Must be Christmas time!

joe6pack Uncategorized

HMM?

Plenty of drinks have been purchased and are now chilling down

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A ham

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And a few Chooks are in a Fridge

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Some delights from the sea are chilling down as well

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and I am constantly getting orders from the OH to CLEAN this,MOVE that,GIVE me your wallet and STOP complaining, that I suspect Christmas time has arrived

 

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Our 3rd one here at “THE PUB”It started with this blatant rip off from J Laws.

https://pbxmastragics.com/2012/12/11/hello-world/

  This will be our 367th thread starter

The Christmas theme will be up for a few days only. I can’t improve it any more but it is festive and I hope you can forgive it’s foibles and go with the flow. It is close to our original one.

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On behalf of Ned ,Syd and my demanding but lovely OH, I would like to wish you,Contributors and lurkers alike a very Merry Christmas and I hope you all have a safe and Wonderful day

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181 thoughts on “Must be Christmas time!”

  1. Finally – The Christmas Pudding is steaming away. I usually make a pudding in a cloth well before Christmas Day, but this year things did not go to plan. There was horror when I suggested maybe we could do without a pudding this year. My mob are pudding addicts, i blame my mum for that. Pudding and custard, it has to be, and proper custard, not that muck you buy in a carton in the supermarket. Even the ones who won’t be here tomorrow still expect me to stash some pudding in the freezer for when they eventually turn up.

    So it had to be done, but this year I’m steaming the mixture. I’ve never done that with this recipe (Mum’s recipe) before. I had to drag out a big stoneware bowl because my proper pudding steamer with the nifty clip-on lid was too small. Then I forgot I had given the super-size bowl I’ve always used for mixing The Pudding to No 1 son, and I had to scruffle around and find the next biggest bowl. Then I had to master the art of pleating a layer of foil and baking paper, and tying it to the top of the bowl. The foil was only just wide enough. At this stage I decided it would be safer to put The Pudding into a steamer basket over the boiling water. with just a little bit of water lapping around it, instead of straight into the water. The thought of water leaking into the mixture somehow was a bit too scary, even though plopping a pudding tied in calico into a stockpot of boiling water has never scared me at all.

    So at last, there it is, sitting in the nifty steamer basket over the stockpot and set to make the kitchen steamy for about 6 hours. The bowl just fitted into the steamer, I’m not sure how I’ll get it out. I did remember to make a string handle, but it looks a bit dodgy. That’s a problem for later.

    Phew!

  8. Or just maybe that dog has decided to be a cat. Every cat I’ve ever had has flopped on the floor, just like that.

  9. Too tasteful for Mesma. There are no feathers, and not enough sparkles, and it has sleeves. She likes (heaven knows why) to show off what she considers are her ‘toned’ arms.

    The latest Julie Bishop scandal – The jeweller, the retailer and the foreign minister. How a blue opal necklace linked Julie Bishop to Liberal Party donors and sparked the war over the abolition of Sunday penalty rates.
    http://nofibs.com.au/julie-bishop-promotes-jewellery-for-liberal-party-donor-qldaah-auspol-qldpol/

    Yesterday, following this story, a lot of comments defending penalty rates popped up on Ms McKinney’s Facebook page. They have all been deleted. Well, almost all of them. This one and a couple more from the same person slipped through.

    Anthony Bennett Great work! Just think of how many magazine covers you can afford when you eliminate Sunday penalty rates!
    Like · Reply · 3 · 17 hrs

    https://www.facebook.com/LoveMargotMcKinney/

  11. I’m currently out at Morven getting to meet up with my new grand daughter and will be spending Christmas with all my children at the same time for a couple of years or so.

    It’s quite exciting with my other two younger daughters due to arrive here in about 2 hours time.

    I’ve also got a cousin living in Charleville (about 1 hours drive away who is coming to Morven on Boxing day to spend the day with us & get to know my son & other two daughters that he & his partner haven’t met yet.

    All in all, it’s one hell of an exciting time for the Scorpio family. I hope that all the clients of The Pub have an equally exciting and happy time over the festive season and so it’s everyone from Morven wishing you all a merry Christmas & a happy New Year.

