Christmas’s pasts and
present………………..
We are in the middle of what we in our business calls “the silly
season” being that the suppliers are busy stocking up the large retail shops
with “Back to School” specials and the clients are rushing around wanting to
use up the last of their budget, so stocking up on paper and cartridges, pens
and pencils for the new year, half the
items are out of stock and delivery delays are many *sigh* ………so cannot wait
for the 14th , our last official working day. I know we will still
be busy and this year will not be able to take a break. Last year we went to Durban for Kerry’s
wedding and it was lovely to get away from it all, even if just for the 3
nights. This year Beatrice has warned me “I am going home on the 14th,
not waiting till last minute, you know the taxi was full and was late and, and,
and, and ……..” *groans*
So peace and quiet will rein in the house, we have to do month end
obviously, but also stock take and year end. I finished the archiving of 2010,
so that is wonderful, still have filing to do, the dreaded F Word ……………
Melissa and Chris are off to the Kruger National Park, Mozambique and then Christmas with Michelle in Zimbabwe ………..
Kerry is preggies and cannot travel, so going to her mother in Durban, Kenneth
will be here *sigh* ……… Warren
will be with Susan at her mothers with the girls and Steven and Amy cannot
leave the farm.
I sit and remember my childhood
Christmas’s and wonder, where did the feeling of magic disappear to. Is it only
as a child you have that anticipation, counting the days on the advent
calendar……nearly having butterflies in the stomach as the big day comes closer,
the magic of the decorations, the candles every night, the little rituals …… so
well known and loved…..baking of cookies, making marzipan sweets by the fire
and candle light in the evening. Special smells, I remember like
yesterday…….oranges with cloves pushed into them, the expensive Christmas ones,
so rare, we only ever bought 4 ………. The log fire with some pine cones burning
with it. Today when I smell pine wood burning, I think of Christmas, the two
are so intertwined………….. I wonder was it because I left home so young and came
so far away, that the whole magic
disappeared, a change of continents and rituals………….
(Christmas 1967, I was 12, with my favorite aunt that I secretly thought was my real mother.My sister 9, my mother and my dog, Pelle, a fox terrier)
Still so dear to my heart the memories of days long gone, people gone,
forgotten……………. The Church Bells ringing to service at 4pm on Christmas Eve,
the people frantically running for the last shopping, the harried shop keepers
also wanting to go home to their families.
The twinge of frost in the air and the first snow flakes falling. My
legs all itchy and I am fidgeting on the church bench while my mother gently
tries to quiet me …………..got angels hair stock in my thick red Christmas
stockings, the new ones, like a pantyhose, so the tops don’t fall down and they
are nice and warm around my bum and back as they were bought a bit big to grow
into. The itchy Falklands jersey under my blue
pinafore that mother made herself, on the machine with a new pattern bought. I
can see it; it was a lovely royal blue corduroy material, ever so smart. At
home the special dinner is simmering in the oven, roast pork and medister
polse, like a seasoned pork sausage, sugar glased baby potatoes , boiled normal
potatoes, pickled red cabbage and lovely rich gravy. We are allowed a nisseol
each , (this is a non alcoholic rich beer brew with a rich white foam head on)
………………. Soft carols are playing in the background and we have a special rice
pudding for dessert ( ris ala mande) made with pudding rice, cream and almonds.
One whole almond in the bowl, the winner gets a marzipan pig. We carefully chew
or suck each piece, cannot break the special almond, have to be whole to claim
the prize. We had to wash the dishes and pack all away too, oh the
anticipation, I got a tummy ache and needed the bathroom, every year ( my
father convinced just to avoid washing dishes and would wait for me)………. At
last, finished, we wait in the hall , there is rustling and whispers and I hop
from one leg to the other, while my sister fidgets beside me…….the door
opens………..aaawww, it is beautiful, the best tree ever, the biggest, the star on
top reaching right up to the ceiling, just touching, silver, gold and red and
green crystal balls, angels hair, the Danish Flags on string draped around it
and the live candles burning bright. The tree was brought all the way from the
forest on the other side of the island, we went to buy it last weekend, with
the neighbor in their truck and the forestry delivered the tree we chose just 2
days ago, while it stood outside, by the tool room waiting just for today.
