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Then as a teenager, walking on the wild side, but nevertheless turning homeward to be with mother and family on December 25th. I remember one year, we, just a friend and I, were in Perth, in Western Australia and left it very late to start the trip home to Townsville, in North Queensland, so we were forced to travel very quickly.
As we were hitch-hiking this was more difficult than it sounds. But we made it - something over 5000kms across the country in 3 days - we just kept travelling - slept in the vehicles. Once I remember, we were under the canvas on one of those big Aussie road-trucks; it was the first time I realised I could be claustrophobic - it was dreadful, never again... but I'm rambling...Christmases when we had a young family were certainly different, each year we would pack up and take the kids camping. In New Zealand the camping is fantastic, there are NO snakes anywhere in NZ, and the place is surrounded by the most beautiful beaches camping spots you can imagine. Every year for about 14 years we would leave home, usually the night before Christmas or very early on Christmas morning, depending on how far we had to travel, sometimes it would be a 5 hour drive, sometimes shorter. But when we arrived, there would be a race to get the tents up and the Christmas lunch prepared.
We were never alone, at times there would be another four, sometimes as many as six, other families in our group. Each year the lunches got more and more elaborate, as the families competed to out-do each other in style and goodies. We carried huge eskys (chilli-bins for the kiwis) so that the champagne could be served on ice, and the seafood and hams and fancy desserts would arrive fresh and cold. Then we would settle in for the next four weeks - always at the beach, the boys had boats and the kids just loved it. We women whinged, of course, camping and cooking for a family of four for that long a time wasn't exactly fuss-free, and we had our moments, but we kept doing it... and we did have a lot of fun!Later, living in Adelaide, the Christmas times were different again, my husband's Irish family owned and worked an almond orchard on the Flereui Peninsula, and summer was harvest time, so we already spent every weekend and holiday down at the 'farm', and Christmas landed right smack in the middle. This was a family with 5 children, not children anymore, one was married but three of the others still living at home.
Christmases there were as I imagine they are meant to be - house full of kids, extended family and friends everywhere, lots and lots of food (and the Irish love their traditional Christmas foods), and wines and cold beers. Good memories...
And then, change again, on my own for five years, well, sort of, the kids came and went a bit as their own lives moved on - I've been digging around the old photos again, and found this, I remember it well, daughter and I at my place on Christmas Eve, her complaining because it was the first time she could remember that I had NO tree, no tinsel, nothing, so she jumped over the fences, cut a branch from a nearby tree, and we spent the night cutting out pictures to make decorations, and she made the lovely star on the top from foil paper.And so - my very best-ever Christmas? Easy! We were in Adelaide, I was about to turn 50 and it was the first Christmas I was alone after the breakdown of a 13 year marriage. My son was living with me at that time, but my daughter was sharing a flat with another girl closer to her University. None of us had plans or needed to be elsewhere so we decided to make a plan and spend the day together.
We all love to cook, and can sometimes be a bit competitive about it, so we decided that we would each take a course and turn-on something special. I got the starters, that was easy - seafood and lots of it, done every fancy which-way - my son did the mains, he webered everything and it was fantastic. Then my daughter did the desserts - this is the daughter who is now head chef at a fancy-pants restaurant in Adelaide, so of course her presentation just shone...
But even better, we all also played golf, but there really wasn't too much competition involved there, except between me and Craig when he was trying to 'help' me do things better!
Anyway, before we prepared and ate this wonderful meal, we went and played golf!. How good is that? We had the golf course to ourselves (who's allowed to play golf on Christmas day?) and then we came home and cooked and laughed and pigged-out and laughed some more. I don't know if I ever really thanked the kids for that day, or if they knew how much it meant to me.... but I think they did!
**
Son and grand-daughter were here for dinner on Thursday, the baby is SO beautiful, and clever, and she loves me now - can you believe I forgot to take any photos! Having family Christmas lunch today at the Currumbin RSL, looking forward to that, must remember to take the camera...
12 Comments
Loved reading your post, Della. Memories of Christmases past...yes...I've good ones and bad ones, too...and the memories of both types come flooding back this time of the year.
I just can't seem to get motivated about Christmas this year. I've not even dragged out any decorations yet...and I'm wondering if I will even bother. This year has flown by so quickly, it feels like I've only just taken down last year's!
I hope you do have some more photos to share with us! Put that camera in your purse!
thanks Lee, yes, about to start getting ready to go to the lunch, will go NOW and put the camera in the bag... hmmm, what to wear?
Something with elastic in the waist-band I think! I am looking forward to being one of the 'nanas' - a bit strange though, a new role for me (hehehee)...
I learn something new every time I read your posts. This one was fabulous. Loved the pictures, too.
How different we both were celebrating Christmas ! But the feelings are the same I am convinced. You inspired me to write a little about the German Christmas traditions in general. It is so interesting to read how other countries and people celebrate ! And I also appreciate very much your comments on my blog. For me it's nice to find someone in my generation and to share our youth souvenirs ! When I heard first of Australia, it was because so many Hippies immigrated then to Australia and end the 60th it was a land on another planet ! Now I will go a little through your blog to know you better !
I so enjoyed reading this post...such wonderful memories of Christmases past! What would we do without our children...sounds like that Christmas was a very special one indeed!!
Hi Della
Thank You for sharing your Memories of Christmases past with us.
I can only remember good xmases we were very poor Mum bought 8 of us up on her own My dad passed away when i was 4 mum and always had a small gift for all of us and a lovely xmas dinner. This year Im finding it hard to get motivated I wrote all my cards out today so i suppose thats a start..Take Care
I have always enjoyed Christmas , always with either family and friends and been fortunate to have not had any bad ones up until this past Christmas and it certainly surpassed any former definitions I would have had of "bad".
thanks fro dropping in to my site.Cheers Margaret
What a wonderful insight into an Antipodean Christmas - so different from the UK. Naturally, the seasonal differences mean that we couldn't consider camping.
If anything makes me feel a little sad at Christmas, it is not being able to see the 5 grandchildren opening their presents. The distance we live apart makes it impossible.
However, we will be in touch by telephone and Shirl's two little boys (aged 25 & 23) will be visiting.
I look forward to reading more of your posts.
Hi Della ~~ Great memories to share with us. Most of mine have been good ones with only a couple of bad ones.
The fires in Victoria are awful, but so far no loss of life and that is the main thing. I am not too clos but the smoke is all over the state. Hoping
and praying for rain to help those
poor tired fire fighters.Take care,
Love, Merle.
What a variety of Christmases you've had, Della! Some really great times too.
Looking forward to seig the photos of the lunch - and mainly baby!
A very interesting post about al of your wonderful Christmases. Fancy hitcking 5000 KM, you are a brave soul!!. Then again we were not as mindful of impending disasters in those days, it all seemed a lot safer.
An excellent reads!!
Do you still play Golf?
Best wishes
Wonderful memories of Christmasses past. The strength of family and the desire to be together shines through in your stories, Della.
Thanks so much for sharing them, and I hope this Christmas will be one of the 'best'.
Alice.
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