By Vivienne

My main aim for Christmas is to have everything organised so that between Christmas and the New Year I do not have to do any shopping at all.  It is a holiday week and that means nothing but having a good time with the family.  So this means some planning and extra stocking of the pantry.  The check list is crucial – lots of beer, wine, turkey, ham, quality long lasting fruit and vegetables, all cars full of petrol, housework totally up to date (ugh) and a double check that I have enough frozen Aussie raw prawns and scallops as the seafood shop closes for what seems like three very long weeks.

The biggest task is actually fitting everything which needs to go in the fridge in the fridge.  Years of practice usually sees success but it is not easy.  Making room for the important liquid refreshments means there is a battle between the fruit juices, mineral waters and the milk.  Unlike some people we cannot survive on nothing but ouzo.  We have some serious beer drinkers and wine buffs in the family.  One rule which must be obeyed is always replace the beer removed from the fridge or else there will be no cold beer later on.

We have tried a cold Christmas meal but some said, yes, but, yes, but … we still want your roast potatoes and the best roast carrots in the world!  It was a bit odd really so I continue with the whole roast turkey and vegetables spread.  We have it as a late lunch/early dinner.  No getting up early either!

About 11 am sees me preparing the stuffing for the turkey.  Herbs are my own homegrown and dried.  The turkey is soon in the oven and the various vegetables are all prepared.  The dining table gets a make over and looks rather good.

At around 2 pm we start to enjoy ourselves.  We begin with various cheeses and my smoked trout and pickled water melon rind, anchovy stuffed olives (the whole family is now hooked on them) and chicken liver pate.  Next up will be an old fashioned prawn cocktail.   Then it is time for the turkey and pulling bonbons.  The wine courses usually commence with the sparkling shiraz/durif and then it is over to my wine buff daughter to choose what’s next.  After that it is have whatever takes your fancy (there are two different single malts in the ‘cocktail’ cabinet).  There is no pudding on offer as everyone is too full to even think about it (one year it was on the ‘menu’ but was left forlornly untouched).   You may wonder about the ham – well that is for general consumption with salads before and after Christmas.

In the days which follow we will head up the mountains to pick berries to eat and freeze for coming months.  It is a lovely day and apart from the last three years when the drought and fire buggered up the crops it is something we have done for 25 years.  We will also head out to the Rutherglen area, buy some more wine and have a beautiful lunch at one of the wineries.   In between times there will be much watching of cricket and some DVDs as well as playing Monopoly and Scrabble.

My immediate family is small.  I am the only child of an only child.  Of my two daughters one has a ‘bloke’, a long term partner – he is part of our little family.  His parents can’t join us this year.  Some years we have an interstate visitor but not this year.  The five of us will have a lovely and loving time and that’s how we like it.

This is half of my herb garden.  The photo was taken very recently and since then the oregano has commenced to flower.  Unseen is the sage and mint (behind the rosemary). Elsewhere is more thyme, parsley, garlic and regular chives and aloe vera (to soothe itchy scratches etc.)