Christmas is coming COMFORT AND JOY

Festive food is a family affair so I hope the following dishes will be handed down through the generations for Emmie and Chloe's children to enjoy.

Cranberry and Orange Chutney

300 ml malt vinegar
900g fresh cranberries
225g sultanas
450g caster sugar
Orange rind and juice of two large oranges
cinnamon stick

Method

Place all ingredients in a large saucepan, bring to boil and simmer gently, uncovered for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chutney is a thick pulpy consistency.  Spoon into warm sterlised jars, seal and store in a cool dark place.  Can be used immediately.

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We normally start on the champagne at about 11 a.m., and then the cooking begins.  I always post on the kitchen wall a set of strict instructions giving a detailed breakdown of what to do when - particularly helpful when I have been on the fizz all morning.  Timers are a must and, for the next few hours, the house is full of the sound of alarms ringing and the ensuing confusion as tipsy adults can't remember what each alarm is for and I have lost track of where we are on the list.

Christmas lunch 2011

Spiced-up houmous
Roasted Scallops in Pancetta with Saffron Mayonnaise
Thai fishcakes with sweet chilli dipping sauce
Slow-cooked belly of pork

Roast turkey with lemon and garlic
Xmas gravy
Classic roasted postatoes
Traditional bread sauce
Lemon and herb stuffing
Sage, leek and onion balls
Cranberry and orange sauce
Carrots
Red cabbage with beetroot
Sprouts with mustard
Leek and peas in lemon butter

Double choc Baileys tiramisu
Cape brandy tart with brandy ice cream

Mince pies with brandy butter
Xmas cake

Timetable:-

Xmas Eve

Pick up turkey and dress ready for oven
Parboil potatoes for 10 mins and dress in olive oil ready for oven tomorrow
Prepare leeks and put in plastic bag
Quarter bottom of sprouts and put in plastic bag
Peel carrots and put in plastic bag
Do Houmous
Set table
Champagne and wine in fridge
Frozen stuff out of freezer

Xmas Day to eat at 2 p.m.

09.25   Turkey (6 kg) into oven, pre-heated to 200 fan
10.15   Lower heat to 150 fan
12.25   Heat Pork belly
12.35   Heat fish cakes
12.50   Heat Scallops plus BBQ sauce added to pork belly
13.00   Serve starters
13.15   Foil off turkey, heat turned up to 180 fan
13.45   Potatoes in
14.00   Put sage,leek and onion balls on non-stick foil, cover with foil and bake for 10 mins 180 fan
            Cover lemon and herb stuffing with foil and cook for 20 mins 180 fan
            Turkey cooked.  Uncover sage balls and cook for 20 mins
14.10   Uncover lemon stuffing and cook for 20 mins
            Do gravy
            Microwave carrots 5 mins
            Microwave red cabbage 5 mins
            Warm bread sauce and add 2 tbs cream and 2 oz butter
             Cook peas and add to leeks, heat.
            Sprouts in boiling water for 10 mins then add 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard
            Carve
14.30   Serve
            Cape Brandy Tart in oven - turned off
            Extra brandy in jug.

Must share this with you.  In February, 2003 the "perfect family" (Phil, Alun and Caroline and myself) went on holiday to Tobago and met Arthur Smith.  He nicknamed us the perfect family and wrote this wonderful poem for us after spending time with us.  Every word is true.  I did drop the turkey!!!!!!!!

Christmas be honest was a bit of a bore
The Turkey lay prone on the kitchen floor
Too many JDs, and Alun shouts
Too much water in the brussel sprouts.
Oh stuff all that they rise and go
Across the Atlantic to Tobago.
Caroline and Sheila anticipate heaven
Phil tells Alun about the 747
And soon they're here and sunny skies
Dissolve their cares and brighten their eyes.
Moistening sands and dreamy palms
Enfold the family in sensual arms.
Perfect harmony?  Of course there's not
Phil gets mad if the food's not hot.
Sheila worries the scales aren't right
She's put on a stone in the course of the night.
But little things lead to larger pleasures
They all got a lecture on weights and measures.
And while we're on the subject Caroline dear
When are you going to get a career?

There is no talking inside the sea
Yes they all are together but free
Drifting on currents at the dead of the day.
Alun can you please get out of my way?

The family are divers and fliers as well
They zoom up above and swim on the swell
There's nothing much disturbs the peace
And bold tranquillity of the family Rees
As they say goodbye one last thought in the air
What on earth does Bumbagman carry in there?

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Helping Jenny and Julia at the Christmas Craft Fair 3rd December, 2011

We raised over £400 for the Church.

Christmas Lunch on 12th December, 2011 with my swimming class of long ago.

