Xmas 2011

Christmas is a time of family rituals and traditions in the Mulligan household. I take the girls (if they're at home!) to buy the Tree, help place the lights on it, and then the girls decorate it. We have an esoteric & eclectic collection of decorations, some inherited from my Mother and the result of her handiwork with needle, most bought, one-per-daughter, each Christmas time. And the collections are all remembered by the girls. So Sarah has taken hers, Charlotte will shortly take hers, and that will leave Jayne's. In a few years we will only need a smaller tree and the approach to decorating it will have to be different.

And the family gathers at our place - this year the kids surprised me by arriving about mid-day!

Food is another critical part of the ritual at Christmas. Usually, the main meal is in the evening, after the giving of gifts, which is itself very ritualised (the youngest distributes, one at a time, and everyone waits to see what each gift is). This year we had roast pork, ham, and turkey roll, along with two salads, roast vegetables and a nut loaf. Needless to say there was an ample sufficiency!!

The tree awaiting decorations

Desiree adds the angel to the top of the tree

The tree and gifts



The decorated tree

The Table was beautifully decorated

Oh, did I mention drinK? No? Well we had a variety of different beers to sample and try - the family are catching on to the idea that beer can be a drink every bit the equal of wine, to be sampled and savoured - several types of cider, and both still and sparkling wine. In fact something to suit all tastes.

Yes, we did have quite a variety!


So we did try the full range. And very nice they were too!

And then the next day, we did most of it all over again, as cousins of various ages gathered at our place to put paid to the leftovers, continue the sampling, play croquet, and rest.

I think this year was one the very best Christmases we've had. Roll on 2012 I say!