An early morning flight to Sydney on the 23rd of December is not most people's idea of a good idea. However, I found it it much easier than I thought it would be and the flight was not all that full with quite a few spare seats. Perhaps the prices deterred people from travelling at that time of the year.
This was to be my first Christmas outside New Zealand. I had checked with my aged mother whether she was ok about me going and I was given leave to go to the other side of the ditch to have Christmas with Bev and her family. Twelve people in all which is the most I have had Christmas with. I was rather anxious about going as it was going to be odd being with an ex-husband and a number of people I don't know that well.
Bev met me at Turramurra and from there we went to a restaurant for breakfast (lunch for me by then) but found that it was only on weekends that they did a proper breakfast so instead we went to a little café opposite a park in Wahroonga which a few minutes from Asquith.
After breakfast we picked up a boned rolled turkey that I was going stuff that would be one of our contributions for dinner then picked up some nice wines to accompany the dinner. I love choosing wines and I was able to get a mix of Australian and NZ wines that reflected the make-up of the family.
Christmas day dawned warm and dry - apparently a contrast to previous years in Sydney. We had stuffed the turkey the evening before and we needed to get it to Bev's sister's place in Mosman a bit earlier than everyone else so that long cooking process could commence. I had a precise timetable which was interfered with when Bev noticed that the local café was open and we had to stop for a takeaway coffee.
Thus the turkey was on a bit later than I wanted. However we were able to get it on before the crowd arrived. Bubbles were opened and nibbles put out. Some of sat out on the deck to look out at the wonderful view that Trish's home has of Balmoral beach and the bay beyond.
There was a veritable feast of food available and we began eating around 1:30pm. It was a very happy day with Bev's two year old granddaughter the centre of attention. Christmas is definitely made for small people. The food was delicious. Lots of variety with a range of favourites of various family members. We all sat at a table which was really nice. It was a bit like the Waltons from Little House on the Praire with everyone seeming to like and each other as well as tolerating differences.
The main course got a little held up because the turkey was not cooked when I thought it should be (thank goodness for temperature probes). By the time we got to eating the main course (around 3:30pm) the bench was a mess of unwashed pots and pans and even plates. Finally, the meat thermometer showed the right temperature and out of the over came the turkey. I managed to get the turkey onto a carving surface, had a knife (which could have been sharper) that would cut the meat and was going quite well when suddenly the turkey was in the air plummeting to the ground. I tried to catch it but without success and it went plop on the floor. I quickly scooped it up this very hot piece of meat and had it back on the carving board immediately. There exclamations of surprise, expressions of concern as to whether I had burnt myself in my heroic attempts to prevent it hitting the floor. Fortunately the turkey barely touch my hands and all was well with the turkey pretty much keeping its shape. The cause of the mishap was that I had the board too close to the edge and an uncooperative piece of skin had cause the board to move to the of the bench and from thereon gravity exerted itself.
We had three main courses, the turkey, smoked trout and a cooked ham. The food was accompanied by wonderful light salads. Mind you by that time we were a bit full having had the traditional prawns as one of the starters. The granddaughter just loved the turkey and that was all she ate from that course, chewing her way through as much as she could. It was very funny to watch.
The family now have a tradition where they do a Secret Santa with all participants drawing a name. The process is to name what you want and the giver then decides on what to give. It is also permissible to give things that are not on the list. Present opening happened between courses.
The final rites were over dessert which included trifle and a Christmas pudding amongst other sweet things.
It was a very nice day. Compared to Wellington and Picton it was much warmer getting up to about 28 degrees in Sydney while I gather it was in the mid teens in Wellington and Picton. Compared Christmas's past it was very different and very enjoyable. In my family of origin Christmas has at times been a time of conflict which has not made for a pleasant event.
Bev and I headed home in the early evening very full but not having drunk a huge amount - I was driving so it was important not to anyway.
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