Blog for Thursday 25th December 2025

Wow! Christmas Day has arrived!

I hopped out of bed and slowly made my way up to my studio, yes, and up the creaking staircase to have my Quiet Time up there.

Robert, was the next one to get up with Savvy who wanted to go for an early morning walk. So, out they went for a short stop.

Oh, how Savvy has simply loved chasing the guinea fowl and they have enjoyed raising their voices in loud protest against this indignity! This being all part of the farm’s appeal! Action, noise but no harm done!

As we had no small human beings here with us there was no rush or urgency to open gifts at all! So, after copious mugs of coffee and rusks we slowly got around to that.

Robert did the honors of handing out the gifts, and he did a good job as one and all were spoilt rotten.

While Mich, Robert, Josh’ and Paulina went for an early morning swim, I had a quick shower and got dressed for the day and then began to organize our Christmas lunch. I decided to have lunch inside and in our living area as it was coolest there and afforded us easy access to everything we needed.

My goodness, gracious, golly gee!  Talk about many hands make light work, and all that! Robert carved the ham, leg of lamb, and chicken, Mich’ made the prawn cocktail for our starter, Josh’ set the table for me, and Paulina created the dessert, a meringue wreath. I bounced between them all handing out this and that, or fetching and carrying, chopping, washing and blah blah fishpaste.

It was a delightful meal, and we all just managed to waddle away from the table satiated and onto our beds for an afternoon siesta!

We all had an afternoon snooze and then slowly-slowly we all arose from our prostrate positions to play yet another game or two of Bananagram.

We video called and spoke to Shelayne and her family and Kerry’ and her family. One in the USA and the other in South Africa. It is on days like today that I miss them all so much.

No one was interested in more food, so Mich’ and I simply put out things for people to nibble on, and the fridges were available to anyone should they be struck down with sudden hunger!

No one was.

In the early evening, we – Mich’, Robert, Josh’ and me - put together the beautiful large rainproof umbrella that Mich’ and Robert gave Ken and I for Christmas. It is enormous and covers the whole table outside. I have a strong feeling that I will be using it frequently as it really affords one a lot of shade. Wonderful!

After setting up the outside umbrella we played our Kris Kringle game – where one swops and barters for the gift you want. It is always such fun and all six of us received the gift we wanted. Mich’ got a one cup teapot with cup attached with a delicate bird design on it. Robert landed up with the three mugs he had bought. Josh’ got the rose diffuser. Paulina got a beach towel that folded up into a bag. Ken got the large chopping board, and I got the very quaint plant mister. Slowly, slowly after a final game of “Oh Hell!” we all went to bed.

I have so enjoyed having them all here with us for this Christmas period and shall miss them madly when they leave for Queensland tomorrow morning.

What lesson did I learn today? To enjoy the time spent with family.

What am I grateful for today? A cooler and lovely day.

My saying for today