One thing that I forgot to mention on the post about my flight – I also read the whole of Queen Kat, Carmel and St Jude get a life by Maureen McCarthy. It was great and saw me through a lot of the inflight time that I was awake! I somehow managed to miss this book when I finished high school and was so happy to read it. I had managed to order it online from a second hand bookseller in LA for $2.00 (originally purchased from Readers Feast!) and it arrived the day before my flight and has now been passed on to Nadine to read.
After all the craziness of my arrival subsided, I was so excited at the chance of being able to get in my jammies and watch Carols by Candlelight. I had what felt like the best shower ever and was all cosy when we had dinner. An easy one of sausages, eggs and baked beans! With just the four of us around the table and me in my nightie Matthew said what we were all thinking “It is like nothing has changed!!” We were all in our ‘usual chairs’ and I had my glass of cordial and it was a great time!
I didn’t catch much of the Carols – I just couldn’t get into it. One thing that hasn’t left my head the whole time was John Williamson’s performance. Watch this from the 1.50 mark when he sings his song ‘Christmas Photo’ –
Oh, it’s December in Australia;
Time to remember all the family.
Gather round for a photo.
I have had the “CHEEEESEEEEE!!!!!” part stuck in my head from the first time I heard it! Cute song and it would bring on homesickness for anyone away from Australia at Christmas time.
I jumped into bed with mum at about 9.30 and we were chatting away. Before I knew it I was fast asleep and poor dad had the task of trying to get me out of their bed and into my bed. Yep – 31 years old and dad still has to put me to bed. I don’t even REMEMBER getting into my own bed but at 3am I woke up not knowing where in the world I was. It was then I realised… MY DOONA! MY PILLOWS! I drifted back of into a deep sleep until 7am when I woke up knowing what was ahead… the Christmas food!!
Very early on when I was planning this trip and I knew mum and dad were hosting Christmas Day, I send mum to-do lists and planners for getting everything done so she wouldn’t be stressed on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Let’s just say she hardly paid any attention – the only thing we had ready was the cold roast chicken in the fridge. Eeek! Mum declared on Christmas Eve “With Jenelle home we don’t need anything for Christmas Day now… lets just order pizzas!” Ha ha ha!! We knew that would never work so at 7am we set about preparing everything and we were done (with visitors dropping in !) by 10.30. I was making satays, making peanut sauce, marinating chicken, making sausage rolls, salad platters and tidying up. I looked like a mess. I had food all over my nightie, my hair was crazy and I was as pale as the snow I had just left! So of course… neighbours dropped over. I am guessing they were expecting some New York Glamazon instead of me with satay sauce spilt on me and stinking of garlic and ginger!
Mum left to get nana and so I had time to get ready. No-one knew that I was coming so I was able to surprise them each time they walked through the door. The only thing I wish is that I filmed all of these!!! It was fantastic and surprising people is very addictive… I know why Oprah does this now.
Nana was the first, then Aunty Nean and my cousins, then Yvonne and then Aunty Wen. They were all super shocked and couldn’t believe it – I think people thought I was some hologram or something! Aunty Nean kept touching me to see if I was real or not.. Yvonne screamed, Nana couldn’t believe it and Aunty Wen walked in as I was taking a photo and I got one “WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE??!?!”
It was all so priceless and made Christmas so awesome. I was talking so much and catching up on so much that I FORGOT TO EAT!!! It wasn’t until 9.30 that I managed to get some leftover steamed rice on a paper plate!!!! That was my Christmas dinner!!!
It was such a wonderful Christmas Day… as I tumbled into bed and to sleep after midnight I still couldn’t believe I was actually in Melbourne. And either could mum… she has kept coming into to make sure that I was really here!!
Here are some pics of Christmas 2009 –
Aunty Nean and I.
My cousin Lateesha looking cute!!
Nana and I.
Aunty Wen, Aunty Nean and I.
Matthew and Leah.
My Aunties – Yvonne, Wendy and Denise and cousin Lateesha.
Nana, Lateesha, Yvonne and I.
My cousins Natasha, Jaydene and Aunty Nean.
Cousin Nathan, Dad, Aunty Wen, Leonard and Matthew.
Cousin Shane, Alisha, Aunty Wen, Nathan, Cousin Bronson, Leonard and Matthew.
PAVLOVA!!!!!!!