Just eleven of us on Christmas Day, the only children being the five year old twin girls. Mother was kicked out of hospital on the Thursday and she attended. Her moaning about her health and fragility led R to think she is not long for this world. I think as long as she keeps complaining about her treatments by all medical services, self diagnosing what medications she should and should not take, and starts a phone conversation with me saying 'Oh love, I am in a terrible way. The doctors don't know what they are doing', with her voice so shaky. Five minutes later, her voice will settle down. Ten minutes later as I am trying to hang up, she sounds quite happy and rational.
For the record, myself and R. Mother and ABI Brother, Tradie Brother who hosted, Sister, Bone Doctor and Jo, Hippie Niece and her partner and her five year old beautiful twin latte coloured daughters.
I was inventive and this year we travelled to Mornington Peninsular using the Western Port Highway and aside from a bank up at the Hall Road roundabout, it was quite smooth sailing, taking an hour. I think it was one and a half hours last year on the freeways/toll roads. We took the freeways and toll roads home and it only took 45 minutes. R thanked me for my planning. So he should. It could have gone terribly wrong and there would be much less than thanks.
It was the usual Christmas fare, with various cooked meats and vegetables. It was preceded by fresh prawns. I don't mind prawns but I only ate one as I lost two minutes of my life to remove the shell for minor pleasure. I think we export prawns to Vietnam for locals to shell and they are sent back here to be sold to be sold as fresh. I prefer shelled prawns, even if labour in third world countries is exploited and the prawns arrive at the table with a lot of travel miles. But I can easily live without them.
Boxing Day was repeat and rinse in some ways, but a bit different. Mother was exhausted by Christmas Day and so she did not attend for the first time, and stopped her carer, ABI Brother from attending for an hour as she was so unwell, she could not be left alone. We all encouraged ABI Brother to come for an hour, but no, Mother would not let him free. Boxing Day was quite chaotic with maybe 30 people there, including three babies under 6 months, two two year olds, a five year old girl and an eight year old girl. It is unlikely the family will grow anymore, but there is the danger Hippie Niece will want a child with her current partner. She has settled now but she was to put it crudely, unstable for a number of years after the birth of her twins. I don't think she should have another baby and nor does anyone else. It was rather hot on Boxing Day, too hot really. We were exhausted and even though we slept well that night, the next day we felt very lethargic. Thankfully a cool change blasted in mid morning.
Tradie Brother had decorated and planned Christmas Day so well. In spite of the efforts, the food was quite ordinary to say the best but it wasn't for a lack of effort and like I could do better. It would be KFC and Red Rooster if left up to me.
Table decoration with large pieces of gum tree bark around both inside and out.
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Tradie Bros did an excellent job on the Christmas decorations. I think I may have been with your mother and too tired to attend the Boxing Day celebrations. I am sorry that she stopped ABI brother from attending though.
ReplyDeleteLove the cooling ferns. Christmas Day was almost our first hot day of summer.
Pretty much the same here EC weather wise, as often is the case.
DeleteHealth economy is what defines a definition of a good doctor and nurse these days. I find most junior trainees severely lacking standards since Covid. Hospitals are run by the trainees basically. The dripping system is often the best way to water any plants
ReplyDeleteRoentare, Covid has affected so much, including it seems children learning to swim. It is unfortunate to hear what you say.
DeleteThree babies under 6 months and two two-year-olds are a LOT of small people to look after.
ReplyDeleteHowever it is much easier once they start Prep because then the youngsters can participate properly and have some fun.
Hels, I they seem to start going to creche like learning as soon as they can walk for a couple of days a week. It does help them to socialise.
DeleteI am exhausted just reading about Boxing Day.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why they didn't put lights in at Hall Rd when they did the other major intersections. Probably prolonging the chaos and they will do it when they finish the Evans Rd/Hall Rd/Cranbourne Rd mess.
Mother sounds like a handful. You and R are very patient with her.
Caro, Hall Road must be on the list. The intersection you mention looks ok on a map, but don't they all. We see Mother occasionally. Poor ABI Brother has the patience of a saint. The rest of us don't.
DeleteI had never heard of "Red Rooster" and had to look it up. Seems it began in Tuart Hill, a suburb of Perth. I trust that you displayed good table manners at the family dinner table - remembering to hold your knife and fork correctly and not burping.
ReplyDeleteYP, worth looking up Sydney's 'Red Rooster Line'. Of my manners were good, even if no one else's were.
DeleteLOL On a more serious note, are gum tree bark and fern fronds a tradition, or just a clever use of available resources? Either way, it looks nice. This looks like a lovely home, if filled with way too many folks for me to handle. ~grin~ Seeing a glimpse of family photos made me smile. And last but not least, I wonder if that cooling technique is similar to swamp coolers sometimes used in the Southern United States. I've never seen one in action but supposedly they can be used in place of modern air conditioning. Now I need to look it up...
DeleteNot at all a tradition Darla. Just my brother's quirky sense of humour. I had to look up swamp cooler and yes, that is it. In this case there is a large unit that sits of the roof and the cool air is ducted to various rooms. We call them evaporative coolers. They are cheap to run but not nearly as good as proper air con. They are useless in a humid climate and only work with hot and dry air. They also work best by leaving a window open. This is getting long, and I haven't finished yet. It's worth a blog post.
Deletesure would have been a hoot to turn on that overhead fan! The cooling with the water spraying the shade cloth on the roof and also the drip holes on the pipe from the roof watering the plants is clever.
ReplyDeleteStrayer, I don't really know how it is all set up, but the outdoor cooling works.
DeleteThat is a clevel cooling siystem. We have a spring at our retirement property, and I've got a notion something could be rigged up. I wonder!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had such a nice holiday weekend.
I know just the person who would find that a fun project Debby.
DeleteWater always has a cooling effect, even just looking at it helps. I'm guessing the gum tree bark and those leaves helped with keeping flies away from the table. It sounds like a very fine day.
ReplyDeleteRiver, I suppose they would. I volunteered to wash dishes. It nearly killed my back and flies kept landing on me and you can't do much when your hands are wet and soapy.
Delete"It would be KFC and Red Rooster if left up to me."
ReplyDeleteI would have ordered a pizza.
Kirk, it was Christmas. I would have to make an effort. Pizza won't cut it but roasted or deep friend chicken would.
DeleteAgree with you re prawns. I love them, but far too much effort to remove the shells.
ReplyDeleteJames, I've heard of prawn shelling instruments. I can't imagine how they work.
DeleteA big family.
ReplyDeleteTP, it should stop growing now until the next generation comes of age.
DeleteThis incognito blogger thing to comment is getting tiring. Finally getting to visit. It sounds like a good holiday. Ours was smaller and quiet but fun. I am always happy to get home and do our own thing.
ReplyDeleteI remove shells before cooking prawns. HATE when I get them out in a sauce and have to take the shells off.
Being a control freak I would rather host than be hosted.
Wishing you and R a great 2023!
I don't know about incognito blogger Jackie. I am quite happy to accept everyone else to do the work on the day.
DeleteLove the decor and quite the crowd there. And that self watering thing is impressive.
ReplyDeleteHave been absent from blogland for a while.
Back in the saddle now.
All the very best dear Andrew to you and R.
XO
WWW
M, like a ghost, you waft in and out. Thanks for your good wishes and they are returned.
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