Festive Bonbons

1.Christmas Tree – do you have one, when does it go up, who decorates it, is there a theme or is it miss-matched? 

It's a live tree in a pot that I bring inside, so it only goes up the weekend (or a few days before xmas) and then comes down at New year, or slightly before. I decorate it, usually with the help of the kids, now just one kid as the others have lost all interest. No theme except every decoration the kids made in preschool, daycare or kindy. It's a very kooky looking tree. But I love it.

2. Christmas carols – yes or no, faves? Traditional or modern.

In what may surprise people, as I only listen to contemporary music and find the pop songs of my youth are too slow and dreary, yet when it comes to Christmas songs, I seem to like the most sombre of them all. My favourite Hymn is God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (wrong on a million levels but I like it. No idea why). In the secular, I like The Christmas Song and Sleigh Ride, Johnny Mathis I think for both. Can't explain why, just do. 

3. Christmas books – any faves you want to tell us about? 

We have Christmas books that I get out each year at Christmas time for the kids and spend the advent nightsreading them each night. However the kids are too old for this now. I don't think I know any adult Christmas books other than Dickens so I'll talk about the books I am giving this Christmas.

Careful He Might Hear You! A delightbufl book that is fabulously written. Just a joy to read.
The Railway Man. An enchanting book while based on horrendous experiences during WWII.
I've ordered Mum the Hill Station, a book by J.G Farrell. We both loved the Empire Trilogy so much. Unfortunately, I got an email and it may not arrive in time.
Notes on Grief - I have a friend who lost her mum earlier this year, and I thought this book might bring a strange comfort. She accurately notes some of the strange emotions you experience in the very solo pursuit that mourning is. Chimanda Ngozi Adichie has a way with words that captures the feelings perfectly. 

4. Christmas movies – any you watch year after year? 

Die Hard. What can I say? As a kid l loved Santa Claus is coming to town and watched it annually when Channel 7 played it but my kids never got into it.

5.Christmas cake – yes or no? 

Hard no from me. As a teen I used to make Buche de Noel, which took a few days to make. Now I just buy something as none of my kids eat Christmas Pudding or Cake.

6.Chocolate nuts or fruit? 

We didn't have these growing up but I somehow got the tradition of giving them to the neighbours. I only get the nuts though, and preferable Almonds not peanuts. Or other nuts, just not peanuts. I've no idea why or how that started.

7.Christmas traditions? 

Mine start in November. I shop for Share the Dignity #Itsinthebag campaign, I also take abotu 4 kids from an assisted living list - usually 4 adult males teens, as I work on the assumption most kids go for the young kids cos they're 'fun' to buy for. This year one of the kids I took was non-binary (the gender had been left of so I clarified, guessing that might be the case). As I always get the Pocket Change Collective books regardless of subject, I got them a copy of Skate For Life along with the other gifts, hoping they feel 'seen'. This series is a great stocking filler for teens - on art, the environment, queer experience (I'm uncomfortable with that term so feel free to correct me if it's incorrect or offensive) and I've preordered a cooking one that's coming. Always good to see the world through new eyes. Some are better than others, but I learnt a lot from Skate for Life and even found myself interested enough to watch some youtube skate boarding footage. 

I've started doing a Reverse Advent Calendar each year and am currently doing a second one because I've just learnt about Hampers For Hope. Broadway shopping centre has a collection bin until the 12th Dec. My favourite family tradition, which is just me and my youngest one now, is going into town to see the David Jones Windows and Christmas lights and Nativity. It was our visit to Santa to lock in the Christmas list but that's finished with. The youngest also still makes the Gingerbread house with glee, and that's making our house smell lovely at the moment. We also go up to see the Hunter Valley Christmas lights. We used to do it in a group of about 30 of us, this year it's just 4 of us. Another mum and son with my youngest and me. Possibly for the last time.

8.What’s on the table?

Our Christmas meals are at my in laws and my mothers, so Italian food which I don't find Christmassy at all, and turkey at Mum's.

9.Christmas memories? 

So many. Family, Friends but mainly laughs. There was a lot of laughs at Christmas time around the table. As a kid, that excitement of running down to see the presents in the Santa sack, as a parent, I think the visiting santa night in town was almost more special to me than Christmas day. The magic and joy watching them watch the lights, ride the train and become excited by all the decorations. Dad and I always decorated the tree together growing up. We'd go off and choose one and bring it home. He'd set it up while I got all the decorations out of the roof. Then we'd decorate, with me trying to hang all my favourite ones before he could get to them.

10.All I want for Christmas is…

Covid to go away? The sun to come out for our beach holiday. i really don't need anything so good times and happy vibes is about it. I say that though and think how privileged I am to not need anything else? So I guess I already got my Christmas wish. For the record though, I changed my flights from my girls weekend in Hobart to detour via Melbourne and stay and extra night to see Tiesto so I told my husband that could be my Xmas present and so I'm getting a pretty spectacular pressie, if the borders stay open.

 

My Christmas wish to you all, May the borders be ever in your favour! [Edit, referring the post Covid Stress of the 2021 Xmas)

 Linking with #XmasLinky