    Poor Morven. Invaded by Scorpios for X-Mass. Lucky there’s no Pest Control agents out here! 😉

    ps. A great new format for the Blog, Joe and much appreciation to you & the Mods who make it such a great venue for the online community of friends to interact and share their individual experiences, good & not so good with each other.

    Merry Christmas everyone from the Scorpios.

  12. This looks like the mysterious necklace. it’s not cheap – Ms McKinney’s Facebook page describes it as ” Australian Lightning Ridge Opal Collier 55.74ct with Australian Keshi South Sea Pearls and Sapphires, Aquamarines, Peridots, and Diamonds”

    So is this a Marie Antoinette moment for Bananas?

    If you don’t know about the Affair of the Diamond Necklace and the part it played in the beginnings of the French Revolution then here it is –
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10880757/The-necklace-that-cost-Marie-Antoinette-her-head.html

    • Certainly does look like it.

      Bananas is absolutely a “let them eat cake” type.

  14. Might be some good news for SA, especially if they can keep Pyne out of negotiating.
    http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/subscribe/news/1/index.html?sourceCode=AAWEB_WRE170_a_FBK&mode=premium&dest=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/belgian-tycoon-wants-to-buy-holdens-elizabeth-plant-and-keep-making-commodores/news-story/73bcf343469c09bf15afd950b37b9dd2?utm_content=SocialFlow&utm_campaign=EditorialSF&utm_source=AdelaideAdvertiser&utm_medium=Facebook&memtype=anonymous

  15. A bit of a commercial for a fantastic man and his wonderful organisation.

    ‘We have a moral vacuum’: Australian refugee charity takes on tough political climate
    The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre is one of six charities selected for the Guardian and Observer charity appeal
    http://www.theguardian.com/society/charity-appeal-2015-blog/2015/dec/23/australian-refugee-charity-takes-on-tough-political-climate?CMP=share_btn_tw

    Good to see Kon telling it like it is and not holding back. The money raised by The Guardian – not just in Australia but across its readership – is amazing, and for ASRC to be chosen for this year’s appeal, along with five other non-Australian charities is wonderful.

    This year’s fund-raising went to –
    http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/nov/24/guardian-and-observer-refugee-appeal-2015-the-charities

  16. Fiona
    I dunno who The Cardinal would be. The ‘gilded child of a gilded family’ brings a certain waffler to mind, but it could also apply to Abbott or any number of other Coalition wannabes. Who despises Bananas enough to want to plot to bring her down? I suspect there would be quite a list.

  22. It must be about time:

    ONE of Edward Downer’s less-than-fond childhood memories is of being teased as an eight-year-old because his father was Opposition leader.

    But the taunts of other children – or anything else in his 23 years – have not persuaded him to drop his ambition of following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather and great-grandfather. “Politics is absorbing … almost intoxicating,” the law graduate told The Weekend Australian yesterday.

    With the retirement this week of his father, Alexander Downer, former foreign minister and member for Mayo, the latest generation of the Downer political dynasty is clearly planning a political career “one day”.

    “When I believe I can make a good contribution to the country, and have beliefs that I won’t divert, then that is when I will decide to enter politics,” Edward Downer said.

    He doesn’t want to be a staffer and doesn’t see politics as a form of self-promotion. “The thing that really interests me is the battle of ideas, and the fact that politics is about good government – at least that’s the way I have been brought into it,” he said.

    The Downer family’s ties to federal parliament go back to 1901, when Alexander Downer’s grandfather, Sir John, sat in the first Senate. Mr Downer’s father, Sir Alec, was a cabinet minister in the Menzies Liberal government.

    While Edward is one of four children of Alexander and Nicky Downer – he has three sisters – he has followed the trajectory you might expect of a budding Liberal MP: party member at 16, accomplished amateur debater, soon-to-be commercial lawyer, and an admitted amateur psephologist.

    Lyn Nitschke, a Liberal Party organiser in Mayo, knows Edward well and would like to see him represent the electorate. “When Edward was born, Alexander was the member for Mayo,” she said. “What better grounding is that?”

