Seasons Greetings

[Auzgurl]

Happy Christmas all.

How are you spending xmas?

[Auzgurl]

Ok me first..

Going to the city..and its outdoors ..the Weber is the core peice of cooking equipment... so its not me ( for once..) having to kill myself in a boiling hot kitchen ..such joy.

If only we had snow and the whole white Christmas fantasy we only dream of here in Australia..its hard trying to adhere to traditons of old England when its hot enough to fry and egg on the footpath..40+ etc.

So I'm packing the Christmas carols CD and filling the esky with oysters and local fish and turkey ( soonish ) and its the whole festive fiasco ,this time not at my place...( which is always a boon ).

Can anyone recommend a nice wine or other drink. I dont like very potent spirits that take out your eye balls.

[JW Frogen]

My wife's big family get together.

I will get smashed wax lyrical about the victory of US forces since the surge to all the defeatest Aussies.

Jesus would have wanted it that way.

[Hebe]

Can anyone recommend a nice wine or other drink

A decent sparkling shiraz or other red does nicely. We spend it by ourselves on the Day (oysters a big feature but no ham this year because of the pig factory farming), no Christmas cake or pudding (it all tastes the same) but maybe a mince pie or two. Trifle (made by me), potato salad and coleslaw, soft drink to quench the alcohol thirst, prawns for the other half (I'm over them), perhaps some lamb. Definitely some lighter food for when all you feel like is a lettuce leaf and a week-long fast.

Some good DVDs (along the lines of Bad Santa, which we fortunatley own). Don't drive anywhere, get up when you want, fizz and orange juice for breakfast.

No children.

Our main family event is Boxing Day - it all seems easier then. The whole family catastrophe complete with very elderly parents and very young offspring, mercifully not mine.

But first I have to get through the horror that is Advent in the Public Service. Can you believe, we have been sent a meeting request for a Christmas morning tea? Nobody could be stuffed organising anything else and most people are refusing to respond to the invite. You have to laugh.

Anyway, I hope you all have a happy Christmas and if you want a laugh, listen to Kevin Bloody Wilson's Santa Claus you c***.

Christ, I suppose I'd better buy a present or two, and put up our annual decorations. I'll post a picture of them - they centre around a very badly-carved olive-wood nativity scene I bought from an Arab in Bethlehem when I was there and it's usually pretty porno. Anyone from PA might remember.

[Auzgurl]

Can anyone recommend a nice wine or other drink

A decent sparkling shiraz or other red does nicely. We spend it by ourselves on the Day (oysters a big feature but no ham this year because of the pig factory farming), no Christmas cake or pudding (it all tastes the same) but maybe a mince pie or two. Trifle (made by me), potato salad and coleslaw, soft drink to quench the alcohol thirst, prawns for the other half (I'm over them), perhaps some lamb. Definitely some lighter food for when all you feel like is a lettuce leaf and a week-long fast.

Some good DVDs (along the lines of Bad Santa, which we fortunatley own). Don't drive anywhere, get up when you want, fizz and orange juice for breakfast.

No children.

Our main family event is Boxing Day - it all seems easier then. The whole family catastrophe complete with very elderly parents and very young offspring, mercifully not mine.

But first I have to get through the horror that is Advent in the Public Service. Can you believe, we have been sent a meeting request for a Christmas morning tea? Nobody could be stuffed organising anything else and most people are refusing to respond to the invite. You have to laugh.

Anyway, I hope you all have a happy Christmas and if you want a laugh, listen to Kevin Bloody Wilson's Santa Claus you c***.

Christ, I suppose I'd better buy a present or two, and put up our annual decorations. I'll post a picture of them - they centre around a very badly-carved olive-wood nativity scene I bought from an Arab in Bethlehem when I was there and it's usually pretty porno. Anyone from PA might remember.

Love to see your decorations hebe...I want to see that olive wood nativity scene..ha ha. ( you promised and Ill remind you)

Never listened to Kevin Bloody Wilson but if I get a chance Ill lend an ear.

Thanks for the sparkling Shiraz tip.

I'll be shucking oysters..wish me luck in so much as I dont lose a finger or two..Coffin bay are big mean mollouscs and dont easily give in.

[mantra.]

Can anyone recommend a nice wine or other drink. I dont like very potent spirits that take out your eye balls.

A basic sangria is always refreshing in hot weather Auzgurl and so easy to make. It doesn't knock you around the way other punches seem to. You can use any old plain red wine and change bits and pieces to suit your taste and make it weaker or stronger. It's not even necessary to add brandy, although it gives it that extra "zing". Just double or triple the ingredients depending on how much you need.

1 Bottle of red wine
1 Lemon cut into wedges
1 Orange cut into wedges
2 Tbsp sugar
1 Shot brandy
2 Cups ginger ale or club soda

Preparation:

Pour wine in the pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges from the lemon and orange into the wine. Toss in the fruit wedges (leaving out seeds if possible) and add sugar and brandy. Chill overnight. Add ginger ale or club soda just before serving.

If you'd like to serve right away, use chilled red wine and serve over lots of ice.

Addition ideas: sliced strawberries, peaches, handful of fresh blueberries, raspberries, kiwi, a shot or two of gin, brandy or rum, a cup of ginger ale, citrus soda pop or lime juice.

[Auzgurl]

A friend of mine used to like sangria Mantra..and it was quite nice..thanks for that lovely recipe.Ill be sure to try it over Xmas..
I hope your having a good Christmas break.

[Auzgurl]

I wonder what FreeDiver is doing for Xmas. Fishing, kyakking, wrestling crocodiles in NT, risking numerous tropical showers whilst wearing his khaki drill hat.

Freediver?

[mantra.]

A friend of mine used to like sangria Mantra..and it was quite nice..thanks for that lovely recipe.Ill be sure to try it over Xmas..
I hope your having a good Christmas break.

Yes thanks Auzgurl. I'm looking forward to Christmas this year after so many hectic years racing backwards and forwards with whining kids to distant family. It's going to be quiet, but that's the way I like it - just a sibling, offspring and a nephew to celebrate this year. I was hoping my son & his g/f might have been able to come home - he is somewhere uncontactable in N.Z at present, but he could surprise me yet.

I try to keep things simple and will cook a leg of pork, rolled roast beef and a chicken to have cold with a variety of salads, maybe some seafood and for something sweet - probably a homemade fruit salad and icecream with a box of chocolate liquors to finish us off.

In the afternoon, when it cools off a little we'll probably head down to the beach (a few minutes away) with the dog and vegetate there for a while. Not very exciting, but very pleasant.

[Auzgurl]

I try to keep things simple and will cook a leg of pork, rolled roast beef and a chicken to have cold with a variety of salads, maybe some seafood and for something sweet - probably a homemade fruit salad and icecream with a box of chocolate liquors to finish us off.

In the afternoon, when it cools off a little we'll probably head down to the beach (a few minutes away) with the dog and vegetate there for a while. Not very exciting, but very pleasant

That all sounds so lovely ,relaxing and simple..I wonder if its too late to rethink that awful trip?..I my have escaped the cooking but I never got off completely.
My kids will string me up if I dont go..they want to catch up with school friends that have moved away.

Next year just stay at home.( minus that big cookup)