IIDD, Dec 25th, Christmas Day!

Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation, how to lose without regret, how to acquire without meanness. -George Sand [pen name of Amantine Aurore Lucile Dupin], novelist (1804-1876) 

Chloe Alexis Dunn

Merry Christmas everyone, hope you all have a love filled holiday. xx

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    Ayn P Merry Christmas!! We love you and miss you!

 Katie Maness You too! Love you.

Sutherland's Noble Fir!!!

Ayn P

Merry Christmas everyone! The boys were up playing reindeer games until 4am and sipping Disarrano on the rocks so hopefully I'll get to open my stocking by noon! Kids these days!

Ayn P

‎"There are two ways to live your life. One, as if nothing is a miracle or two, as if everything is a miracle." - Albert Einstein

Hi Raymond!

I'd love to ride on Christmas Day but would only be able to do so once Chloë
and I are back from volunteering at church, serving Xmas lunch to homeless,
probably around 1:30pm-2:00pm. In the morning we'll be boiling mounds of
potatoes and putting finishing touches to huge pans of stuffing we are
preparing/taking for the lunch. As well, we are having Mom for breakfast
earlier so that entails a fair bit of organization. I'm thinking about
sending Cora Lee on her scooter to fetch Mother! Anyway, let me know about
timing. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Pat,
Would you give me a call when you return home from the church and we can
see what the weather is like and go from there.

 Nicole's present for me!! Angelo Baby!!!

Merry Christmas from Vancouver.

Hope you are enjoying the holiday season with friends and family.

Don't eat too much turkey!!  You'll have no room for pie.

Put another log on the fire, and have a scotch or a port to finish the day.

Queen’s Christmas message to be replaced with round-robin letter

 

In a break with tradition, the Queen has this year eschewed her traditional televised Christmas message and has chosen instead to send a round-robin circular outlining the ups and downs of her family’s year. NewsBiscuit is proud to bring its readers exclusive access to the letter.

*

My loyal subjects,

One understands from one’s advisers that there has been some bother with money this year. Ordinarily such trifles would not trouble one, but it seems that the small screen may now be a luxury that many of my subjects cannot afford, so this year one has committed one’s regal musings to paper the better to communicate with the commoners.

It has been another eventful year for the Windsors. One’s highlight was of course William and Kate’s wedding. It was a wonderful day: William looked regal and Kate was divine, although her sister’s arse caused a bit of a stir. Poor Philip got a crick in his neck craning to get a better view. One wishes William and Kate every happiness for the future, but William is his father’s son so we were sure to set up a cast-iron pre-nuptial agreement – and Philip has a contact he can call if ever things get out of hand.

One’s eldest granddaughter Zara Philips also married this year. Her husband is a sportsman of unique looks, but sadly one nearly had cause to call on the SAS to offer him advice after he committed an indiscretion in New Zealand. However, one has been given to understand that dwarf throwing is a long-established tradition among those who work for a living, not to mention an excellent form of preparation for the catching and throwing skills required at the highest level of rugby union.

We just now need to marry off young Harry. However, like a finding a backer for a corgi at the dog track, one fears those particular royal goods may only appeal to a niche market.

There have been no funerals this year, but Charles is keeping his spirits up.

One is afraid to report that Andrew got into a spot of bother again this year, but then he’s always had a weakness for improper relationships. Over the years many have criticised the royal family for being out of touch, but we are just like every other family in the UK and accordingly have the misfortune to possess one child that brings us nothing but disappointment and embarrassment. And for someone who travels the globe as UK trade envoy, one would imagine that Andrew could be a little more inventive with his Christmas gifts than to give us a BAE fighter jet each year stuffed full with unmarked Saudi banknotes.

For William and his grandfather Philip, professionally it has been a year of contrast. William’s work in the RAF saw him saving foreigners by plucking them out of the sea, while Philip took a turn at throwing them back in when he volunteered to check passports as a stand-in immigration officer at Dover during the recent strikes.

This year we have holidayed in a number of delightful places. In Dublin one took the opportunity to express regret for incidents that had taken place in the past between Britain and Ireland, and they seemed to buy it because there was not a single mention of potato on the menu. We also travelled to Australia, our 16^th visit since 1954. The media described it as one’s ‘farewell tour’, and in truth one will be glad to see the back of those uncouth beer swilling natives. One made sure never to let one’s handbag out of one’s sight the whole trip.

