This has been a very busy few weeks, starting with a number of work-related social events and continuing to the first major family event, the birth of my second grandson/third grandchild and then on to the family Christmas lunch.

The work-related events, while fun in themselves, were also quite tiring as they meant quite a few late nights. It’s always good to catch up with the people you deal with all year in a slightly less formal and more convivial setting, where work matters are left at the door and the emphasis is on socialising.

The birth of Nicolas Jules on December 20th was a Christmas delight as it marked the start of special family time. As your children get older and have families of their own there are less times in the year where everyone is together, so a new addition always marks a time for family togetherness. The first visit to the hospital to meet the new family member is one of excitement and anticipation, as well as gratitude that mother and baby are well after the ordeal of childbirth. Only someone who is a mother can really appreciate the impact of birth and the feeling you have when your daughter is going through this.

Nicolas is, of course, gorgeous and his big sister Natasha is so cute with him. Mum and Dad are delighted with their new baby and everyone else is over the moon.

Then on to the Christmas Day celebrations which were the culmination of two days of cooking. As someone who hates cooking the rest of the year, I am always slightly surprised by the pleasure I get from cooking a full, traditional Christmas for my children. Christmas, to me, will always involve chicken, turkey, ham, pork and beef (that way I am guaranteed to cover all tastes), baked and other vegetables and gravy. Topped off by dessert made by my youngest daughter, who this year outdid herself with a pavlova to die for and a delicious trifle. We also had tiramisu courtesy of my son-in-law. For me, this is Christmas. Seafood and barbecues, while perhaps more suited to the Aussie climate, cannot really match a baked dinner with seven or eight different types of vegetables. I am not sure anyone else can really appreciate what this means to me.

I feel like I have succeeded when everyone leaves the table full and contented and half the family heads off for their afternoon nap. Strangely, I even enjoy cleaning up after Christmas dinner (another anomaly in my life).

The other aspect is the joy I get seeing my family unwrapping their gifts. This is something that never gets old. The little ones just make it that much more pleasurable.

So, with one more day of festivities ahead of me as we trek to Wollongong tomorrow for Boxing Day with my parents I wish everyone I know…

Merry Christmas,
Feliz Navidad,
Feliz Natal,
Gun Tso Sun Tan’Gung Haw Sun,
Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan,
Joyeux Noel,
Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr!,
Kala Christouyenna!,
Selamat Hari Natal,
Nollaig Shona Dhuit,
or Nodlaig mhaith chugnat,
Buone Feste Natalizie,
Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto,
Sung Tan Chuk Ha,
souksan van Christmas,
IL-Milied It-tajjeb,
Maligayang Pasko!,
Bonu nadale e prosperu annu nou,
Sawadee Pee Mai,
Chuc Mung Giang Sinh,
Nadolig Llawen.

… and to all a good night,