Christmas is here (almost)

With plenty of uncertainty around about other things, Christmas is definitely on its way now - only twelve days to go!

This pair are well and truly ready for it ........

We had our first big Christmas get together yesterday - the extended family celebration hosted by Josh and Jody. Ella asked me to make the Sri Lankan Christmas cake for dessert and she wanted to do a marzipan and fondant icing for it. She and Abi had a sleep over here the night before and worked all yesterday morning bringing Ella's vision for the cake into being in our kitchen.

Although there was some tension in the air at the start of the process they both ended up working in a lovely cooperative rhythm - creating an absolute masterpiece!

The Christmas party started at 3.00pm. As we pulled up outside the house we were just beaten by Ollie and Angus who'd driven there together in Ollie's "new" car with his brand new P plates proudly displayed on the rear bumper... Amazing!!

With all the adults safely in receipt of their first glass of sparkling Shiraz, Abi was very keen we get the Secret Santa presents opened. I thought Joshy's Secret Santa really nailed his gifts ...........

It was a very relaxed, chilled out afternoon on a beautiful mild summer afternoon. After present opening the young ones gravitated outside where Rod broke the ice with one of his well practised card tricks.

The boys were suitably impressed with Ella's chin up bar (made by Joshy for Ella to keep in practice during lockdown).

And very impressed by what she can do on the chin up bar ......

There was the great Australian backyard cricket game.....

And lots of hoops were shot (very competitively too) over the afternoon.

We ate beautiful food. Pete had shucked over 6 dozen Pambula oysters for us for starters. Rob and he grilled fresh prawns on the bar-b-que and Joshy roasted a beautiful boned leg of lamb. There was a Christmas ham on offer too - all beautiful!

 We had fun playing the family favourites quiz over dessert. Everyone entered into the spirit of things and we had a lot of laughs while finding a few surprising things out about each other (especially Angus's preference for Shannon Noll's Christmas songs, and the meaning of Stollen).

The cake was a stunning centrepiece and all that fruit disappeared in a flash

It gets quite complicated getting everyone together these days, but its a lot of fun when we can. Josh and Jody are warm and welcoming hosts and their big house and back garden caters to lots of play activities, but we all know it involves a lot of work and organisation too for which we are all very grateful.