Christmas Survivors Roll Call

[Diane CBPFC]

Christmas Survivors Roll Call

Diane CBPFC: Here! Slightly bloated by too much sherry trifle – but I will make it.

[Roger Kettle]

Private Kettle: YO! Alive and bloody glad it's all over.

[lucy]

I'm glad to report Peeps and Josh still alive and survived my cooking 

[Vulture]

Vulture here, still alive but nearly succumbed to the home-made Christmas cake made by my nearly-d-i-l ; she mis-read the 'drizzle half a cup of ......' and poured a whole bottle of brandy over it!

[Bilthehut]

Major Disaster reporting for duty.  Did not overeat at all but had a lovely time as No1 Son managed to make it for Christmas Day (with his girlfriend in tow).  So a lovely family day together.

Not too sure about the well-known Department store's alternative pudding (Christmas Pudding Cheesecake) but it sounded good albeit a little too rich in taste.  Rest of the food was great though.

[Tom]

Tom reporting in... I feel twice the size I was a couple of days ago, but I don't think I've ate as much as usual... 

[Malc]

Very relaxing Xmas and boxing day. Watched the nearest thing we have to Premier League football live at Suncorp stadium last night. It's billed as the M1 Derby - Brisbane Roar v Gold Coast United played in a monsoon. It was so wet the groundskeepers had to re-mark the field just before kick-off, and again at half-time. Then about 15 minutes from the end, the ref stopped the game to re-mark the two 18 yard boxes. I had free tickets up in the corporate section, but all the paupers vacated and crammed themselves up with us prawn sandwich noshers, out of the rain.
I demanded that security evict all 13,000 of them, but to no avail. Typical bloody Australia, certain people don't know their place.

[Joan]

I seem to have survived reasonably well. A lovely Christmas day, a pleasant 25C - lunch was not too arduous, afternoon hit or two on the golf course, a swim in the pool and then a couple of hours in the spa with a G&T and a wee bit of champagne. I'm actually coming round to the idea of Christmas in a warmer clime.  Must have something to do with my age and possibly the age of my children, as they don't get quite so excited about the whole Christmassy shebang.

Boxing Day was relaxing - went for a walk and took some piccies of the red gums and NSW Christmas bush:

This is a red gum losing it's bark



And this is one that's lost nearly all of its bark



This is a Christmas bush close up



There are more here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/bjjktg/Australia#

Yesterday was spent pottering and a foray out to the sales where I splashed out on some cds and a couple of dvds.  Mix of artists - Matt Monro, Nat King Cole, Sting, Rod Stewart, Lou Reed and Katherine Jenkins. Some new stuff for me to listen to on my iPod when I go for my 2nd last dose of Herceptin tomorrow. Today, we went for a little outing to North Sydney for a coffee made by this young bloke, George Houvardas (he makes an excellent capuccino) and drank it sitting looking at the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.

So far, an excellent Christmas break.  It's nice and cool now, too. 

[Diamond Lil]

GI Lil, Sir...battled through to the east coast on Christmas Eve, despite the snow.  Ate, drank, enjoyed the making of new traditions as the next generation doesn't get up at 5.00a.m. any longer to see if Santa has been, ate, drank and battled home to almost-the-west-coast on Boxing Day, despite the snow.  Lots of books under the tree for me so have been very happy ever since, Sir.

[Joan]

Oops, I see I failed again - supposed to keep it short and sweet and I havered on as usual.

Had an excellent Christmas, Sir!

[Joan]

Typical bloody Australia, certain people don't know their place.

Ah, but that's what we love about it ... complete lack of respect for those who are up themselves. Not that that particular group includes you, Malcie.    I would have been totally p...ed off myself.  Hope the prawn sannies were put back in a locked fridge!

How you doing up there? Keeping your head above water? Mangoes are now 2 for $10 here and T's just come back from doing the shopping miffed because rockmelons were $8 at the fruit market.  Think I'd better plant some tomatoes.

[Diamond Lil]

I much prefer your illustrated haverings, Joan!  What are rockmelons?

[Fyodor]

Cantaloupes

[Bilthehut]

Well, why not say Cantaloupes then?

[Bilthehut]

p.s What are Cantaloupes?