Do you prefer a cold or hot Christmas? Nice to have a choice I hear you say!!
Well last year my wife Emma-Kate and I had the good fortune of travelling to London to celebrate Christmas with Emma-Kate’s sister, her husband and their four boisterous boys. The weather was mild by their standards – 9-13 degrees, however still cold enough for us.
We spent 3 weeks living like Londoners – attending school Christmas concerts followed by celebrations with families at the local pub The Brown Dog, travelling the city on the tube, enjoying a nightly tipple of sloe gin, shopping and admiring the amazing street decorations on Regent and Oxford Street, visiting Windsor Castle, attending Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park as well as going to see my first pantomime at the Richmond Theatre. We even managed to catch an unbelievable club rugby game – Harlequins vs Gloucester (39 v 39) at Twickenham between Christmas and New Year, along with another 70,000 supporters!
The days leading into Christmas were spent collecting produce and decorations for Christmas lunch from the local markets – the 1,000 year old borough markets at London Bridge for our turkey from the Ginger Pig, Christmas lights from the Petersham nursery in Richmond. And who knew Brussels sprouts were sold on the stalk?
For Christmas Day the schedule was very different to Australia. After the boys opened their presents, Emma-Kate and her sister took them to church, while the men prepped for lunch – Nigella Lawson inspired turkey, roasted ham, roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts and bacon with a Heston Blumenthal dessert thrown in to round out the day.
At 11am it was off to the local pub for champagne with friends, then back home for lunch with family and friends. Lunch moved into night as more friends joined the celebrations with an impromptu karaoke session into the early hours of Boxing Day!!
All in all our “cold” Christmas day and holiday adventure was amazing.
This year we will be doing a road trip and spending the Christmas break on the Gold Coast with my extended family of about 20. The weather will be warm, the shorts and swimmers will be all that is packed. With us arriving on Christmas Eve, most of the preparations will be done by my parents and sisters.
I’m looking forward to lazy lunches with old friends and family, interspersed with afternoon sleeps and surf swims at Broadbeach, Miami, Coolangatta and my favourite Rainbow Bay, one of the best beaches in the world.
Christmas day I expect will be a loud, animated day of fun and love, if previous years are anything to go by. The food will likely include lots of seafood, fresh salads and some sweets perhaps followed by an afternoon nap and swim.
So which is better…a cold or hot Christmas day? In my view it matters not what the weather delivers, as long as you are surrounded by your family and good friends!! Or as Crowded House put it you can “Always take the weather with you”
So from my family and the Link family to yours; we wish you a safe and Merry Christmas where ever you will be. Savour and enjoy!!
Author: Chris Sully
Chris is a Senior Sales and Leasing Executive with Link Property Services. Chris is located in the Link Property Services Alexandria office.