During May we had the Obamas to stay at Buckingham Palace. Philip had forgotten they were coming and there was one awkward moment when he returned to see them examining some silver in the banquet room and called the police. After that he was always chaperoned during their stay and blotted his copybook only once with an unfortunate remark about ‘mid-tan boot polish’.

Unfortunately my horse was beaten in the Derby by that whipper-snapper French jockey. How Nicolas Sarkozy has time to ride horses and govern France one can only wonder.

Next year one celebrates one’s Diamond Jubilee. How those 60 years have flown. One is 85 now but with public sector pensions coming under fire it seems one will have to continue working for a while yet. Though one won’t be striking because one doesn’t want to give Charles a sniff.

Wishing all one’s subjects the very best for a divorce-free and anti-republican 2012.

Elizabeth R.

Hi Jo-Anne and Colin!

Trust you both had a grand Christmas!  All the best for a Healthy New Year, Jo-Anne and Colin! Cheers, Patrizzio!

Thanks Patrick,

We have now officially finished Christmas my daughter Lynda and her partner
Dave came around for lunch all very low key and from our perspective ideal.
We had the unfortunate task of putting our dog down on Christmas Eve she
seemed to have a stroke or some such thing all very bad. She was 14 YO so
she had a good run all a bit sad however.

Claire's daughter Fiona is having an OK time in Perth though all a bit far
away and she seems a bit lonely. Not much we can do except keep in contact
by phone. We were off for a ride this morning though failed to get out of
bed an overdose of laziness I suspect perhaps tomorrow. I am off delivering
training in January in Victoria in an effort to change career paths, so
fingers crossed I can transition to a new part time work style and leave
full time employment in 2012. Claire has dabbled in changing paths however
she is quite happy to transition directly to retirement.

We are also probably off sailing tomorrow of the weather holds the boats are
on the web site http://www.hobiecat.com/kayaks/mirage/adventure-island/ as
you can see no effort required fits pretty much in line we our laid back
outlook really.

Have great New Year and I keenly support the malt option as a solution for
most ailments. Cheers Greg and Claire

Hi Greg and Claire!

Terribly sorry to hear about your dog. Always upsetting when a pet dies, needless to say even more so when you have to make the decision. At any rate, hope sailing went well. From the look at Hobie website, I think this is the sort of kayak for me! Cycling on the water! What more could one ask for?

For our part we certainly enjoyed a grand Christmas! Started out on Saturday, making two very large, cafeteria style trays of stuffing for lunch for homeless at church on Christmas Day. Coriandre did all the chopping, (large bag of Spanish Onions and three large bags of celery), perched on a stool in front of counter, and sautéing mixture while I prepared Uncle Ben's stuffing, bringing liquid to a boil and "fluffing" in bread crumbs at just the right moment! Tasted pretty good for something not made completely from scratch.

We enjoyed Clarisse's home-made borscht, with sour cream, before going to 7:00pm church service at Trinity. New, interim-minister, Beth Hayward, conducted a wonderful service and the tiny choir, three singers, conducted by Music Minister, Ron Smail, were simply remarkable. The two sopranos had such powerful, soaring, expressive, thrilling voices that it could have been the London Back Choir singing carols to the mesmerized congregation. The wonder on the faces of the small children opening the large wrapped present holding the Crèche figures was wondrous indeed!

Back home to ready the Christmas Eve meal. Chloë and Clara fried up the perogies, (Bought this year, from Alenka, a small Eastern European deli store owned by couple from Ukraine who came to Vancouver in 1996. They are really helpful and friendly. Didn't have time to do them ourselves, much to our chagrin!), while Dusty did Cajun spiced jumbo shrimps. Mini-bagels with garlic and herb cream cheese and a huge crock pot of baked beans completed traditional Orthodox Ukrainian meatless fare. (My Mom's parents came directly from the Ukraine!) I was kept busy open wine and filling Cora Lee's quickly emptied glass and by time food was ready Clan Sutherland trooped in and we sat down to enjoy the delicious meal.

Downstairs gang departed about 10:30pm and once I'd loaded dishwasher, Cora Lee and I started peeling spuds. We were donating a large bag for lunch for homeless. By the time we had the potatoes peeled and sliced and in pots of cold water, ready for the morrow's boiling, it was almost midnight and we still had to play Santa. Stockings stuffed and presents arranged neath the tree, we trundled off to bed, close to 2:00am!

