grade.

Christmas Eve was spent biting fingernails over the number of presents and the eveness of distribution.  Were there enough in the stocking to satisfy demand?  One 'big' present goes under the Christmas tree and several small things go in the stocking.  A pair of flamingo sox, some Christmas hair ties and a handful of chocolates satisfy the girls but what does Santa put in the boys stocking?  He never asks in this house whether they were naughty or nice.   ALL my grandchildren are nice!



All the grandkids stockings are hand knit.  All very 'individual'.  They love them whatever.  One year I only put presents under the tree and there was a riot when they found empty stockings.  That will never, never happen again



The boys this year have in their stockings xmas boxer shorts, a healthy pomegranite drink for one and a bottle of cider for the other.  Well, he's almost 18 and around here 18 year olds have already been drinking half their life, from a glass of wine at the family table to a bacardi breezer at the bars down town...etc  Who really knows what 18 year old boys have been up to, except them and maybe now and again their mother.

They also have a selection of healthy and unhealthy sweets.  The grandchildren are athletes and some very serious about their diet.  A bowl of spinach and a kilo of lentils might be more appreciated by one.  Anyway there is a selection of real sweet gooey chocolate,  sugar-free (but no way calorie free) chocolate, fruit bars , greek sweets made of sesame seeds and honey and chocolate covered rice crackers.  Our kids love rice crackers so these chocolate covered ones should go down very well.

K is making a pastourmadopita.  Ha, get your tongue around that word after a xmas hangover.



In goes the pie - pastourmadopita, a big pie made with cured spiced beef slices, tomato  and cheese

Stop:  that photo is staged!  No pie or pork would go into the oven with a roaring fire.  The fire has to die down and the food is cooked on the embers

The pork and wild pig have been slowly roasting all night long and the meat is falling off the bone.  I think we may be eating before midday.  The 'foreign' side of the family, me and the kids will be eating stuffed chook, brussel sprouts and roast sweet potatoes

Funny really to think that down in NZ and Australia some could be nursing sore heads while we are still drinking our first coffee and preparing for a long day ahead.  NZ is almost half a day ahead of us and Australia 6 hours.




The extended Australian family enjoying their Christmas dinner beside the pool

I will eventually get around to sending you all individual Christmas wishes but in the meantime

Kala Hristouyenna to everyone who reads and comments on my blog.  I really do hope your Christmas day is cheery and bright 

I have sent out no cards this year and not even a Christmas email.  I will be in touch.  I could not be!  

Love to all of you and your families







23 comments:

  1. Merry Christmas Darl, and a Happy (and hopefully) Prosperous New Year! 2019 is going to be a good one, I feel it in my bones :)

    Nearly time for bed, it's been a warm day here in Melbourne and I'm feeling a bit weary. Boxing Day tomorrow, might go to some of the sales or I might just sit around doing nothing but watch the first session of the Test and then listen on the radio.

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    1. Hi Cathy, the test match, the queen's message, boxing day sale, cold ham and salad. Oh for Xmas down under!
      All the best to you

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  2. It all sounds absolutely wonderful! I like that all the stockings are different. Enjoy your day! -Jenn

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    1. Those stockings! I should receive knit all 5 but probably never will. They boys ones are huge...they'll never be filled. The girls are a bit too narrow and not easy to fill. Kids like them

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    2. I should really re knit .....

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  3. Sounds great. No Brazil nuts, Clementines, and sugar Mice in their stockings? Lovely day here; sunshine and 10C. Perfect Christmas weather. Best wishes to all, Cro x

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    1. Brazil nuts would have been appreciated,vespevially if they were chocolate coveted

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  4. Every thing looks so good. Have a wonderful day.

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  5. Sounds like a packed day of love and fun for you! How well I know that Christmas Eve dilemma!! I was busy doing the same thing last night - adding a bit here, subtracting there - it works out in the end! Enjoy the rest of the day with your lovely family.x

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    1. I do that too
      Took one hat out of a stocking and put it in another. Redistributed chocolates. Now I wonder if the hat was actually a small child's and I gave it to a teenager. Darn it. O should just keep to my list

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  6. I had a lovely day Linda, hope you did too. Enjoyed reading this post and all about everything. xx

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  7. Oh yes very full tummies here. I was good and kept the drinking down to a minimum lol
    I was in bed very early around seven thirty!
    But I’m up today to swim, and try and burn a little off before doing it all again with my family lol

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    1. I went to bed really early. Thank goodness everyone helped clear the table and pick up piles of wrapping. Didn't drink too much either. Not worth it

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  8. We are pretty much in the future here down under aren't we? We spent the day stuffing ourselves too, typical kiwi traditional food too.

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    1. Wish we could have a kiwi feast once in a while. I'm tired of wood pig and goat.

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  9. That Christmas Dinner table picture is amazing. Happy Christmas to you all.

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    1. That table is the huge Australian side of the family. I think they must rent chairs and tables. Sure were a load of people

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  10. I hope it wasn't too stressful! I avoided stress by taking us away from 80% of the family! Worked perfectly.... no drama at all. Best idea ever. MERRY CHRISTMAS Chick.

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    1. Now THAT would work. Your family sounds a bit greek/Italian, sort of explosive .
      These big family gatherings are bloody hard work

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