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

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.  

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!!!

Yea and packing the gear for HEDLOW CREEK COG   

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