Up at 7:30am to have a java with some extra delicious Avalon eggnog Chloë had brought home from GI Market the day before. I had put away most of last night's dishes before Her Majesty ambled, (as well as one can "amble" on one leg!), into living room and we wished each other Happy Christmas!
Clara and Dusty came over about 8:30am, just before Chloë started her shower. We wished everyone more Merry Christmases and over more java we put potatoes on to boil and started to ready breakfast: smoked salmon on toasted bagels, scrambled eggs and fried mushrooms. When Chloë had completed her ablutions I opened the finest Cook's California Sparklng Wine, (an exceedingly rare 1839 vintage!), mixed it with OJ and toasted each other! I then went to collect Mother at Broadway Lodge and brought her back for breakfast. Bit of difficulty putting on her coat and getting her to uncurl her fingers when trying to fit her gloves but fine, otherwise. She looked very festive in the red sweater we had given to her a few days earlier, in readiness for Christmas.

After enjoying scrumptious breakfast and a few more toasts, Chloë took Mom back to Broadway Lodge and I finished last of mashed potatoes. Was ready to go when she returned and we made for Trinity at 11:30am. Place was abuzz with activity as we brought in pans of dressing and pot of potatoes. Coats off and shirt sleeves rolled up we set to work: Chloë ferrying foodstuffs from kitchen and other food preparation areas to trestle tables set up in the narthex while I manned the sink, washing everything from serving platters to bowls for cranbeery sauce to gravy dishes to dropped utensils. Pretty strady going for about two solid hours but lots of fun and good fellowship with rest of volunteer contingent, some we knew from past lunches, others new to us and process. Towards the end of our shift we even had an incredible cup of the eggnog one of the Anglican families, (Trinity is composed of congregations from Kitsilano United and St Mark's), had to thought to bring along. Dusty would have approved as it was laced with more rum than eggnog!!! Very fluffy and frothy and certainly most drinkable as part of secret recipe, apparently, involves whipped egg whites!

So fortified we finished off the last of the chores at hand, collected our coats and oven mitts and empty pot and made for home, close to 2:00pm. On the way out, a number of the people served remembered me from past lunches. I have taken to wearing my red Crocs along with a Santa apron so I suppose I stick out a bit like Rudolph! Everyone was most appreciative and we were certainly pleased to have been able to help out, to make the lives of those less fortunate a tiny bit more comfortable, at the very least.

I had been hoping to go for a ride, with Robo Ray, around Stanley Park, once we were back from volunteering at church but by the time we were actually home, all I wanted was a nap! I phoned Raymundo to beg off and just after I put down phone I realized that I had left the pretty package of cherry cake that Beth had presented to me with when she and her family had come to be part of gathering over lunch, putting it on top of the fridge next to the sink, out of the way, and, as it turned out, out of mind as well! (Earlier in the week she had paid a visit to Cora Lee and I had shared some of "my" cherry cake, a birthday present from Rosita, with her, carefully monitoring thickness of slices, however, Dear Reader!) I was so tired from combination of late night, early morning and the hours of standing over the sink that I could hardly bear the thought of driving back to pick up gift before everyone left. Fortunately, for me, Chloë was happy to fetch forgotten present and I drifted off even before she was out the door!

Had a simply divine nap until about 3:30pm and then proceeded to start working in kitchen, all over again. Helped Chloë with all the dishes she used making her cornbread stuffing. Cora Lee was ensconced on her favourite armchair, with her favourite cat, watching The Sound of Music, making unreasonable demands more often than the scullions would have liked. Chloë had broken a wine glass when emptying dishwasher after she returned from church and had not had time to vacuum in case she had missed any tiny shards of glass. I, as Vacuum Master extraordinaire, was charged with the task but only allowed, by royal fiat, to do so during commercial breaks. This, of course, delayed entire hoovering project, yet She Who Must Be Obeyed, was adamant about the decree. This caused all sorts of mutterings and grumblings among affected underlings but to no avail. (Was more than tempted to blurt out: "Git yer own bloody tea, yer Bloody Majesty on yer shiny mini-bike, Royal Coach scooter!", but was cautioned by the Downstairs Maid to refrain from so doing, although she had to pinch herself to stop from laughing aloud!) The Proclamation held. I did manage, however, to slip, surreptitiously, as you would expect, three pinches of arsenic into Her Majesty's afternoon tea, Dear Reader, but have, unfortunately, yet to see any encouraging results! Will have to speak to my pharmacist after Boxing Day!!!

