Christmas Thoughts!

Well that's it, Christmas is over for another year and this time I couldn't be happier. I really haven't been in a festive mood this year, but despite feeling down, it was wonderful to receive a small hamper from my friend Ramona back in The UK, full of my British favourites. Ramona and I have been friends for 33 years now, having been to University together back in the early 1990's. We have a lot of history together and know each other inside out.

I remember having a conversation with her quite a few weeks ago. She was asking me what I missed about Britain, and I told her all the things we can't get here, that I used to be able to get back home. She must have taken note, because a month later I received a box full of goodies. 

Despite not feeling particularly Christmasy, receiving gifts, cards, emails, and texts from friends back home is as special to me today as it always has been. My lifestyle and financial situation has changed for the better, immeasurably, but, I will always miss my friends back home, especially Ramona!

Despite not feeling particularly festive, Darrell and I did spend the day with friend Joy and her friend Sharron at Banksia Tourist Park in Western Australia. Christmas Day was hot, very hot, in fact I read just yesterday that WA was the hottest place on Earth this year, and it definitely felt that way. The temperature reached a steamy 43 degrees at the park, which was certainly a welcome bonus for me, since I absolutely love the hot summer here in Australia. For Darrell and Mum, not so much!

Joy had ordered some platters from Coles: Cold meat, wraps, fruit, dips, and nibbles. There was no cooking involved, no standing by a hot stove in the searing heat, and no washing up at the end of the day. Christmas is very different down under; there are of course the die hard Brits who live here, who still cook a roast, but in the main, a simple cold meat salad or BBQ is the order of the day.

I remember cooking a Christmas dinner the second year I was here, and I wowed to never do it again. The heat can be dreadfully debilitating at times and even with the aircon on full blast, the intense Australian summer calls for something a little less elaborate. It was interesting, however, that the West Australian government had enforced a BBQ ban on the day. This often happens when temperatures reach such scorching levels, because of the fire risk, but that didn't put a dampener on our celebrations and the food tasted great!

It was great relaxing at Joy's home in the tourist park, where she lives. This beautiful place is an over 55 residential park, and the perfect place to relax. Sitting on her veranda, you can see the Australian wildlife directly in front of you — kangaroos, parrots, and yes, the odd spider strolling past. This is the kind of village I could see myself living in, in a few years, and it is so different from the urban sprawl where we live now.

Of course, I was reminded of Christmas back home in England and just how different it is in Australia. Despite enjoying the day, I do miss spending this time of year in the UK. As a child Christmas was special, and somehow it seems better on a cold, frosty, crisp festive morning. Much of this has to do with childhood memories, which are far more evocative of innocent, carefree times, but it is also about the loss of those no longer here.

Every year I put up the last Christmas Card Mum and Dad sent me together, before Mum died in 2019, and I often look back over old photos from past family gatherings. I miss spending time with loved ones and friends, and I remain deeply emotional at such a poignant time of year.

... Talking of poignancy, I found this amazing cookery book, by Marguerite Patten over Christmas in the most unexpected of places — so what I hear you ask? Well, this is the exact same book My late Mother used to have when I was a child. She taught me to cook and bake using it, and I remember flicking through the pages, looking at all the delicious food on display with her, on a cold rainy afternoon. To be honest, looking at the retro food in its pages today, it doesn't appear to be as appetising as it once was.

The book isn't my Mothers, of course, but the emotions that came flooding back were immeasurable. Finding this little treasure was the perfect end to Christmas and another example of just how much importance I give to memories of fonder times. This book encapsulates my childhood, the meals Mum cooked, the moments we spent together and of course the special times we spent as a family — a family still very much alive in the memories I share today!

---