Hello all,

What are your traditions for Christmas? Do you have anything that is always done? I'm just interested in the different traditions in the world for this festive season, ie food, when do you unwrap the gifts, what is so special?
I live in Australia, & this year we are going to be near the beach. What are the other Aussies doing?
We are expecting to be up early as my nephew (8, my brothers son plus my brother & his wife, who know nothing of our problems) will be holidaying with us. We will probably then be opening up the presents, before having a champagne breakfast (with bacon & eggs of course).
If the weather is good, we may go to the beach for the rest of the morning, before heading back to have a very late/early lunch of prawns, ham, & salad. As there will only be 7 of us together this year, we will not be over eating (not sure about the drinking(only kidding)) <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
My dear Mother passed away 6 months ago & my FIL is in the last stages of bone cancer (from prostate) & he is in hostel care, MIL went 2.5 yrs ago, so my brother & I wanted to be together. My Dad went 10yrs ago.
It will be great to be with my nephew as my children are almost 26 & 24. Don't children make Christmas morning?
I'm almost as excited as he is, counting down the sleeps.
I want to take this oportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas & a safe & Happier New Year. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
I know that this is going to be a hard time for alot of us, so I am going to send you lots of {{{{{{{{{{{{{MB people}}}}}}}}}}}}} from Down Under.

Try to look for the positives (I'm not always that good at this)

Please Take Care

Eyes Opened

It's hard. This is the first Christmas for me and my girls since STBX left us for the OW. We will have to make new traditions.

We are spending Christmas and New Year with my MIL & FIL. BIL, his wife and kid will be there too. Even my parents will be there for one night! STBX is out in the cold with OW - well, not quite - they are visiting her affair-enabling so-called devout Catholic parents in Spain for the holidays.

I've always loved Christmas - When it was just the four of us it was the most special of all. H would cook, and take all day about it - something different every year (we're vegetarians so no turkey!). I would spend my time playing with the kid's new toys, watching The Wizard of Oz, drinking eggnog or Bloody Marys. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Now it's all changed. I say I'll have to make new traditions, but this year is a stop gap, as thanks to MIL's generosity I don't have to face Christmas 'alone' this year. Next year, I will almost certainly be divorced, and it will be STBX's turn to 'have' the kids for Christmas.

I have no idea what I'll do then. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Alph.

Alphin,
My heart goes out to you. For now though you have your girls & it seems like the entire family to spend the day with. They will not let you have any alone Christmas'.

We have to concentrate on the now. Next Christmas is over 370 odd days away & who knows where any of us will be by then.

Enjoy your day with all the family. He is the one missing out. Has he explained to your girls why he won't be there?

I don't think I've ever has eggnog. How do you make it?

Eyes Opened

Traditional Egg Nog - WARNING! This is a real artery-clogger! And, obviously, contains raw eggs. But what-the-hey.

12 eggs, separated
1 c. sugar
1 1/2 c bourbon
1/2 c. brandy
6 c. milk
ground nutmeg
1 c. heavy cream

Beat egg yolks with sugar on low speed in a large bowl until mixed. At high speed, beat until thick and lemon-coloured (about fifteen minutes).

Add alcohol, one tablespoon at a time, to mixture. Cover and chill.

In the meantime, chill a 5-6 quart punch bowl. About twenty minutes before you will be serving your egg nog, stir the yolk mixture, milk, and 1 1/4 tsp. nutmeg in the bowl.

In another large bowl beat egg whites at high speed until soft peaks form.

In a smaller bowl (you can use the same beaters), beat cream at medium speed until stiff peaks form.

Using a whisk, gently fold egg whites, cream, and yolk mixture just until blended. Serve cold with spice of choice sprinkled on the top - cinnamon, nutmeg, even grated chocolate! (no ice - it might curdle).

Makes 32 one-half cup servings. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

It's lovely!!!


Very true. My STBX has been rather predictable so far, I'm afraid, in that he's marching very predictably towards our divorce. But I will have fun without him. I just hope the girls will be OK. DD5 is too young to understand what has really happened, but DD12 is crushed.

Both of them know that Daddy won't be there. STBX told them he had a girlfriend the day he left. Such sensitivity. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Enjoy your day too. I've always wondered what Christmas was like in hot weather - it must be a very different experience from mine!

Alph.

Thanks Alphin,

I will have a go at making that this Christmas.

I have never experienced a cold (white) Christmas, & I think it would be wonderful.

It can get just so hot & sticky here, that it becomes unpleasant, sometimes we get a southerly change in the late afternoon, which is nice & it either cools things down or makes it steamy. Upon saying that, the weather predictions for this year are 28, not to bad at all.

I think it's too hot to have a hot meal, but alot of people do the while thing. I usually make a boiled pudding, but as I end up eating most of it (just love it with Brandy butter sauce),I haven't done it this year.

It will be nice to be at the beach this year with our family. First time that we have done it as my MIL was very traditional & after she died, my Mum was very sick & couldn't travel. We are looking forward to it. Have to remember to put the sunscreen on & not get burnt. We have the ozone hole above us, so have to be careful. Two of my cousins (sisters) have lost their H's to skin cancer.

Wherever we all are, we should have a toast to the MBer's at lunch time on the 25th, a universal thing, just silently to yourselves.

Take care

Eyes Opened