Christmas Day 2013
Christmas preparations began early on Christmas Eve. My part in the festivities (which had started out small but then began to spiral in size) was to cook the legs of lamb on Christmas Day itself. Then I felt a few chickens might be needed. And of course you can’t have Christmas Dinner without stuffing. So Christmas Eve morning saw me and Whetu out shopping early for supplies. She returned later that evening to help make the stuffing. By then I’d cooked 6 chooks (5 in the oven and one in my new crock pot). Our friend Josh arrived up with the legs of lamb and ended up staying to help make the stuffing. A few bevvies helped pass the time and we ended up having a lovely evening.
First let’s sort everyone out. Josh & wifey live downstairs. I’m going to be their self-appointed ‘on-the-spot’ Nana G to their first baby about to be born in February. They are a cool young couple - he’s another Ginger Maori from Wairoa and she’s a Brit (but we won’t hold that against her). Josh had his nephew and niece (21 & 18) arriving for the holidays - fresh off the boat so to speak.
Another kiwi family with young kids and parents fresh from NZ were invited and thought they might join us later in the day for games or swimming. As did our British friends upstairs with their new babe, toddler and Mum from England.
Then each of us found a few strays who were going to be home alone and invited them to come as well - each bringing a plate of course. Plus the teenagers friend’s all thought it’d be fun to come as many of them don’t celebrate Christmas. So the head count was suddenly up to 28. And just to get into the Christmas Spirit the teenager invited ‘Security’ to come up for a meal that night.
Several people arrived who I didn’t know but isn’t that the beauty of having Christmas away from home? I think we ended up with 14 for dinner and a few others came later for drinks.
Suddenly I’m catering for 30! So a bucket of stuffing is called for. A marae style kitchen takes shape and everyone pitches in. The chickens are broken up; the stuffing is in the oven - oh what a heavenly smell; the Maggi onion dip is made; a tub of coleslaw is cut up ready for dressing in the morning; tables are set up for the food; Christmas carols are blaring; the sweet nibbles are tested (shortbread, Mum’s now famous coffee fudge slice & apricot balls) and stored; and it’s all washed down with a little taste of Marlborough.
All I have to do in the morning is pop the three legs of lamb into the oven, make gravy, make custard, whip cream, buy ice to cool the drinks, and relax and enjoy myself. Did I mention that as they don’t celebrate Christmas here the supermarket downstairs is open all day to pop down for any last minute requirements? Several trips were needed for ice.
I even printed up a menu and sent it out on Facebook to all those coming at that stage. I’d booked the basketball and tennis courts downstairs for two hours before lunch so we could all get out there and work up an appetite. Strange how no-one appeared for that session!
So I'm up early, dressed and ready to Skype family back in New Zealand as planned. Only to find at 7am that we have no Internet! WTF??? NO INTERNET? Can't be. No home phone! No TV! (And that was my sound system). And No Internet! AT ALL??? So naturally, I'm on my cellphone to Etisalet. "No problem Madam, we'll send a technician within 48 hours." I'm nearly crying with despair.
Meanwhile I get the refreshments cooling, the legs of lamb arrive for cooking, and I phone Etisalet again. Is this a conspiracy because it's Christmas? I protest vehemently and explain that it is Christmas Day and all my family are expecting me to call. Eventually the technician arrives amidst a flurry of activity and finds the problem is more difficult than expected. He's stepping round drinks, arrival of people, sending back a leg of lamb that is 'high', basic Christmas Day preparation chaos. He leaves then returns to start again. By the time it's sorted, it's too late to Skype anyone due to the time difference.
Lunch is planned for 3pm and people begin to trickle in. A make-shift chiller is set up in the bathroom, nibbles are ready to go, Christmas music is once again playing in the background, the aroma of roast lamb and rosemary fills the air. I am in my Christmas outfit complete with hat - let’s get this show on the road.
Anyway, we had ample food so much later that evening when most had left we set about making up meals for security and the lifeguards. We delivered 19 wrapped ‘Christmas Dinners’ around 10pm to some of our daily workers here. Earlier in the day, Josh had taken his visitors out to deliver Christmas meals to workers who were working on the streets that day. What a wonderful thing to do. Several people each donated 100 of a food item which were then made into a pack and distributed at random around our area.
All in all, a wonderful day was had by all. I couldn’t put it any better than the thank-you I received from the Welshman...
"What a brilliant Christmas Day! Everything about it was just perfect; the food, the company, the music, the view, the adolescent opinions, the antipodean unruliness, the mixture of sexualities, the awesome range of alcohol with appropriate cooling arrangements, the rugby ball projecting, the chance to play with a toddler, and above all the hostess with the mostest!!! I could go on.....
Seriously, I appreciate the preparation required, let alone the tidying up needed afterwards, and really enjoyed being part of the magic."
Christmas preparations began early on Christmas Eve. My part in the festivities (which had started out small but then began to spiral in size) was to cook the legs of lamb on Christmas Day itself. Then I felt a few chickens might be needed. And of course you can’t have Christmas Dinner without stuffing. So Christmas Eve morning saw me and Whetu out shopping early for supplies. She returned later that evening to help make the stuffing. By then I’d cooked 6 chooks (5 in the oven and one in my new crock pot). Our friend Josh arrived up with the legs of lamb and ended up staying to help make the stuffing. A few bevvies helped pass the time and we ended up having a lovely evening.
