Merry Christmas!

Aaaaaah - it is now 10.40 in the evening on our First Christmas Day down under, and Ally and I are flopped enjoying a nightcap, surrounded by piles of toys, black bin bags full of discarded paper, and all manner of sweet treats. The Christmas tree, bless it, is on its last legs - we forgot to water it and it has dried to a crisp - in fact it even toppled over this afternoon once the mountains of presents had been removed from underneath it...

We have had a really lovely day - actually it was pretty much a traditional British Christmas, just with warmer weather outside. Up incredibly early with excited children, who opened their sacks in record time and ate almost all edible contents before lunch. William was particularly thrilled that Father Christmas had brought him the all-important 'chocolate Santa' that was at the top of his wish list this year, and even new addition Charlie got a stocking of his own from Katy.

Then all out for a swim in the pool to try out their new boogie boards and inflatables (and increase their appetites for lunch) while I battled with the turkey in the kitchen.

The meal wasn't what I would call a resounding culinary success (I am allowed to say that, being the cook) - the sprouts here are about four times the usual size so ended up pretty much inedible (i.e. not cooked) in my exaggerated efforts to avoid them being soggy. Overall conclusion was that perhaps the much talked-about Australian Christmas lunch of seafood and a fruit platter may be the preferred option next year...

Overall a great day though, kids loved all their presents, and we enjoyed speaking to faraway family members too. Merry Christmas Everyone!