Christmas in Australia

Merry Christmas Everyone!
I was awake early this morning. Unfortunately it wasn't in hopes I would catch Santa in the act. I must have been really tired since I didn't move all night. I ended up awake at 5am with a stiff neck. Nothing seems to be going my way this Christmas. I had a fight with the potato peeler yesterday. I was making a potato salad to take with us on boxing day and I slipped and cut my pinkie real well. I was panicking because it hurt so much and wouldn't stop bleeding. I knew it wasn't big enough for a stitch but it is very deep. I called Monique to help me, since I wasn't sure how to get it to stop bleeding and wanted to know how I should wrap it up. I am also missing my family so I had a little tear with Monique about missing Hailey and London and everyone else. She made me feel much better, thanks Monique! I called Helen to see if she had any peroxide and they didn't, so I had to go to the pharmacy and grab that and a few other things to bandage it up. The rest of Christmas eve wasn't so bad, but definitely not one of my best ever. We BBQ'd steak, potato's and veggies. It was just like summer at home. Then we just sat around and chit chatted all night. In the morning I decided to get up because I heard Helen get up. It is not normal for her to get up early or even first. Apparently all three of us were having trouble sleeping. We each grabbed some coffee or tea and opened our Santa sacks aka stockings. I have enough chocolate now to last me the rest of my trip. We then got showered and ready for the girls mom and partner to arrive. Once the introductions were finished we started opening presents. I was very glad that the girls enjoyed the presents I gave them and I loved what they gave me. I got a Lulu Lemon gift certificate. I guess all the talk about the clothing paid off. Once we finished with the gifts we started on Lunch. Diana and her mom did most of the cooking. I made the veggies on the BBQ. We had roast lamb, roast potato's, pumpkin and sweet potato, as well as the veggies I BBQ'd. It was not a traditional meal for me but it was yummy. After we got the dishes cleaned up we decided to go to the beach for a little bit. It was a gorgeous day outside. Not too hot not too cold, water was a little cold to go swim in. I have some great pictures of the beautiful color of the water. It seems to change every time I am there. Diana and I went into the water just past our knees. It was so cool to think it is Christmas day and I am on the beach. Once we got home from the beach Diana made the desert. We had Pavlova, which is an Australian dessert named after a Russian ballerina. It is a meringue base with whipped cream (no sugar added) and fruit on top. It was interesting but it sure doesn't beat mom's mocha mud pie, or her drumstick dessert. After dessert we played a game of "Smart Ass" Helen got it for Christmas from Diana. It was a real fun game. At 7:30pm Christmas Vacation was on TV so we watched that. I stayed up and watched another movie and then went to bed.
We had to be up early on Boxing day because we were going for breakfast at a cousins house. We arrived at Maria and Gerry's house just after 9am. They had a beautiful place. They have horses and chickens and three dogs. The smell of horses reminded me of home. We had bacon and eggs for breakfast and then us three girls went for a swim in the pool. I was telling Maria and Gerry about wanting to go to Perth and they were showing me some pictures of places I needed to go see. They were so nice and hospitable. After breakfast we drove to their other cousin Elissia's house. She is Maria's sister. Once we were there I met Elissia, and her parents Carmell, and Jack. Jack was so delightful! He was anxious to talk with me. He must have noticed the wheat tattoo on my foot because he wanted to talk farming. I felt bad since I am not the best person to chat with about farming. He was a dairy farmer for 35 years. He moved to Australia when he was 18 from Holland. I just kept thinking dad would have had a blast talking with him. I also met their uncle Jim and aunt Kerry. For lunch we had the potato salad I made, it was actually very tasty. In the afternoon we decided to go with Elissia to feed her horse. So Helen, Diana and I jumped in the car with her to go down the road. The girls loved the horses, I did as well but I didn't get as excited since I have seen a horse or two in my day. The owner of the stables came out and invited us in for coffee and tea. His name was Ray and he was so friendly and entertaining. Inside he told us how he loved to shop and asked if he wanted anything to eat. We all said no thank you but still he brought out food. First it was a tin of Kit Kat bars, then a few different types of cookies. Then he walks out with a whole tray of chocolate bars. I almost died! His wife was then telling us about all the many things he got her for Christmas. It was shocking, and very obvious he wasn't lieing about loving to shop. We ended up there for about and hour, being thoroughly entertained by Ray. We headed back to Elissia's house and then snacked on a few more things. We then said our goodbyes and headed home. On the way home we played the game "When I go to grandma's house..." My siblings know all about this. All five us enjoyed it. Once we arrived home we played another few games of smart ass. I was exhausted after that and went to bed. I had a good sleep in too. Today Helen, Diana and I are going to the beach. Ann, their mom, and Jim, her partner, are going to the old Melbourne Goal.
I hope everyone else had a fantastic Christmas as well. I look forward to the next Christmas with snow.
Until next time,
Cindy