Wow! On Saturday night we went to Ke's place for dinner - always fun. She makes these Potato and Brie Tarts that are really amazing - and she always makes a few extra so I can take some home with me (bless!!). We did our secret santa present-swapping that night, and everyone seemed to be happy. It was a lovely chilled time with good friends.
Then on Sunday I got together with Ruth at Darling Harbour for wine and chats. We're both quite reserved people and we have some topics of conversation that seem to be saved for just the two of us. It was really nice to have some time with her before xmas.
Late afternoon on xmas eve we went out to David's parents place, and then went to the neighbourhood carol singing. Such fun! David's father and I were supposed to do an 'item', but he chickened out (it was touch and go to see who'd chicken out first, but he did, so he's the chicken).
On xmas day we opened our presents, and oh, Hana Koko was good to me this year! Lots of books and wine (two of my favourite things!) and earrings and a subscription to Vanity Fair. I felt very spoilt. David also gave me a lottery ticket to fund the best seats to Carmen, which are running over $200 each, and the card he wrote to accompany the ticket was very cute and funny.
The best thing about the presents was watching him unwrap my presents! I'm so bad at keeping secrets and I always want to tell him what I bought as soon as I've bought it. But the best thing I gave him this year was the thing I made (it looks better if you click on it to make it bigger):
We've been following the fortunes of Sydney Uni for four years now, and three of those years they've made it to and won the Grand Final. I thought that feat deserved embroidery! This was a total labour of love, and it was all worth it to see his reaction.
Then we came home and had dinner together, and watched the xmas special of Outrageous Fortune. It was a lovely way to end the day: just the two of us together in our home, with our cat, with nice food and nice wine. This doesn't happen when we have xmas in NZ. Although I love xmas in NZ with my family, and really, to me, xmas in Sydney is always second-best. I talked to some of my family and everyone seemed to be having a great time. It was particularly nice to talk to Sister #1 and Only, and hear her thoughts on xmas future.
I bought the family hampers from Beautiful Baskets, which I really like because I can get different hampers of around the same value, as obviously I don't want to send everyone the same thing. I haven't heard back from the whole family, but the feedback I've had so far indicates that the hampers lived up to their promise.
This is my special reindeer - the cat chewed off one of his antlers last year, and I've tried to re-fashion the antler with tin foil. He reminds me of Baldwin IV of Jerusalem:
Yesterday (Boxing Day) we went to De's place for the now-traditional Boxing Day barbeque and the re-gifting secret santa. Such a great idea - you take the gifts you don't want, wrap them, throw them in a box and randomly re-distribute them. Today I was so over-extended (as I need a lot of time to myself) that I spent the day on the sofa, reading. We went to see The Golden Compass tonight, which I really loved up until the fake ending.
And the socialising doesn't stop there! But I do. Sometimes even thinking about what we've committed to for the rest of the week makes me tired.
Tired but happy. Tired but grateful. I have friends and family who go out of their way to make me happy over the xmas season - I hope y'all do too.
And whatever holiday you celebrate, I hope you had a great time, and are looking forward to the new year.
what a sociable december you had!
hope you are enjoying the relaxing :)
Posted by: sarah bean | January 10, 2008 at 10:41 AM