Tag Archives: Christmas

An IOU Christmas


Well, that’s Christmas done. An awesome day with family and such benign weather after last year’s heat and fires had such a disruptive impact.

Our family Christmas table a year late!

When I said that Christmas is done, I meant the day is over not so the present giving in our case. My favourite person’s main present is in transit. It seems to order it six weeks before Christmas just wasn’t earlier enough. It should arrive next week.

As for me, my children have told me they hope my presents will arrive soon! Again ordered weeks ago, the pandemic has struck.

My youngest daughter thinking on her feet hastily altered cards for a couple of small gifts so I received something from my other daughter and a bottle of Rhubarb Gin from my son and his wife meant I didn’t feel I’d missed out at all. As for my favourite person, she didn’t miss out receiving a new bag hastily arranged with the help of one of her favourite stores.

The lack of gifts made absolutely no difference to a wonderful day Christmas.

We were so lucky that we were able to celebrate with all of our family when so many people in Australia and elsewhere were denied the opportunity.

“So this is Christmas” – Christmas 2015 – Siracusa, Sicily

We weren’t sure what Christmas in Siracusa would be like.

What had been apparent in the run upto Christmas was a lack of Christmas cheer on the streets. There were no people singing carols in the streets, no Salvation Army bands, no Christmas music blaring into the streets from the shops. Only Zara seemed to be in the spirit with Spice Girls Christmas songs playing in their store.

There were Christmas decorations in the streets and houses but not the elaborate light displays we’d become used to at home. What we did see were poinsettias everywhere.

Presents under our tree

Presents under our tree

I found the lack of Christmas spirit a little surprising. Perhaps it was because unlike Australia, Christmas in Europe falls in the winter and is not the centre piece of the Summer holiday period.

That said, we approached Christmas Eve as we always have with a visit to the market. This time it wasn’t the fabulous Adelaide Central Market but the market in Ortigia, Siracusa.

Market Ortigia viewed from the Temple of Apollo

Market Ortigia viewed from the Temple of Apollo

The market is one of Siracusa’s highlights. Whether it’s freshly caught fish, fresh and usual local fruit and vegetables, bread, cheeses, meats or olives, it’s all there in a delightful little street by the sea. It was very busy with people stocking up for Christmas. We did pass on the sea urchins!

image

The market has all you need if you intend to eat in, rather than visit one of the numerous trattorias, enoteccas or restaurants. We spent Christmas Eve at home which we understand is very typical of the locals.

image

Just as our Christmas Days at home have been, our day started slowly with Panettone. It Is normally our chance to catch up with our children before they head off to their other events. Although there were only three of us this year, we didn’t miss the opportunity in Italy – coffee, panettone, nutella and mascarpone.

image

A walk around Ortigia before lunch provided an opportunity to take in what finally seemed to be the Christmas spirit. The shops were closed but there were many bars open where families congregated for coffee. There were also the usual market stalls around the Temple of Apollo selling clothes, ceramics, mobile phone covers (I’m not sure what the fascination with mobile phone covers in Italy is?)etc. We walked upto the Duomo where a Christmas service was underway. We stayed for a short time.

Our lunch was at The Grand Hotel Ortigia. We picked this location as we had stayed there in 2008. It was an excellent choice. Local food and wines with excellent service. The restaurant had a mix of tourists such as the theee of us and locals. Situated on the roof of the hotel we had panoramic views of the harbiur making for a very pleasant way to spend Christmas lunch.

Quite possibly the largest panettone in the world!

Quite possibly the largest panettone in the world!

image

As it seems with Christmas Dinner across the world we rolled out of The Grand Ortigia late in the afternoon, wondering if we would ever need to eat again!

image

Post title took inspiration from the opening line from John Lennon’s Happy Christmas (War is Over)Earworm

My New Veggie Patch

A few weeks ago we were walking to our favourite coffee shop and noticed in a courtyard of one of the apartment blocks crates with wheels and veggies growing in them. They looked really cool and we thought we might do the same in the courtyard of our apartment block.

After a bit of research we found The Little Veggie Co Website. They had a useful blog and lots of books, but couldn’t get the crates delivered to us before Christmas. We were however able to source crates from elsewhere as well as the requisite supplies. All were delivered before Christmas and made a great present from the family.

image

With the Boxing Day Test Match, Australia v India, in full swing and the radio on (what can be better than listening to the cricket on the radio?), I set about filling my crates with sugar cane straw,compost/soil, pea straw, slow release fertilizer and worm castings. This apparently makes a bed which does not require any form of digging.

image

Having filled the boxes it’s time to let it all settle for a few days and decide what to plant. Maybe some Basil, Spring Onions, Radishes and Lettuce to get it started.

image

image

Christmas Music

Earlier in the week my wife said it didn’t feel like Christmas. As we discussed this further it became obvious why – a lack of Bing! That’s right, not Bling but Bing!

20131224-095614.jpg

For her Christmas is synonymous with White Christmas. For me it’s pretty similar and for about a week in each year, I look forward to Christmas favourites. I actively seek them out from my own CD rack, Pandora, Spotify and on the TV. Foxtel obliged this year with their 20 favourite songs most of which were also in my favourites as well.

So along with everyone else I thought I’d have a go at my favourite Christmas Songs.

Band Aid – Do they know its Christmas and John Lennon’s Happy Christmas (War is Over) are my quintessential Modern Christmas Classics.

White Christmas – Bing’s is simply the best!

More Bing with Do you Hear what I Hear.

I have always loved Andy William’s Little Drummer Boy although Bing and David Bowie’s version is pretty good.

Kylie’s version of Santa Baby is a hoot! I had always assumed it was originally sung by Marilyn Monroe, but infact the originalwas sung by Ertha Kitt.

Springsteen’s Santa Claus is Coming to Town. I remember the first time I heard it was on a very scratchily recorded bootleg in the 70s. Maybe one year I will see Springsteen at Christmas and see it sung live! Until then I will have to be satisfied by the numerous versions on YouTube.

Mary’s Boy Child by Bony M is on my list; it’s certainly a blast from the past.

I’m not a big Mariah Carey fan, but make an exception of her at Christmas with All I want for Christmas is You

The Pogues A Fairytale in New Yorkis one that I have played pretty constantly in the run upto this Christmas. Whilst not in any way uplifting it is the most played Christmas a Song in Britain this century.

Littls Saint Nick by The Beach Boys reminds me of Summer Nights at one of my close friends place.

It used to be a family tradition that I would get a Chieftains CD at Christmas, which one year was The Bells of Dublin. A collection of Celtic songs with a Christmas theme and regularly gets a spin on Christmas morning.

I also love Tori Amos’s Midwinter Graces with Star of Wonder my favourite.

From an Australian perspective it’s hard to go past Paul Kelly’s How to Make Gravy .

Pretty much everyone has had a go at a Christmas Song. In my search I found songs by Jimmy Durante, Gene Autry, Nat King Cole, The Beatles, Wings, O’55, Miley Cyrus, Rod Stewart, Destiny’s Child, Tegan and Sara, Elmo, The Muppets and the list goes on.

I also love the traditional carols Hark the Herald Angels Sing and Come all ye Faithful but have to join the majority in saying that Silent Night is my favourite carol.

What’s your favourite?

Here are some other posts to get the brain flowing

Huffington Posts – Top 20

Forbes Magazines – Christmas Songs you’d play in February

About.com – Top 100 Christmas Songs