And so this was Christmas

It feels like we've been feasting non stop for at least five days now - starting last Thursday night at the L. family's newly renovated house in Yarralumla: a Christmas worthy feast of seafood, turkey, amazing salads, handmade sourdough bread (and French butter!) and desserts to die for. Judy and Jurgen's new kitchen and family area shone for the occasion and it was lovely to be able to catch up with all the young ones as we ate (and drank) our way through this feast of Christmas riches........

Ros and Pete arrived on Friday afternoon after the long drive from Geelong. We set up pre-dinner drinks on the "village green" at the front of our apartment to start a night of celebrating together. It's been a long time since we've had a late afternoon warm and dry enough to do this in comfort in Canberra!

Saturday was another beautiful warm day. We enjoyed a picnic lunch on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin (at the Yarralumla swimming hole) and did evening Christmas Eve drinks in our Hassett Park, just opposite the neighbouring apartment block - in perfect Canberra summer weather.

Christmas Day was quite sedate for us with no young ones around (they're all interstate) - a day of eating beautiful food, drinking wonderful wine and having plenty of time to appreciate each other's company and lots of extended family messaging, particularly later in the afternoon (morning in London).

After the excitement of Christmas Day we started off Boxing Day with a walk to the Kingston Foreshore (Rob and Pete rode via the Wetlands). We were relieved that "Bean & Table" was open and ready for some coffee business.

Rod hosted lunch for us yesterday at his house - quite a gracious affair with beautifully flavoured and presented food, served in the beautiful surroundings of his art filled house and lush gardens. We were very impressed with the standard of Rod's hospitality!! Lucky us!

We had time for another walk to Braddon and a slap up breakfast at 80/20 this morning before Ros & Pete started the countdown for their departure.

We felt so lucky we'd had their company over the past three days to help us with all this feasting - but also for the joy they brought us - of being with beloved family and all those memories of the joys (and pain) we've shared together over the years - and especially at Christmas. 

More Christmas

Josh and Jody hosted a lovely breakfast yesterday morning, and a (slightly early) Christmas present giving extravaganza for us and the girls ....

But before we did anything we had to admire Abi's haul from the Redland's (pony club) show at the weekend - her first show and a great success with ribbons awarded for five different events....

We took the annual pic of Ella and Abi before the present giving extravaganza began ............

Ella scored a new bed this Christmas - lots of new bed linen, trendy clothes, skin care stuff, a pair of Birkies, and it was the year of Pandora ......

for Abi too .......

Jody liked some of my friend Jane's original art work ........

and Joshy scored well in the wine department .......

Abi was happy with lots of horsey stuff (which was mainly for Harry) .......

but then right at the end there was this wonderful surprise.......

an honest to goodness mini Le Mieux pony ......

love at first sight!!!

He's going to be called Rio ...

so much love .......

As breakfast was being set up Abi took over my camera, resulting in a huge series of Rio close ups, but also a nice portrait of me in the doorway - well done Abi!

... and a lovely shot of Jody near the window .......

Joshy did his usual superb job of cooking breakfast on the bar-b-que and in between courses the girls started experimenting with some of Ella's extensive skin care and make up collections.....

If ever there was a pair of girls who had less need of makeup???

I tried to capture the outcome ........

but then it was their selfie time ........

Ella had her new bed assembled by the end of the day, Abi had another session with Harry out at Redlands and Josh and Jody must have been ready to collapse in a heap at the end of another busy day providing so much joy and happiness for these girls (and us), not just at Christmas but all through the year too. They are all going to love their down time at Byron Bay!

Redlands Sunday

Harry (the Brumby pony) was in his fast and feisty mood yesterday.

Ready Set Go ........

that's the fastest we've seen Harry (and Abi) go (round the drums course)......

He deserved his wash down after a great riding session ......

Harry likes the walk back to his home paddock .....

A match made in heaven! .......

Not a bad home paddock for Harry (out near Womboin)!

 

Christmas is coming

We hosted the extended family early-Christmas celebration here at Saint Germain yesterday. We kept to all our long established family traditions: Secret Santa presents, Summer games outside, everyone making a contribution to the feast, at least two bottles of Majella to start the fun, a familiar background playlist, and a hotly contested Christmas quiz. It all went to plan (and a lovely link back to all those precious Christmases we've shared since Joshy and Claire (and Davey, Joel and Erin) were little).

Joshy was right into his car mags present - especially now his very hot Holden Commodore VK project is nearing completion. Ella loved her party animal shoes too!

Abi was happy to get some treats for Harry (the Brumby pony) from her Secret Santa...

And the necklace went down well.....

It was lovely to welcome Tamali to the mix too this year ......

and the "village green" was the perfect setting for some family bonding over a game of backyard cricket ..

Abi has great cricketing style ....

Rod showing impeccable style too .......

Best dressed cricketer award went to Claire .....

We ate well: seafood pie, pesto prosciutto chicken, a baked ham, some beautiful salads and Jody's caramel slice and rum balls, to die for ...nobody was left hungry. Rod was in charge of the Christmas quiz and Jody, Angus, Tamali and me performed the best of the three teams (just sayin!). 

I was lucky to get this very cute family shot before the light faded.

All the young things are off on their own adventures over Christmas-New year this year so it was a time to treasure yesterday having them all together before the exodus begins.