Alyson, Paul and Kirsty feature in this picture, as does the table tennis table that will soon be buckling under the weight of "Christmas Dinner 2007"! Our friends, Ian, Karen, daughter Beth and son Tim are joining us this year, so that makes 10 all together - and the reason dinner is being served on the table tennis table...
Our guests arrive and settle into the comfy sun chairs under the pergola. Yep - Xmas Day DownUnder is fine, sunny and a lazy 23C...
Alex tries out his new tennis racquet with his mate, Tim.
The recent three days of heavy rainfall has certainly helped the garden. The new standard roses we planted in front of the garden wall already look at home.
Christmas dinner will feature turkey, ham and pork, with the latter being cooked on the BBQ. As it turned out, Ian claimed to be an expert on cooking pork with crackling and it turned out extremely crispy (and very black!). Needless to say, that's the last time anyone will be listening to him about haute cuisine.
Below is the weeping Japanese Maple that I bought Alyson for Christmas. It cost a small fortune, we don't yet know where we can put it and was the least surprising gift I've bought my wife for many a year... She even phoned me whilst I was at the garden centre buying it to say "I hope you're not down there buying me one of those weeping maples..." Ah well, there's always next year to surprise her.
Dinner all consumed - guests all gone and peace returns to our little corner of Greenview Close.
As for me, I managed to capture a few ZZZ's in my new birthday present (in stretch out mode) whilst Alyson, Paul, Kirsty and Stephanie played Pictionary (one of Alyson's pressies).
Evening arrives and the family room returns to its normal quiet self.
All that's left after yet another glorious Christmas - good wine, good company and a memories of a good time. I hope yours was as enjoyable as ours. Merry Xmas and a safe and happy New Year.
1 comment:
Lucky buggars!! Merry Xmas, Mum xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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