Not forgetting Christmas

Christmas paraphernalia is scant at my place.  To be honest, I don't think anyone's noticed.

But I love it.  Everything is meaningful to me.

But I tore myself away to drive to Tribes on a warm but windy and showery Christmas Eve.  The warm roads evaporated the water to a low mist, and the drive was magical and mystical, fairytale-like.

My intention was to camp in Georgia's paddock, something I've been keen to do for some time.  However, Ella's room became available and I could avoid wrangling tent poles and canvas in the blustery wind.  The Andre Jamet tent was state of the art in the 1970s...  Apparently they are collectors' items now.  In another nod to the past, I had managed to find Tarrango wine.  Back in the days of living at 01 Queen Street in Bellerive, Tarrango was the wine we had for the Ceremonial Cutting of the Ham on Christmas Eve after Mrs History and I returned from carol singing with the Cottage School children.  That house is now part of the Cottage School, which is what we had always hoped.  [Christmas and nostalgia!] Anyway, cutting of the ham at Georgia's was a grand event.  Oscar had baked the ham and its deliciousness wafted from room to room.

Christmas Lunch was also a grand event with Georgia's Mum and her brother plus two of her sons and their girlfriends.  The most social Christmas I've had in a very long time.  Somehow I have failed to mention the 5 dogs🐕🐩🐶🐺🐾🐾none of whom looked anything like this, well maybe the paws.

Mid morning of Boxing Day was to be spent with Their Royal Highnesses just out of Tribes.  I had a lovely time whiling away the early morning reading John Donne in the sunroom aka atrium.  I have always enjoyed his poetry and it transpired that the book I had found among Georgia's books was my copy from school.  I think he may have been an ancestor of Mick Jagger...

Their Highnesses live in a home among the gum trees.  I love the drive out to it.  The cottage nestles in a field of potatoes.  Once it would have been exactly where I'd want to live.

This little chap kept Jill company, while Her Majesty and I drank tea and caught up.  And then the lovely drive back to Bellerive where all my presents awaited.