OH yes, Christmas is coming. However hard we try to ignore it, the marketing world won’t let us. Next week, I’ll tell you about my family’s Australian Cake, the one my mother and her family received whilst on rations after World War II.
For now, we’re making plans. As usual, we dream of just dashing off somewhere hot. Lawza gets the bug when the clocks go back and he realises this is it, another flamin’ winter. And I get it from my father. When he visited me in San Francisco, we took a flight to Mexico on Christmas day and, on our stopover, smugly ate turkey sandwiches on an LA beach.
Click here for the 5 biggest differences between an Australian and British Christmas.
Lawza and I have tried it all. My first Christmas in Sydney, I wanted to impress the in-laws. Turned out Lawza had someone else he wanted to impress. He decided to propose, whilst his brother sang Lionel Richie on Karaoke (they claim this was not planned).
Whilst this proposal business was going on – Lawza offered me his mother’s engagement ring, given to her by his now-deceased father (I still don’t dare wear it in case I lose it) – all my efforts slowly curdled in the heat. French salad with yoghurt dressing, delicious imported cheeses, turkey, ugh, they all went off. And so I learnt, when in Sydney, go for the barbie.
Back in London, most of our Christmases have been spent with my extended family – proper big meals, white table cloths, amazing wine, a million courses and a gazillion emails coordinating the whole operation. So last year we thought let’s do it differently, let’s go for the laid-back approach – Lawza style. He sighed with relief when I booked a pub lunch for my mother and the three of us. Not a second of preparation required. But on the day, we just felt lonely. Openly we gushed at the wonderful food and ease of it all. Secretly, we all just wanted to be by my sister’s agar with lots the kids screaming and ripping up wrapping paper. And so I learnt, when in London, take the home-roasted turkey.
I hope all the Aussies staying here this Christmas have a good crowd to tuck in together. If not, see you in the Canaries on that all-inclusive!
