We attended Christmas eve service at 7.00pm and returned home to watch some of the Carols by Candlelight from the Music bowl in Melbourne. It is many years since we took you and your brothers on one occasion; I think during the Tasmania years.

On Christmas morning I again attended a service at 9.00am. The day was quiet and tended to drag somewhat until D45 and family arrived at about 5.00pm and S38 and C arrived from work at 6.00pm. The noise and activity and excitement quickly escalated.

Ten of us sat down to your mother’s (assisted by F and C) excellent Christmas Dinner at about 7.00pm.

At F’s suiggestion, we left everything after the first course and went for a walk. A good decision. It enabled everyone to let off a little steam before returning for the traditional fruit salad and ice cream with meringue drops on top. By this stage the patience of G11 and M9 was wearing thin and we gathered for gift opening. By the way G11 has been elected captain of her primary school for 2008.

It was quite a fun night with S38 amusing his neice and nephews with some of his voices and stories. At one point he started on “The Court of King Caractacus” which prompted him to take out “The Best of Rolf Harris”. The turntable has been repaired during the year and the young ones were fascinated by those old fashioned CD’s which we were able to play. We listened to “I’ve lost my mummy” with its huge air intakes and Caractacus played firstly at its normal 33rpm and then at 45rpm. By that stage everyone was exhausted and ready for bed.

Ten people found a place to sleep. I leave you to ponder where everyone fitted.