Our Christmas Feast

Well what a true festive feast we were served at the Marsh's of Tallai. Steve had roasted on his very large barbeque the juciest turkey, a really tender duck, a monster pork roast, and then our glazed ham along with all the vegies, sauces etc. Gail then served us her speciality - a scrumptious huge Christmas pudding!

***** Post dinner drinks and coffee out on the patio

Ann made her first gingerbread house, and I the Christmas tartlets behind

The girls, Auntie Beryl, Patrina (Gail and Steve's eldest daughter), Maddie (Ash and Sue's twin daughter), Ann, Gail, Moi and Sue

A truly super family day

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This morning we opened our presents from under the tree - 24 hours after Santa had been - thank you to those generous givers. and today, Boxing Day, we are declining from starting our diet, as the Brig wants to do a large lunch - glazed ham, barbequed eggs, and potato - and I am sure he will throw in some beans as well.

Yes it is still raining, so no walks, we will probably watch the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race at 1 p.m. and right now that "Ash's" cricket match against England is on our box.!!!

La Porte Verte

Christmas Eve lunch was superb. Yesterday, Ails, Rod, the Brig and I dined at a little French restaurant, La Porte Verte (the Green Door) . Ailsa and Rod have just had a couple of weeks in the Dordogne. We four decided this was a good place to celebrate Christmas - as we won't see Ails and Rod today.

La Porte Verte had been recommended to us some time ago, it is a 15 minute walk from our place, though we drove as yes - it is still raining. It is in a little side street, and looks a bit like a hole in the wall from outside - but superb it is.

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We were the first to arrive for le dejeuner

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and literally rolled out after 3 absolutely delicious and truly french courses

The Brig loved "la carte de vin"

Ails was quite taken with "la carte de dessert" and its contents ***** Now I am fiddling with this blog while waiting for the ham to bake - we are on glazed ham, candied carrots, Christmas mince tarts and trifle duty for Christmas Lunch at Gail and Steves - there will be about 16 of us - just lovely. A huge diet will commence tomorrow!!!!

JOYEUX NOEL

A younger person's Birthday

Thursday was cousin in law - Ann's birthday, 16 of us met for lunch at Currumbin and then back to Auntie Beryl's for coffee and cake.

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2nd cousins - Lachlan, Alex, Blake and Maddie Coffee and cake at Auntie Beryl's apartment

Auntie with her 3 favourite girls, daughter Gail and two daughter in laws, Ann and Sue

All the girls - except Ailsa, who went to the hospital to visit her Mum, Auntie Nalda

Blake with his Mum, the younger birthday girl

Today, late afternoon after our super lunch with Ails and Rod, Blake, Ann and Wayne came across for a couple of hours, I also invited our neighbours, Kumi and Bob. Blake spent some time in Japan last year, and has been learning Japanese this year, and on 6th January he is taking his parents back to Japan - so an enlightening couple of hours talking to Kumi was great for the 3 of them, and for us - lots of fun too and a few "kampai's" as well.

Only 2 sleeps left

The last couple of days have been busy for us and quite festive, with some pre Christmas shopping and entertaining.

The tree has been up for a couple of weeks

Always a special time for me, so many of our tree ornaments are from close friends and family given to us over many many years

They are carefully packed away every year - just like precious little ornaments should be.

Tuesday night, Gail, Steve, Auntie Beryl and Sue (Ash had to work) came for dinner. The Brig and I really stretched ourselves here, but it was a "pretty okay" meal. Fresh and gorgeous Queensland prawns and peppered smoked salmon pastrami with a couple of sauces, barbequed baked Pork and apple , and a colourful trifle which I had found a photo and recipe of a couple of days ago, easy and rather nice.

Just as they were arriving, the phone rang, and there was number 2 cousin (I am number 5 in age - of 24 first cousins) on the phone, last time I saw Ross was when I think I took him (a country boy) to see the Beatles (live) in Sydney - quite obviously many many moons ago. He joined the Royal Australian Airforce when he was 19 and stayed with them and moved all over the place for most of his married life. We had seen his Mum on many occasions, his Dad (Mum's brother died quite young) - anyway of course arrangements have been made for he and Yvonne to join us for lunch today to celebrate cousin-in-law, Ann's birthday.

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Yesterday had a great start, with a phone call from London - K.D., a specifically dear friend of mine from many years ago - chatting to him was as easy as it has always been. Speaking of London, Gilly (my young 2nd cousin) and Matt eventually landed in London, after being stranded in Singapore (because of the snow at Heathrow), and are now touring around London with my God daughter Jo, and on Christmas Eve they will drive to Marlow-on-Thames to a special little Pub to celebrate Christmas for a couple of days, before heading to Paris.

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Last night was another great evening, with some neighbours popping in for a drink for a couple of hours - Carol and Valley, the wonder dog stayed for an hour or so (dinner out for the girl), and Kumi, Bob, Connie and Dieter stayed on for some lovely chat and snacks.

Between the 6 of us, there were 6 different birth nationalities, starting with Kumi (Japan), Frank (England), Bob (New Zealand) Connie (Portugese Goa) Dieter (Germany) and of course Moi - from Oz.

Ah, the Brig on his knees, and looks like I am definitely spreading out on the coffee table ***** Today, 16 of our family are meeting for lunch at Currumbin to celebrate Ann's birthday (she and cousin Wayne arrived on the Gold Coast last night) ****** AND IT'S RAINING, AND WILL BE - ACCORDING TO THOSE WICKED FORECASTERS - FOR ANOTHER 7 DAYS!!

Waterfalls at the Rock

I received these incredible photos yesterday, they were taken by a keen photographer, Peter Carroll who happened to be out at Uluru on this very rare occasion earlier this month - when it was raining at Ayers Rock - Uluru.

