Our Tricky Christmas

After church we got the chicken and vegies into the oven. Because Christmas without family can be 'tricky' we called it that for this year. Our only family member who could come was Dan. For Joy, Craig and Abigail, it was also 'tricky' so we agreed to share our Christmas lunch time. And it was a super time of good food, fun and fellowship.

Abigail is growing up and fun to be with. Earlier in the day, Joy and Craig had given Abigail a model farm animal set complete with a good amount of fencing. This set she brought with her to play with and show us. The people pictures show Barb and Abigail in one and Craig and Abigail in the other.

Later Peter and Abigail played a game together that just involved one checkers piece. This checkers piece was tossed back and forward between them, and occasionally got lost into the Christmas tree or behind the couch much to Abigail's delight and interest. After it was retrieved the game continued. It went for a long time. It was amazing that a game with one checker piece could be so entertaining for so long. Peter made a few attempts to finish but Abigail would have none of that.

This is just a window into a day that had many other experiences.

Christmas Eve 07

We went to Mon's place on the eastern side of Melbourne. It has become a kind of tradition to do this. We exchange gifts and have a meal. This time his son Nicholas and girlfriend Caroline came. His daughter Sarah was also there. The meal was a relaxed affair of continual nibbles of prawns, nuts, dip, cherries, crackers, avocado, ham, biscuits, etc, and later Mon made up a large creamy pavlova laced with mango pieces.

Later we played a few group games. In particular we played 'Dictionary'. This is a fun game which involves one member of the group picking an 'unknown' word out of the dictionary, spelling it out for the rest who then proceed to write the probable definition of it. These definitions are all submitted to the one who has introduced the word who reads out each and includes with them the correct definition, still hoping the rest don't recognise it. The rest then decide which is correct and if they pick the correct one they get a point. Players get points also if another players pick their definition instead of the correct one. The leader for that turn (who introduced the word) gets points if players don't recognise the correct definition. Some of the attempted definitions were so funny that we were all splitting ourselves laughing.

Gembrook Magic

Peter has spent a number of days up at Gembrook this month. The reasons were to do with building maintenance and renovation there. The place is called Gembrook Retreat, a Quaker retreat, at present going through renovations in order to better serve guests. We have an earlier blog entry about this place. It has a power and a beauty that always blows Peter over. Whatever the time of day the view, the spaces, the fellowship are a tonic to the soul. These recent pictures are taken early in the morning when the mist hung low.

Even though the retreat receives a few guests at present, it still had a lot to do to increase and improve the accommodation facilities. At the moment there is a main building, two cottages, and a caravan (for a totally secluded experience). There nature feels close and the soul takes its rest from the faraway city life.

Christmas Carols 07

Our church ambitiously started this event with a church family barbecue and craft and games for the children. It was generally low key and people could come and go as they pleased to and from each activity. It involved a large effort from many 'behind the scenes' people. By doing something like this we all learned how to make it better and bigger for next year.

As evening approached we all entered the (darkened) hall and got into the traditional carol singing. Some time during the service we all sang the Happy Birthday song to Jesus as a cake, with sparklers burning over it, was brought in for all to see. Later we all shared this Christmas cake at the supper.

Children's Treat

Kelli made a great number of confectionary bouquets for friends and family this Christmas and she gave one of them to us as a special treat on the last Sunday of Childrens Church for the year. When the bouquet was lifted out of the box where it was hidden the children all came forward and crowded around it. One of the leaders Leanne wisely called their attention and they formed a queue from it. There was enough for all and some children later returned to take the few remaining.

Kelli had glued each chocolate rapper to a skewer and this was driven into a foam block, the kind that florists use. There was easily thirty brightly packaged chocolate products in each bouquet. It was an unexpected gift for everyone.

Through the Doors

Getting to the airport was a trick. We had forgotten about the traffic on the Ring Road. This freeway, crossing north-eastern Melbourne, is used by a huge amount of through traffic. At least there was not an accident or it might have been ugly for us. We got through even if we did crawl along at times. Fronting up to Air New Zealand check-in proved no trouble, as it turned out, and we still had half an hour to share a cuppa. Choi and Anna were also there to see them off. We were all able to relax at one of the airport coffee lounges and share a couple of muffins with our drinks. Soon we had to say our good-byes and through the doors they went, waving finally before turning to pass through immigration and move to the international departure lounge to wait a little more. For us it was time to return home.

Jasper Bath

On the morning of departure, Jasper had a bit of a splash time, and Barb was able to give him a bit of a wash. The more splashing the better for Jasper who might create such water chaos that he is spluttering and momentarily disoriented. When the water subsides, he is into it again. It is good to have these memories of such a happy little fellow, gurgling away and enjoying the water world.

Restaurant Serendipity

On the last night we all went to the restaurant where Dan works, and had an enjoyable final meal together. There was a bit of serendipity there for Barb, whose Bible study group were there having their end of year Christmas meal. Because of family, Barb was not with them but because both groups happened to be in the same restaurant, Barb was able to sit with them on occasions and show them Piper and Jasper. We booked at short notice for our table and for that reason alone we were fortunate. All these lady friends of Barb went to the back of the restaurant and thanked Dan for such fine food, so they were able to meet Dan as well. It was a fun night with heaps of good food and fellowship.

Silver Slippers

Now with only two days remaining Barb took Piper to a shoe shop where they found a pair of 'princess' shoes. Piper loved them immediately and has worn them most of the time since. That is significant since she is quick to pull off shoes and hard to convince to put them back on. Piper received a set of cards of all the Disney princesses (present from Mon). Wearing these shoes she takes on the roles of one or other of these princesses and gets us into the roles of other Disney characters for her 'managed' role-playing. It can get very intense.

Bubbles

Barb had an opportunity to crack open the bubble making set for Piper. Jasper could only watch. Piper managed to make bubbles even though the wind (and gravity) took them away before the camera was ready. And, yes, there was the odd spill on the ground, all in a day's play. Every waking moment for Piper was a game of some sort, so bubble making made it a breeze in more ways than one.

Early Christmas

We squeezed in a very early Christmas celebration on the last day of November so we could share the season with Bec, Gord, Piper and Jasper before they departed. It was a pretty hot day so we prepared an assortment of cold meat, cheeses and salads. This with an assortment of beers in the laundry trough (packed in ice) turned out perfect for what we hoped to achieve. It was a good fun time. Kelli and Bruce were there, and Peter's brother Mon and his daughter Sarah came to swell the numbers. Mon blew us away with the number of presents he presented the four travellers with. It was a memorable family time.

Zoo Visit

Because four of our family leave us for Canada, Barb made sure she and Piper made it to the Melbourne Zoo another time. They visited as many of the favourites as they could, but found that the seal enclosure was undergoing renovation, so they missed that on them, which had always been a highlight for Piper. Still it was good to get there at least one more time before the long wait.