First let’s sort everyone out. Josh & wifey live downstairs. I’m going to be their self-appointed ‘on-the-spot’ Nana G to their first baby about to be born in February. They are a cool young couple - he’s another Ginger Maori from Wairoa and she’s a Brit (but we won’t hold that against her). Josh had his nephew and niece (21 & 18) arriving for the holidays - fresh off the boat so to speak.
The Welshman (Jim), Kirsty & Josh
Wifey (Kieran) & Kirsty
The neice (Hariata), Kieran & Lochie
Kiwi visitors (Puna & Hariata)
Whetu’s son (20) has recently arrived from NZ and is enjoying life here so much it seems that he’ll end up staying. A typical kiwi boy who reminded the teenager and I of my 20 year old.
Tumana & Whetu
Santa's helpers! Tu, Gaylene & Whetu.
So it was to be 8 for dinner - 4 adults & 4 young folk. Sounded like a great plan for a relaxed late lunch. Then I invited Kirsty (my sister’s friend formerly from Levin) & the Welshman. She said she’d bring a side of salmon. Nice!
Jim & Kirsty
Then each of us found a few strays who were going to be home alone and invited them to come as well - each bringing a plate of course. Plus the teenagers friend’s all thought it’d be fun to come as many of them don’t celebrate Christmas. So the head count was suddenly up to 28. And just to get into the Christmas Spirit the teenager invited ‘Security’ to come up for a meal that night.
Several people arrived who I didn’t know but isn’t that the beauty of having Christmas away from home? I think we ended up with 14 for dinner and a few others came later for drinks.
Brother & Sister - Husnan & Maheen
Couple of stragglers - Tim, Josh & Bramal?
Shortbread made to Mum's recipe
Sweet treats - Apricot balls; shortbread; coffee fudge slice; chocolate kisses
Unfazed, I whip up the nearly famous Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake, trifle (with and without sherry) & Christmas pudding with custard.
Dessert table
Christmas pudding
Around midnight we call it a night and the helpers head home while I head to bed.All I have to do in the morning is pop the three legs of lamb into the oven, make gravy, make custard, whip cream, buy ice to cool the drinks, and relax and enjoy myself. Did I mention that as they don’t celebrate Christmas here the supermarket downstairs is open all day to pop down for any last minute requirements? Several trips were needed for ice.
I even printed up a menu and sent it out on Facebook to all those coming at that stage. I’d booked the basketball and tennis courts downstairs for two hours before lunch so we could all get out there and work up an appetite. Strange how no-one appeared for that session!
So I'm up early, dressed and ready to Skype family back in New Zealand as planned. Only to find at 7am that we have no Internet! WTF??? NO INTERNET? Can't be. No home phone! No TV! (And that was my sound system). And No Internet! AT ALL??? So naturally, I'm on my cellphone to Etisalet. "No problem Madam, we'll send a technician within 48 hours." I'm nearly crying with despair.
Meanwhile I get the refreshments cooling, the legs of lamb arrive for cooking, and I phone Etisalet again. Is this a conspiracy because it's Christmas? I protest vehemently and explain that it is Christmas Day and all my family are expecting me to call. Eventually the technician arrives amidst a flurry of activity and finds the problem is more difficult than expected. He's stepping round drinks, arrival of people, sending back a leg of lamb that is 'high', basic Christmas Day preparation chaos. He leaves then returns to start again. By the time it's sorted, it's too late to Skype anyone due to the time difference.
Lunch is planned for 3pm and people begin to trickle in. A make-shift chiller is set up in the bathroom, nibbles are ready to go, Christmas music is once again playing in the background, the aroma of roast lamb and rosemary fills the air. I am in my Christmas outfit complete with hat - let’s get this show on the road.
Not enough ice
A large space to fill up - had to have Steinlager!
Much later in the day
Healthy options
Nibbles including good ole Maggi Onion Dip!
Anyway, we had ample food so much later that evening when most had left we set about making up meals for security and the lifeguards. We delivered 19 wrapped ‘Christmas Dinners’ around 10pm to some of our daily workers here. Earlier in the day, Josh had taken his visitors out to deliver Christmas meals to workers who were working on the streets that day. What a wonderful thing to do. Several people each donated 100 of a food item which were then made into a pack and distributed at random around our area.
Christmas Dinner
Cheese board
All in all, a wonderful day was had by all. I couldn’t put it any better than the thank-you I received from the Welshman...
"What a brilliant Christmas Day! Everything about it was just perfect; the food, the company, the music, the view, the adolescent opinions, the antipodean unruliness, the mixture of sexualities, the awesome range of alcohol with appropriate cooling arrangements, the rugby ball projecting, the chance to play with a toddler, and above all the hostess with the mostest!!! I could go on.....
Seriously, I appreciate the preparation required, let alone the tidying up needed afterwards, and really enjoyed being part of the magic."
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE TEENAGER AND ME.
So pleased you had a very Happy Christmas except for the no Internet!!! Oh well plenty of time now to catch up with family and friends. Did your Christmas visitors know you Don't Do Meat, I would love to see you dealing with a leg of lamb or two.
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