Those instant waterfalls

rolling down this incredible monalith

I did climb this incredible baby in early May 1968- she's 1,142 ft high, and 5.8 miles in circumference

that was probably when my "fear of heights" set in

Water pouring down the incredible rock formations

on a very rare occasion on our "island mountain"

Stunning photos by Peter Carroll - thanks.

Christmas cheer at Carol's

Last night Carol (our next door neighbour) held the Christmas drinks for a small group of neighbours and friends - lovely couple of hours. - inside this year - yep she was still raining.

Carol on left, with her Mum, Sally and friend Nan-lis

The Brig catching up with Carol's Dad - Ian, and of course Valley, her wonder dog was laying and listening.

Rose and Janet (another neighbour from our Close)

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This morning the sun was shining, not one drop of rain all day, and we spent a good part of it stocking up on our festive food - such as identifying a good ham to glaze, and the recipe and photo of a fine looking trifle had caught my eye, so that was going on trial for dessert when the relos came on Tuesday evening for dinner.

The Courtyard's tree

Every year the Faulkner's (my in-laws) and their neighbours put up and light a festive tree in their combined courtyard at the Barn in Sheffield. I believe a few Carols and the consumption of hot toddies also takes place.

She's glowing this year even under snow

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I believe there is loads more snow than this now, with some of the European and English airports closed. (I received these photos above a couple of days ago from Kevin) I have a young 2nd cousin and her husband stranded in Singapore, as their plane for that special "northern hemisphere holiday with Gilly's eldest sister - Jo, my god daughter" couldn't land in Heathrow today because of too much snow.

This photo arrived overnight from Frank's brother, Peter - taken in their garden at Banbury, Oxfordshire, yesterday. Apparently some of the north did not get hit as bad as the south - near Heathrow and Gatwick.

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And now the Snowy Mountains in both New South Wales and Victoria have been topped with snow - and it's mid summer in OZ - the forecast is for more snow on Christmas Day in the highlands - most unusual.

Some fun memories

More great photos received today from Rani and Bren - a most special relationship with Bren for me and the Brig. Bren helped us for some years on the farm, he rode up on his horse (bareback) when he was 14 looking for work at the weekends and after school. Right from the start he was a special kid, I remember my Mum laughing at his "irish" type jokes at the Moss Vale Show (he was 13) before he galloped up that driveway to look for some work "Mrs. Wroe". She was so right about this young man. He was number 6 of 7 kids to our neighbours, just a little, or maybe a lot of Irish genetics and humour involved - wonderful rules from his home - what happens in our house is not discussed, and what happens in any other persons house is not discussed either - so much respect for his elders and their property. I could go on for ever, but I do know that all my friends and colleagues who met him throughout those years thought he was very special - and I guess this is for them too.

When he was 16 he had become a Prefect at his school, Adjutant of the School Cadets. and was okay at Rugby Union to - photo below shows him (right) with the famous Wallabies Captain - Nick Farr-Jones while playing an international School Rugby event for his School - Chevalier College - its front gate was just opposite Mum's cottage in Bowral - yep it was named "Elizabeth Cottage"!

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He had also just got his driver's permit, not sure how much work was going into school, but he was still helping a lot at our farm. We thought this young man needs a reward - we had an old Suzuki jeep..... languishing in the horse paddock that hadn't been used (or serviced) for some time, well not since the dog and I had started to use this little farm machine below

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We decided to offer this tired old Suzuki to Bren with a few provisos (didn 't worry him, he was used to those from us - or should I say moi), rules were he had his Dad and eldest brother check it out - was it possible to restore, and if so was Bren willing to stick with it - if not, don't dump it back in our horse paddock - get it to the Tip yourself. Well 15 months later, this little Suzuki number was really up and working, and had gone from a dull khaki to a brilliant dark blue, and Bren was now on the road, (all his own work and cost), and he had his drivers licence and was definitely charming a few young ladies. But no more charming than Rani - they travelled overseas for awhile , and then married in Bowral - a just wonderful happy wedding for them and all of us who attended.

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They have since had 3 kids, all christened at the historic little church in Berrima - each one followed by a delightful celebration party. We fortunately, have been able to attend and enjoy every event.

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Rani and Bren would visit us straight after Christmas at the Bay every year, but since we have moved to Queensland, we don't get the time with them which we always enjoyed and we miss so much.

***** Rani and Bren

***** The new crew - (eldest to youngest) Luca Belle, Hunter James and little Ava Rose

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Today I looked for some photos of the Christmas decorations Bren helped me with for years - again the rules were we had to make this New England saltbox style house look like it was in New Hampshire in the snow - well it's name was Vermont, but of course it was boiling hot outside. Bren's jobs were cutting down pine branches and pine cones from trees on the farm and attaching them to the staircase and the rules went on - oh, I gave the directions and tied the bows.

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Of course the "kidding shed" didn't miss out - we took one of the 3 wise men there for the "4 legged" kid's celebration.

All okay in this little kid's mind

Burleigh at 6 a.m.

We woke to clear skies and the potential of a sunny few hours - whilst consuming our first cuppa for the day, we decided to drive over to Burleigh Heads Beach for this morning's walk - got there at 6 a.m - when I took the photo below.

We walked along the beach for an hour, plenty of activity going on by then.

Dogs swimming with their owners on the "dogs allowed" portion of the beach.

a peaceful photographer on the right

the surfboarders

and Burleigh's own Christmas tree!

Our Grand God Twins

How great do Dylan and Owen look, all dressed up as Santa and his Reindeer, for their Christmas in Amherst, New Hampshire, USA. According to our good friend and their Grandmother, Anne, they are the greatest, active, and fun pair of kids. Lynne (our God Daughter), sent this photo to us on their Christmas card. A couple of identical cuties.