    For now, Ms Nitschke and 600 fellow Liberals in Mayo will have to make do with a six-strong field of contenders for preselection.

    Alexander Downer was asked this week if he wanted to see any of his children enter politics.

    He was adamant: it was up to them. “The important thing is for your children to be in work that they enjoy.”

    Mr Downer, infamous for once donning a fish-net stocking in a photo promoting a charity concert, spoke out against the at-times cynical portrayal of many politicians.

    “It ill-behoves this country to go around continually sneering at and criticising those who put their hands up for public office,” the retiring MP said.

    As for Edward, he will begin work as a commercial lawyer – his first day at work after graduating from Flinders University is on Monday – and look for a political career later in life.

    “You’re not going to be a good representative if all you have done is politics,” he said.

    http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/young-downer-ready-to-step-up/story-e6frg6nf-1111116827630

  23. What with ‘The Cardinal” being a religious title and Jools being an unwed ‘deliberately barren’ wimmen then it has to be the RWNJ religious loon . ….Bugger, didn’t narrow the field down.

    Fiona

    Where’s Lord Downer of Fishnet and Stoking when you need him ? 🙂

  24. Fiona

    It is amazing to think that Lord Downer of Baghdad’s grandfather was born in 1843. But then serial randy old patricians siring progeny can do that.

    • I thought the same, and it seems very bad taste to wear it with a suit jacket, as Bananas was doing. It belongs with an evening gown.

  27. kk
    It’s a wonder Lord Downer’s father sired any progeny, given his alleged leanings. He must have gritted his teeth and thought of duty.

    Not everyone gets to take their very bestest friend with them when they are appointed High Commissioner, to London, but Sir Alick did. His friend was promoted to ‘private secretary’ so he could go.
    http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/08/pms-posting-judgment-looks-a-little-queer/?wpmp_switcher=mobile

    To be fair, Sir Alick was said to be a lovely, charming man. you have to wonder what happened to make Lord Downer such a prat.

  28. Righto.
    I have finished preparing the family tradition oysters kilpatrick,ready to put in the barbie later on . All food ready for tomorrow,drinks ready to go and after 1 hr at the dentist and $500 later 1 broken tooth repaired, albeit temporarily…
    About to take Ned and Syd down to the dog creek for their Xmas party with all their Doggie friends. Plenty of prezzies there for them as well. They already have more under the tree than I do.

    I bet I know what the Idiot is wishing for Christmas . It would involve a large bus and a unaware malcome having a high speed meeting.

  29. Festivities will kick off here in an hour or two. Danish fashion but with ham, prawns, salads, and a Mango Colada Fridge Cake for afters (ice creams for the kidlets).

  30. Pool is sparkling, the aircon is going great guns, the dishwasher is working, the family has arrived from interstate and the Aldgate Butchers ham is bloody marvelous!
    This is Jaycee wishing everyone a bloody good one and signing off for the moment.

    Goodnight, goodbye and good eating (and drinking!).

  33. TLBD

    Felt very deprived after learning of the euro tradition of kicking off the celebrations on xmas eve . In my neck of the woods it was all just another evening , well apart from us kids totally ODing on anticipation.

  34. As Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on Fridays this year, our rubbish collection will be on Saturday instead.

    Quite convenient if one’s household has ‘big’ celebrations with lots of stuff to dispose of afterwards.

    For us – no problem. Celebrations will be minimal, but both occasions will be quietly pleasant.

    Merry Christmas to all youse Pubsters, especially Ned and Syd.

  36. Razz and I are sitting with our feet up, nothing happening here until boxing day, so don’t have to start preparations until tomorrow. See you all when you return from your festivities.

  37. We kick off tonight too, it’s family tradition to have the big dinner on Christmas Eve. Tonight we will be dining on roast duck with cherry sauce, whatever vegies the cook feels like doing, followed by cheeses and then some top-notch cherries for dessert. Tomorrow’s lunch will be cold meats, salads and The Pudding.