Tricia and Geoff, Joan and Richard, John and Julia, Sylvia and Ron.

We still meet every Thursday for a swim and lunch.

Christmas Eve at the Captain's Club

Emmie's Christmas Tree

Tina's Christmas Tree

Beach House trees

Chloe's Xmas Tree

T'was the Night before Christmas

This is a poem by Clement Moore.

I used to read this poem to Alun and Caroline on Christmas Eve.  I do hope Alun and Gemma and Caroline and Mike will do the same with Emmie and Chloe.

(One year Alun would not go to sleep and  he called down that he couldn't go to sleep because "the goats" were prancing and pawing on his roof!)

T'was the Night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In the hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh,

and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.

(Looks more like Nanna than Father Christmas?????)

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes - how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight.
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

Speak to Uncle Douglas.  He once saw Father Christmas.

Merry Christmas

Emmeline and Chloe's Adventures with Grandad

Emmie gardening with Grandad June 201



Emmie's first visit  11th July, 2011

Whilst out walking with Grandad in Christchurch Emmie saw a hippo!

Emmie's second visit  4th December

new toys

and a new highchair.

Look Grandad shoes.

Chloe's first visit  6th December, 2011

Chloe is the first to have a bath in the non avocado bathroom.

I approve of your decorating Grandad although I didn't see the old bathroom!

Grandad is now decorating the nursery, so the soft toys have been in the washing machine.

Too much excitement for one day.

Emmie and Chloe

What darlings!  November, 2011  What a difference in size.   When will Chloe be the same size as Emmie?

I will post another photograph in three months time.

Unforgettable 35th Wedding Anniversary

                                                  

We decided as it was our coral anniversary NOT to go to a coral island for some snorkelling (coral is too precious to carve these days) but to take the family out for lunch to the Captain's Club in Christchurch.

It was an unforgettable anniversary because Emmie, now six months and Chloe only 14 days old came too.

Our beautiful grand-daughters who were so lovely and so well behaved.

Memories that will last a lifetime.

Thank you also for the gorgeous bouquet of flowers.  Absolutely stunning.

Having an unforgettable anniversary does not always include exchanging expensive gifts, going to exotic locations or spending lots of money.  Some things money cannot buy.  Thank you all for a truly wonderful day.

Phil remodelled a border of the garden  to remember our anniversary , with coral coloured climbing roses.  A present we hope to enjoy for many years to come.  A romantic idea that will spin into memories that will last a lifetime.  Give from the heart and it will always be a special and memorable day.

"A happy marriage is a long conversation which always seems too short"
Andre Maurois

I've become a proud grandparent again.

Caroline (my baby) and Mike are proud to announce the birth of

Chloe Louise

who was born at 15.20 hours on Tuesday, 1st November, 2011 weighing 6lb 11 oz and on the following day we went to visit!

Welcome Chloe

Ten Little Fingers
Ten Little Toes
We Love the Way our Family Grows.

Congratulations to Caroline and Mike who will make brilliant parents.
Parenthood is one of the best journeys in life.  Enjoy the ride.

Welcome Chloe into the world.
May you always be kept safe and snug and have a long happy life filled with laughter, fun and love.

A first cuddle seems like a treasure, something to remember for ever and ever.

More precious than all the spun gold in fairyland.

Chloe is a bright and beautiful and lively little baby with lots and lots of dark straight hair.

She is eating well and doing all her natural things well and she's so cute.

After Caroline washed her hair on Sunday evening she has blonde highlights.

A very, very lovely child.

Grandest time.

Love at first sight.  The first look jump-started my heart into a lifelong love affair.

Ten tiny fingers that always want to play,
That never stop exploring, the wonder of today.
Ten little fingers, that from the very start,
Will reach out for tomorrow, yet always hold my heart.

When Alun and Caroline were born I feared they would remain infants eternally and that I would never sleep through the night, would always feel slightly stupid, and would permanently smell of milk.  But now I know that life with children defies logic:  the days are long and tiring but the years fly by.  One moment your little boy and girl are teething and then suddenly, Alun is flying an aeroplane with passengers and Caroline is graduating.  That kind of perspective would have been so helpful to have as a parent.  Now as a granny I can see a straight line through the woods.  Therefore, when I am with Emmie and Chloe, I hang on to each gummy smile and enjoy every repetitive stroll to help them sleep because I know how precious and fleeting infancy, toddlerhood, childhood, and even the teen years are.  I finally feel wise.  My mother gave me this poem when I became a mother, it is so true.

I hope my children look back on today
And see a mother who had time to play.
There will be years for cleaning and cooking.
So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep,
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.