The Doylies in Oz requested to hear all about our Christmas in Welkom. Well, here goes! Christmas was really fantastic. The weather throughout our stay was really lovely, not too hot by the usual Welkom-in-December standard. We all traveled through to collect Craig from the airport on the 22nd and then we spent the morning in Bloem, shopping and exploring and Craig’s folks arrived at lunchtime. We had a lovely lunch together and then headed back to Welkom. Alicia said the trip between Bloem and Welkom really brought back memories from her childhood. It is a very pretty area in its own way, it has that unique Freestate charm. I must confess I also really love the wide-open spaces. Anyway, we arrived in Welkom and the family all got on famously. Dave and Alicia were so relaxed and quickly made themselves at home. I was so impressed with Dave as he swam every day! The pool was the major event of the season and we all spent as much time as possible submerged in water! Craig came armed with a water-pistol so Fi and mom and me went out and bought water-pistols too (so we could defend ourselves of course)!
Christmas day was really special, fun and relaxed at the same time. We opened a couple of pressies (everyone was too much spoiled!) and then we headed off to church. Dave Howard was on leave so Nuno preached and it was a BRILLIANT message. Then we headed back home with gran in tow for mince-pies and tea and of course the second session of pressie opening.
We fiddled and funned around preparing the food for lunch and as usual it took longer than we expected with everyone fighting for a piece of kitchen space to add their own important contribution to the meal. We didn’t do too badly though and ended eating at about 1h30 or just after. We started out with ham spread on melba toast topped with asparagus and garnished with parsley and paprika (DELICIOUS!) and then on the main meal which was a feast of cold meats and assorted salads. Alicia had made a cold cabbage curry which I was seriously skeptical of but it was awesome. Fi garnished the plates with egg and tomato toadstools (seriously creative). The pud was dad’s first-class trifle and a melt-in-your-mouth kiwi (in honour of the NZlanders) and black cherry pavlova.
The crackers that mom and Fi bought had a singing bonus in one of each pack so we had two crackers that sang a really corny Christmas songs throughout lunch!
That evening after a loaf in the pool Fi, Craig and myself went to work building the ball puzzle that Craig got from Jean and Ian and the family. What an amazing thing. We were all hooked. The pieces are made of plastic and the puzzle is built in the shape of a sphere. It was too cool. Then we all flopped in front of the TV and watched Josh Groban in concert, ate more food and then fell into bed for a night of exhausted, happy sleep.
We spent the next day playing with our new toys and then packed Fi up and took her to the airport. It was terrible and wonderful saying goodbye to her. She is so happy in NZ that we can’t help but to be happy too. (Dave and Li, we blame you guys you know J)
So, that was Christmas. A fantastic blessing and too much fun with family as we celebrated the birth of our Hero and Rescuer, Jesus.