 

Finally, the Singing von Trapps made it to safety in Switzerland and I could finish my search for slivers of the finest Czechoslovakian crystal and then attend to mashing of more potatoes, one of our contributions to Christmas dinner with Clan Sutherland downstairs. Clara and Dusty did a turkey, (as Durstons are very particular about how the bird is to be done and wanted overlefts anyway), and turnip puff and Chloë helped take those plates downstairs. By the time I was showered and changed, Sarge was just finishing carving their bird. Table was set and looked lovely, adorned with crackers and large paper, origami cranes, courtesy of Akiko, Aaron's fiancée. Aaron is Sarge's nephew and he asked Akiko for her hand in marriage, on Christmas Eve, at Stanley Park. He produced the engagement ring near the Miniature Railway and it is rumoured that he was there for the Christmas Train ride and the proposal was an afterthought! Wedding is to take place this coming July, on lawn outside Sutherland's patio, so planning for that has already started!

Due to sheer number of guests, everyone, (except Her Imperious Royal Personage, Chloë pulling Lady-in-Waiting duty), helped themselves to sumptuous, steaming platters, (Flamin's mouth-watering, pecan encrusted squash and three different types of dressing joined the groaning serving counter), and we sat down to have food blessed by Cora Lee, now wearing her Earth Mother/Matriarch hat, and dinner began. We snapped crackers with those beside us and traded prizes with those around table if we didn't particularly like our own. Hard to believe some of the loot that the colourful crackers contained. Marvinator, per esempio, had the great good fortune to land a mini-Swiss knife look alike, complete with blade, bottle opener, pen-light and pen with automatically retractable nib. Device was good enough to qualify for a space mission while I was simply delighted to find a small bag of paper clips in the bowels of my cracker. Okay, so there was a small black magnetised base to hold them but Paper Clips! I'm retired already! What do I need from paper clips. Oy Vey!! And I don't even celebrate Hanukkah! Swapped for a pen with Kid Chelene and even forgot to take that home!

We had an uproarious time with plenty of hootch and more food and more wine and on and on and on until we could barely move or laugh or breath, for that matter. Consequently, dessert, (Clarisse's Christmas pudding!), for most of us, was simply out of the question so the tables, (needed an extension to seat all twelve of us), were cleared and dining room table pushed back against one wall to make room for The Battle of the Sexes, the new Christmas Game. As the name implies, The Sisterhood faced off against The Brotherhood. Each team asks questions, of the other, from the Female or Male point of view. The women ask questions that, supposedly, men would not know, (What are the call numbers on the plane in Lost?), while the men ask questions that are so general that even the pets in the house were able to answer. More often than not these came with either or clues: Who wrote Heart of Darkness? Joseph Conrad or Ernest Hemmingway?

Needless to say, The Brotherhood struggled against the unfair odds and made slow progress until Sarge realized that the rules were not being applied correctly, and we then mounted a splendid dash to the finish line only to lose in a photo-finish. Gracious losers, as ever, we congratulated the winning team while grumbling into our glasses of Auchentoshen Three Wood, (matured in American Bourbon, Oloroso and Pedro Ximinez sherry casks), Kid Chelene's gift to his Dad for Christmas! Almost worth losing as we needed a couple of snorts to dilute the bitter, galling shame of defeat!

Thanking Clan Sutherland for wonderful meal and evening, we collected our now empty plates and bowls and made for upstairs. Thanked Clara and Dusty for the lovely turkey and turnip and they repaired to their place. Goils changed into their jams and we watched a recorded episode of the American Prime Suspect before saying goodnight and heading to bed to read for a bit before turning out our bedside lamps. A full and wonderful, wonderful day and we felt magnificently blessed to share such time and such munificence with close family and friends. A Happy, Happy Christmas indeed. 

Rebecca Frazier

Is so blessed to have so many amazing families to celebrate Christmas with. Thank you all for such a fabulous day. Love you all!!! 

Hi Bev and Kev!

Congratulations on your retirement Bev! Glad to hear that you two and Lisa and David had a grand Christmas together! Will let you know exact dates of our times in Adelaide as soon as we confirm a few more details. Would be terrific if we could connect! All the best for a Healthy New Year, Bev and Kev! Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!