One of the things I loved about visiting Sweden in December was the way it lived up to my clichéd idea of the perfect Christmas. Everyone was rugged up drinking mulled wine or skating on impromtu rinks and the Christmas lights twinkled brighter on the dark northern nights. I was telling one of my sisters back in Oz about it and she said it sounded like a fairy tale. I guess it was. It was exactly like the white Christmases I’d seen in movies, on television in books and on every Christmas card I’ve ever received.
I’d always thought that Christmas felt a bit ‘tacked on’ Downunder. A red velvet suit is not suitable attire for a portly gentleman anywhere in Australia in December. And I don’t think a Christmas roast was ever meant to be eaten in 40 degree heat. (Not that you could ever tell my mother that.) But now, living in London, there are some things I really, really miss about the Antipodean festive season.
In no particular order they are:
* Cherries and peaches suddenly appearing in shops.
* The constant racket of cicadas.
* My friends and family.
* The smell of jasmine as you stumble home late after Christmas drinks.
* Getting a couple of kilos of prawns and tucking into them with friends down near the harbour somewhere.
* The Boxing Day Test.
* A Christmas morning barbeque by the beach.
This Christmas, though, it’s goose with the in-laws up in Lincoln. It’s another first for me but Sally has got me a special treat so I don’t feel too out of place – 200 grams of organic cherries from Marks & Spencers. They came from Argentina but I’m sure they’ll do the trick.
Anyway, Merry Christmas everyone. And here’s to a prosperous New Year for all of us.
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It’s our first Christmas over here too, and I must say it’s the first time that I have actually felt homesick. Something about a cold Christmas, it just seems so wrong!
Being from London and having spent every Christmas bar 2 at home with famliy it is always strange being away from what you know. Saying that the 2 years I lived in Australia we’re fantastic, and Christmas was a whole new experience.
The chances of a white christmas this year are looking likely and cold or not, like you say Peter, Christmas is meant to be a fairy tale. After all, it’s bred into us at a young age. Margaret enjoy your first Christmas in England, Peter enjoy Lincoln and one things for sure, the mulled wine, mince pies, turkey, pigs in blankets always taste better when it’s cold.
Happy Christmas and a very Happy New Year to one and all.
Dear Pete and Sally and Daisy,
It’s windy and raining here so you’re not missing out at all. Besides, asparagus is up to $3 a bunch and the lillies are refusing to open!
Best wishes for Christmas and we hope to see you in this neck of the woods soon. xxx
You made me homesick … it was bad enough reading of cherries and things, then I reached the Boxing Day test, somehow that brought back how it was to grow up in a sport mad family.
I’ve just cooked my first European pavlova though … in a gas oven, may need taste-tested later. And a couple of nice parcels arrived … it’s not so bad but for the heavy grey skies over here in Belgium. Lol, who am I kidding, I grew up in Dunedin, NZ … chances were we’d get something similar weatherwise Christmas Day.
Have a great Christmas, and all the best things for you and your family in the new year.
Re. hot vs cold Christmas.
Glace (accent) cherries.
Case closed.
Merry Christmas all, and a glass raised to Peter’s conquest of America in 06.