This is now our fourth Christmas down under and we have
started to develop our own traditions, as well as continuing with some old
ones.
The advent candles arrived from Anglesey in time for the 1st
December and the calendar with a full set of Christmas pegs this year is put
up. This is the advent calendar we purchased during our first Christmas down
under and decided that as it may be too hot to have chocolate in the calendar
pockets, we’d have Christmas pegs instead. Our calendars were also joined by a
table mat this year, made by my mum to bring some of the Morgan Family Christmas
tradition to Adelaide. When my mum was pregnant with my brother she made Christmas
mats for the table and she continues the tradition for us. Big thanks mum, we
love it.
It begins with finding a Christmas tree, at a local Christmas
tree farm called Santa’s trees. Where you pull up to a shed, they provide you
with a saw and say. Go and cut your tree down. I think this may be Mark’s favourite
part of Christmas. It allows him to go four wheel driving and demonstrate his
man power. This is followed by the purchase of delicious cherries.
Once home the rest of the afternoon is spent putting the
tree up and decorating, whilst of course listening to Christmas music and
eating cherries.
Bump at 34 weeks.
The weekend before Christmas I finally got around to
decorating the Christmas cake that Mark made back in October. I have to say I
don’t think my cake decorating will win prizes, but it’s only the 3rd
Christmas cake I have decorated. As this was my sister Anna’s job in the Morgan
household, but I have a feeling my skills may improve over the years. I think I
may have to ask our friend Caroline for some advice, as I watch her cake
decoration skills develop on Facebook with jealousy.
As both of us were working this Christmas Eve, Christmas did
not begin for us until 2pm on 24th December. Though it was very much
welcomed when it arrived, by us both I think. Mark was looking forward to week
off and time to sleep, as he has been working crazy hours trying to get grant proposals
written and experiments done. Me on the over hand, the 24th December
marked the end of work for me for a year. So I think I was full of mixed
emotions, excitement for the arrival of our baby and sadness that I will be leaving
work behind for 12 months. The last 15 months at Guide Dogs SA has been
fantastic. I have learnt so much and met some amazing people. I look forward to
continue my career with them in 2015, all the best team for 2014.
After a festive bus journey home (grandparents with their
grandchildren singing on the bus), I arrived home to be greeted by Mark and
flowers from Mum and Dad.
The rest of the afternoon was spent beating Mark at
scrabble (Scrabble tournament are turning out to by our holiday tradition) and
watching a Christmas movie. Later in the evening I took Mark to the Christmas carol
service held at St Peters Cathedral to try and get him in the mood. It was a
lovely service filled with tradition and new. There were some Australian carols
that we had never heard before, called ‘The Three Drovers’. Words by John
Wheeler and Music by William G James (1895-1977).
As Christmas carol services on Christmas Eve is a Morgan
tradition we rounded the evening off with a traditional Farrell Christmas pint,
before heading home to prepare the Beef wellington for Christmas dinner.
Christmas day began with a skype session with the Farrell
household, presents under the tree and a breakfast of croissants. Once the
weather had cooled off a little we headed to Myponga Beach for our afternoon
and tradition of Christmas cake on the beach. I do like a good swim on Christmas
day.
Once home our Beef Wellington dinner was served (amazing),
before a skype session with both the Morgan households, telephone calls to the
Farrell relatives and Face Time with Danny and Alan. It was great to catch up
with everyone and hearing all the news. Bring on 2014, I now can’t wait to see
you all in person.
Our Christmas ended like last years, with a game of
scrabble, which saw the tournament score go to 1/1.
Merry Christmas everyone xxxxx
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