Another Christmas Day has arrived and is almost over, and as I reflect on my childhood, I’m surprised that I don’t have many memories of this special day. I’m not sure why.

However, one memory that stands out is being at my Grandparent’s house when I was about five years old. I always hoped I would be the lucky person to get the threepence in the pudding, even though I was not too fond of it.

Unfortunately, my cousins always seemed to get the threepence instead of me. Despite this, I loved being in my Nana’s dining room, with its vast table set with blue and white china and lace-edged napkins that reminded me of a Norman Rockwell painting. We would play parlor games, sing, and laugh, making it a memorable and enjoyable day in a somewhat conservative Anabaptist environment.

We decided to switch things up this year and spend Christmas in a new location.
We transported all the necessary items to the shack just over an hour away from home. With a brand new smoker, Josh has been experimenting with new recipes for weeks, and the result was a perfectly cooked feast of pork, lamb, and all the trimmings. And to top it off, we enjoyed a delicious Christmas pudding with brandy custard and cream.
I made a fresh prawn salad last night, and this evening, Tia made fishcakes and rice, but of course, there was so much left over from lunch that some folks opted for that.

It has been so relaxing, each of us taking turns to do something.
Most Christmases, we are exhausted at the day’s end, but we even manage some movies, games, and a snooze. Of course, it doesn’t end here. For the next two weeks, visitors will be coming to share time with us and relax in the ambiance of being at the shack.

I’ve taken many photos to document the day, but I forgot to bring the fancy card reader for this computer.

Keith will bring it up in a few days.