A Barmettler Christmas

What a wonderful, wonderful Christmas experience. Santa filled the stocking with lollies, chocolate, an orange, an apple, a bottle of ginger beer (yes authentic Bundaberg ginger beer) and for me a pair of sock slippers and for Peter, a packet of Peet's coffee beans. One initial difference between ours and the Barmettler Christmas is that Santa wraps his presents and then places them under the Christmas tree to open with all of the family presents. However, and so perhaps we weren't confused, Santa's presents for Miranda and Hayley fit into their stockings.

We were 'meant' to leave the Santa presents unopened because we didn't realise, at that time that Santa's presents were with the other presents. Not to worry, because there was no waiting, no brekky, no morning tea, it was time to open the presents in our pyjamas, cups of coffee in hand as we sat and celebrated each present opening. Each person was given a present, then from youngest to oldest each present was opened and we all enjoyed watching the person open and be surprised by their present -> it was a lovely manner in which to celebrate the giving and receiving of gifts.

After being spoilt by the Barmettler's with some beautiful presents, we enjoyed a lovely breakfast and essentially, spent the remainder of the day looking at and playing with presents, and preparing (well Barb did all of the preparing) for the meal tonight at Barb's parent's place. We had been told that there was going to be at least 30 people attending, family and extended family, so we had made the assumption that the house was quite big; and not to be disappointed,

it certainly was.

It was a 45min drive north on the freeway to a 'suburb' called Scottsdale (where many BMW's, VW's, Corvettes and Mercedes roam the streets). Now Barb had said that her parents lived on a 2acre property that backed onto the desert; which in my head suggested a grassed, fenced, bitumen road estate that just happened to be next to the desert planes when you looked over the back fence. However, no. We left the highway, took a few turns and very quickly left the bitumen, left the grass and entered firm sand roads, with cactus bushes, desert shrubs, and more sand, but houses lined the roads behind this native landscape. We eventually arrived at what looked

like a house straight out of the movies; archways with big wooden doors surrounded by trees and more wonderful native shrubbery.

We helped unload and we entered into a spacious, open, house that smelt like a restaurant; a baked ham, roasted turkey and a table full of dessert - pumpkin pie, pecan pie, apple pie, homemade chocolate pieces, chocolate balls, biscuits, slice ..... just like home with Nanna Lyn's and Nanny's cooking. Barb's family all have dogs, most being Australian Shepherds, with the odd 'ring-in' Labrador or smaller breed - but the dogs are all house dogs, they live inside, so the place was full of 30 people plus 3 dogs (who are very well-trained).

Everyone who attends is assigned a plate of food to bring to contribute to the wonderful spread of foods that we were blessed to share in. To begin, we stood in a circle, said prayers and we were welcomed to the family. Then we enjoyed another new tradition where we fill our plates from the oldest to the youngest; a great tradition, that Peter and I would like to adopt in the future at Christmas. There were generous amounts of wine and conversation to be had and for the family and friends a heap of presents to enjoy. As for the meal; I have never been that full for such a long, long time. We were so full, that we had to go for a walk in the desert night, which was just lovely.

After a special evening, we helped clean up, reorganise furniture and pack the Barmettler's presents in the car and arrived home. What a beautiful family Christmas; like we celebrate at home. It was just wonderful though to be in this family for this years Christmas.