Underneath is piled high parcels in lovely wrapping paper and gaily colored
ribbon in bows with twirls on the ends. My mother taught me how to make the
twirls on the ribbon with the back end of a pair of scissors.
I remember more recent Christmas’s, when the children months in advance
would ask us what are the plans for Christmas Day ………. As per usual, was my
answer, everyone comes here ……….we had up to 30 people on Christmas day,
everyone brought something. Russell’s ex –wife always did the Glazed Ham and
Lesley her sister, who passed away 2 years ago in January, did a cheesecake. I
always made the bread and did a fruit salad. Peter, the brother, would buy a
ready cooked Turkey
from Woolworths and all the cousins would come too. My children went to their
father that day, the first couple of years we were together, but slowly started
drifting over here as we had so much more fun. Granny Pam always did the
coleslaw, her secret recipe with yogurt, fresh cream and peanuts. Yummy. The
older cousins would bring sweets and the young wife of Craig, would bring a
salad. The very first great grand child for Granny Pam.
Then I remember back to my marriage to the children’s father and Christmas juggling between my Danish
traditions and his family get together. The family always seemed so divided,
the daughter in laws fighting for attention from GrannyM, , the age differences
between their children and ours were huge, as he was the youngest of 5 and we married late, so
where mine was babies, theirs were already teenagers. The closest in age was a
cousin who married young and had twins when my twins were 3 years old. Early in
our marriage I would try to enforce our tradition of Christmas on the 24th.
The tree was up and soft music playing in English, strange to my ears. I bought
a Danish Christmas music tape the one year I went to visit, but he did not like
it, could not understand the words
Crystalle, my step daughter , here 4, had the mumps, Michelle is just 8 months old.
Everything red, green and gold, nisser crawling and elves in corners, I
would take some branches from the fir tree in the park and decorate.
Christmas
in 32 deg C is very difficult …………. Roast leg of pork with crackling, glazed
baby potatoes, pickled red cabbage and gravy. Rice Pudding……….. I tried so hard
…………
Kenneth and Melissa , 6 years later, their first Christmas........look at the wonder and joy in those little faces, just for a teddy bear. *smile*
Strange one of the traditions my children always settle on is the Rice
Pudding and a Tree up on the 24th. Otherwise it would not be real
Christmas and Russell is so understanding and sweet, he happily tries to sing
with to the Danish Carols.
Over the years the children drift off and have to try to juggle
celebrations with their partners family too, which is not easy either. We
always had the understanding that we had an open house, let us know the week
before, we will fit in. Now we are lucky if we can gather half the clan
together on Boxing Day. It seems so much trouble to go to, just for 3 or 4 of
us, not the same ………….. Kenneth has asked can Meghan come. She is welcome, but
I don’t know if we are doing anything special the 24th. “at least make rice pudding”
he wails. 25 and the one thing he wants is rice pudding.*smile*
I spoke to Amy’s mother
yesterday, Amy is married to Russell’s youngest son and I get on well with her
parents. We chatted a bit and I broached the subject, that Amy and I had spoken
about Christmas Day and was she coming by to the farm too and so on ………… “Of
course, Amy told me you are coming down, to help with the horses again, is
going to be so nice to see you, what should we cook?” …………. and blah and blah
and so heartwarming and welcoming it was, no longer feeling like a lost fart
but needed and welcome …………… “ hope you are baking the bread again”, was her
parting shot ……… “and please bring the twins if they are around” We will take Kenneth
and Warren with us again, they can help Steven with the sheep and maybe we can
go on an outride down to the river, time my riding boots got dusted off and my
bum in the saddle again …………… yes , it will be Christmas again and yes , we are
a family and we will all cope, with the ones not with us and missing or gone
beyond being thought of and my mother so very far away……it might not be the
same as in years gone past, but time for new traditions, a new life…….all will
be okay …………….anyway in my little corner of the world.
