I will be having a quiet Christmas at home with the family and  if the weather is kind a few days camping between then and new Year.
Will most likely demolish a 6 pack or 2 over the break.
Kev

I never like to venture far from home at xmas time, I'm afraid that I have a bit of trouble coping with the crowds at this time of year. Having said that, the Mackeral run is usually in full swing at that time.
If anyone wants a laugh just take a click click chair down to the local Boat Ramp and spend a few hours, you won't believe your eyes!
It isn't far off now is it?

Regards Skip [smiley=santa.gif]

Christmas at home this year about twenty two for lunch and dinner( a time to reflect on the ones that wont be joining us at the table this year)  cold cuts and salads,whole Atlantic salmon,Terrines by two, Roast pork (mid loin seasoned), glazed leg of Ham (fig and macadamia nut topping) Turkey breast, Chicken picnic loaf seasoned. My sister in law is in charge of the sweets department a tin of this and tin of that ;D ;D
Skip, the boat ramp is a good place for a laugh.. although the urge to choke the #### out of some of the wankers is not good for the blood pressure. Well thats my lot.....lets here yours.
Muzz

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We used to have around 30 but these days we are often down to the 13 immediate family.  

Sparky and I are prepared to be flexible and understand that these days its not always possible to have the extended family as we always had.  My father often brought a friend or two who had no family as well.  Mum and I did most of the work and MIL did an extra pudding.  

Hard to pin them all down as the daughters other sides arent early decision makers.  The arrangements at the moment are that we will have a full gathering on Christmas Eve - food to be decided as we wait for Santa to come round in his fire truck - the little ones love that.  XSIL will pick up two of the grandkids at 6 as per the Family Court and that puts a damper on things.  

Somewhere over the two days we will have roast pork, ham, turkey, seafood, trifle, traditional pudding, rum balls, rum prunes, chocolates and Sparky will make peasoup when the ham runs out.  If its really hot he will freeze the bone for another time.

Sparky goes to church Christmas morning.  I think Tess will stop over with us as its very sad for her to wake up without the kids.  Eldest daughter is going up the central coast for SILs family do and then flying to Thailand on Boxing Day so we wont see them after Christmas Eve.  We will have lunch with baby daughter and family but whether here or at her place is unknown.  We were to have tea here when the kids come back at 3 but its all undecided at this point of time.

Oh for the good old days.

Boxing Day traditionally we walk or pushbike out through the park to the coast once the Sailing Ships leave Sydney Harbour and depending on winds can see them sailing down towards Tassie.  This helps work off some of the food eaten the previous day.

New Year we stop home with or without friends and family.  With good weather we can sit on the balcony and drink and watch the fireworks go off in Sydney and all around the bay.  

Hopefully this year there will be more fish around and prawns to catch.

A fitting end to another year in what almost is paradise.  

Got some freeloaders, I mean family coming for Xmas.
Few feeds in the CO and I'm in the process of belting together a Korean BBQ grill table, thanks to the inspiration from Skips posts.
Mine is going to be a fair size outdoor jobby. Already have the S/S grill (approx 1.2m x .5m), have made the heat bead tray complete with mounting brackets, just have to knock up the frame and table to suit, but as always being half scottish I'm wating on some cheap (free) timber from a mate. Will post piccies on completion.
Think I will need to make a bead chimney out of a 4 gallon drum to fire her up.

Robbo

For all you folks that want a really good bead chimney look up where your local FIRE EXTINGUISHER company is and go around and ask them if they have any old steel extinguishers that are U/S and get a couple of those. They come in many shapes and sizes and some are almost exactly the same diameter as the store bought unit.. Their wall thickness is what makes them so good - they last 4 evva...

Grrr!!! [smiley=cool.gif] [smiley=cool.gif]

We will be heading down to the coast (Yeppoon) for a week or so (got a holiday house booked for the week).

I think I might have four days off  [smiley=thumbsup.gif] . Got the family coming from as far as Perth, Will be good to catch up. Fire up the camp ovens and run a few crab pots, sit on the beach drinkin Ice cold VB in the hot sun, I'm gunna hate it by the sound of it  ;D ;D ;D. Seriously - Looking forward to it.

Take care

Jono

PS - Robbo, Looking forward to the photos of your BBQ Grill Table. I reckon its a great idea and might just copy yours if it is up to scratch  ;) which I'm sure it will be.

Yea and packing the gear for HEDLOW CREEK COG   ;D

Because the South Coast fills up with tourists during the Christmas holidays, I like to do my shopping early and then not go anywhere near them. We stay home for the big day, then the Huggs and Kisses & the Tin Lids like to get away from the horde that descend upon the area and go bush… Camping somewhere away from it all.

Stew

Your family gatherings have me wishing for some of the same.  I'm booked on a cruise with a good friend but would rather be here ... with my dog, my son & my freedom in the bush; beach fishing, meeting people and sharing real time ... I can't be with my family but I can make 'family' wherever I go.  I've never been on a cruise before & I'm not too sure how it'll go, but I know that 'dressing for dinner' and limited options in an homogenised atmosphere ... will be challenging.

Chirping on ....

BitB  :-/

BitB,
Hope you enjoy your cruise,  sometimes I wonder if family are all they are made out to be. We have had a few problems of late with the in and out laws, but friends always seem to be there.

I have always found it easy to make a family or good friends wherever I go. Had a new bloke started at work a few  of weeks ago and he was very distant. He works in a different section and I had little to do with him, last weekend we worked together and found we had a common interest "fishing for barra" and are now good mates.

Would you believe that within a week he wants to wife swop.
Yes he wants to swop his wife for my boat?
I agreed on the condition that mine was in the boat at the time and he would keep the trade in.  :o
Kev

Christmas eve, Christmas day and Boxing day I am rostered to work 1400 - 2200 hrs.
Sleep in Christmas day and then an early lunch with Hetty and or 3 grown up children.
Into the suit of justice and off to work without a drink on board.

Holidays start on the Saturday 27/12
I'll make up for it then..

Aart

sooty wrote on Nov 13^th, 2008 at 9:43pm:

Yes he wants to swop his wife for my boat? Kev

Ahhh, to be single & boatless again, they were the days!! ;D ;D ;D

Mick.