It’s now over a month since I last wrote an update.
My apologies.
‘Brenda opening a present’
Christmas was a huge success. Brad and Teegan stayed Christmas Eve. I glazed a half ham on the bone and we enjoyed some of that on Christmas Eve. Christmas day turned out to be a mild day weather wise with the sun shining and the temperature only reaching the low twenties. I was up early Christmas morning to stuff the turkey and get it cooking. I put it in a roasting pan on the barbeque and put a hood over it. This makes a good oven outside and leaves the kitchen oven free for veggies.
Our friend Kylie popped in to wish us a Merry Christmas. Kylie always pops in on Christmas Morning as she does her rounds. We then opened a few presents before Brenda’s Mum and Dad and her brother Keith arrived from Collie. Brenda was still in bed so we all congregated in the bedroom with her. I was about to make a cuppa for everyone when the door bell rang. It was Mrs. Claus from down the corner. Our neighour Louella had dressed up in a Santa suit and came down the street bearing gifts.
Brenda and Mrs Claus
She didn’t have black boots so she kicked off her thongs (flip-flops) at the door and came in barefooted. Everyone just loved it she keep complaining how hot it was in the suit and kept pulling at the beard to talk. We certainly had a good laugh. Louella was just leaving when another Santa appeared in the street. The Coogee Progress Association each year take Santa around the streets of Coogee in a open top car ringing a bell and handing out lollies to the local children.
Brenda and Steve
Brian and Dale arrived and everyone relaxed with a cuppa and sausage roll or fruit mince pie. We had an ample supply of Christmas goodies as several friends and church ladies had cooked for us.
I am overwhelmed by the generosity of everyone.
Sarah and I prepared the veggies and started them going. We also had two Christmas puddings that Brenda’s Dad had made steaming away for dessert. You can see that we still celebrate Christmas in the traditional way.
Christmas Table
When every thing was cooked it was time to carve the turkey and dish up. The turkey was lovely. It was so moist and tender. Brenda’s Mum certainly enjoyed it as she chewed on a wing.
‘Everyone at the table’
Then it was time for the pudding. I took control of the brandy bottle because if Dad gets hold of it the pudding gets flooded in brandy and if we light it we have to call the fire brigade.
Grandad’s Christmas Pudding
The pudding was great as always but for some reason there wasn’t any money to be found in it. I don’t understand that as every other year everyone usually ends up with about two dollar in their plates.
With lunch finished it was then time to relax and let lunch go down. Every one enjoyed themselves.
Brenda’s niece and partner Dean and their son Ryley came up from Collie for Boxing day. This was a very relaxed day with leftover ham and turkey with some salad for lunch. Ryley’s present from us was a fire engine and bubble maker fire extinguisher.
Ryley with Fire Engine
We also gave him a fireman’s suit. The suit was made by Kylie from his granddad’s (Cardiff Keith) old fire-suit jacket. Kylie managed to cut it down so she had enough to be able to make some pants. It had all the badges for the Collie-Cardiff Volunteer Fire brigade.
Fireman Ryley
Keith has a shed on his property to house the tanker and Ryley often goes with him to fuel up etc.
Christmas was wonderful and the next couple of days were quite relaxed with visitors popping in and out.
God Bless and thanks to everyone
Love Steve
Steve Blackstock 