    A very Merry Christmas to you all, I hope whenever you celebrate, it is the best ever.

  39. Golly gosh, I have obviously left it a bit late as it appears most of you have already started kicking up the heels and celebrating, but have yourselves a very merry Xmas, and thank you all for your company throughout the year. Special thanks to Joe6Pack for this wonderful site.

  40. Good thing about the Danish way is that presents are dished out tonight.

    Adults may opt to sleep in tomorrow 😀

  44. Yo Dudes and Dudettes! A Very Merry Christmas to All and your families.

    I finally managed to clock off work for a few days, picked the seafood on the way home and hasn’t my fishmonger done me a treat this year; a 5kg box of green prawns that are longer than my hand, fresh squid, Jap scallops in the shell, Tassie oysters, lobsters, blue-eye cod cutlets and a muddie. I’m in charge of the barbie so it will be a feast of seafood, with various wet and dry dips, fresh bread rolls and lots of salads except for the muddie which will be done in a wok with chilli.

    The only thing is, this year, it’s the “in-laws” turn, which means we have the whole tribe at my place on on Boxing day, I don’t mind, it gives me all of tomorrow to prepare and to do some serious taste testing before the grand kids turn up and me into the pool with them. 🙂

    Have Fun, Fun, Fun.

  45. This year is the least Christmas-y I have ever felt, and for once I’m not in the least embarrassed about it. However, I do have the complete extended Hobbit DVDs and the Star Wars movie to get me through the next couple of days. And tomorrow the family will be gathering around the pool and feasting for many hours, and that will do me sufficiently.

    Thank you for the Aussie carols. They are much nicer tunes than the muzak in the shopping centres at the moment, and have been almost enough to find me some Christmas spirit at least (that wasn’t hidden in the cupboard, that is *warped twinkle*) 😉

    May you all have the best Christmas Day you desire, and thank you for the best Christmas present – your company through the year.

  46. Curioz,

    Here’s the last of the readily available James / Wheeler Australian carols. It’s also the least well-known:

  47. I love the intertubes.

    From 1969, Australian Christmas carols [W.G. James] ; The Adelaide Singers ; the South Australian Symphony Orchestra conducted by Patrick Thomas:

    More than half an hour of nostalgia for my youth.

  50. One of my favourite early 20th century carols (it is extraordinary to sing – absolute magic) – and this is how it came to be written:

    And Peter Warlock’s “Bethlehem Down”, with lyrics from poet Basil Blunt.

    The story of the composition of this piece is so good it should be apocryphal, but isn’t. But it has become legendary anyway. Warlock and Blunt, who shared a house together in the English village of Eynsford, in Kent, for a while when both were constantly broke, and in need of funds for their patronage of the local pub. So wandering home in a bit of a haze one evening, across the downs, Blunt came up with the lyrics. The next morning, Warlock, who was an early riser, saw what Blunt had produced and immediately set it to music. They then sent it off to “The Daily Telegraph” as an entrant to the carol competition the Telegraph was running that year, and won, which kept them in funds for the next bout of carousing, including, according to Blunt, an “immortal carouse” on Christmas eve in 1927. It is astonishing, still, to think that a piece of such delicacy and beauty can come from a bender, but there it is. The lyrics themselves are stunning, given the source:

    When he is King we will give him the Kings’ gifts,
    Myrrh for its sweetness, and gold for a crown,
    Beautiful robes,” said the young girl to Joseph,
    Fair with her first-born on Bethlehem Down.

    Bethlehem Down is full of the starlight —
    Winds for the spices, and stars for the gold,
    Mary for sleep, and for lullaby music
    Songs of a shepherd by Bethlehem fold.

    When he is King they will clothe him in grave-sheets,
    Myrrh for embalming, and wood for a crown,
    He that lies now in the white arms of Mary,
    Sleeping so lightly on Bethlehem Down.

    Here he has peace and a short while for dreaming,
    Close-huddled oxen to keep him from cold,
    Mary for love, and for lullaby music
    Songs of a shepherd by Bethlehem fold.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PdEIVVkwLM

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