Feeling guilty yet? Ah come on, especially you readers in the U.K. I just know you’ve been stuffing yourselves with Quality Street, and Celebrations!
As for me/us, well, Christmas has been different this year, to say the least. I mean, I knew it was going to be different, but it turned out more different than I ever expected. (Please note, nothing I’ve written is a complaint, it’s just pointing out the differences. I thoroughly enjoyed my Christmas this year).
1. The Food
When was the last time all you non aussie’s had no turkey on Christmas day? Seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever went through the 25th of December without an overdose of turkey, a wad of stuffing, and a mountain of roast and mashed potatoes all smothered in gravy! However, I have now.
This year, we had seafood and salad.
2. The Weather
For me, Christmas day is about sitting indoors in front of an open fire (or with the central heating on full blast), wearing jeans and a new jumper, and not setting one foot out the door into the -5°C weather.
This year, it was about 30°C and very sunny. I began by wearing shoes, jeans and a short-sleeved shirt, but later changed into flip-flops (thongs for you aussies), shorts, and a t-shirt.
3. The People
This year was spent solely with friends. I’ve never had a Christmas with only friends. In fact, I’ve never had Christmas without my mum and (since she’s been born) my sister. Even last year, my wife and I stayed at my mum’s on Christmas Eve, just so my sis and I could open our presents together.
4. The Activities
As noted in point two, usually I never budge from home. Well, unless it’s to go to someone else’s home, or when I get a new remote control car, or mountain bike 
. This year, however, I not only went to the beach, I was on a jet ski!! No kidding! An awesome one at that, glancing off the waves at 90km/hr!
5. The Preparation
Not that big a deal (but I had to come up with a fifth). Usually, we’re able to wait until the last minute to buy gifts, and pass out cards. However, you need to give a good couple of weeks to make sure cards and gifts arrive in the U.K. on time. As a result, I missed the Christmas Eve buzz in the shopping centre, running around like a looney, wondering what to buy my wife.
Lastly…
Here’s a funny poem my wife came across a few weeks ago. Actually, I think it’s probably more funny to non aussies who have spent some time in Australia. The words are sung to ‘Jingle Bells’.
Do you forget to visit the blog? Get free updates via email. Or via RSS if you use a feedreaderDashing through the bush, in a rusty Holden Ute,
Kicking up the dust, esky in the boot,
Kelpie by my side, singing Christmas songs,
It’s Summer time and I am in my singlet, shorts and thongsChorus:
Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut !,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.Engine’s getting hot; we dodge the kangaroos,
The swaggie climbs aboard, he is welcome too.
All the family’s there, sitting by the pool,
Christmas Day the Aussie way, by the barbecue.Chorus
Come the afternoon, Grandpa has a doze,
The kids and Uncle Bruce, are swimming in their clothes.
The time comes ’round to go, we take the family snap,
Pack the car and all shoot through, before the washing up.Chorus
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Added Commentary
By Glenn
on 28.12.07
Armen, I do have seafood every Christmas day over here!
Every time I see food….I eat it !
Funny song BTW…we had (read: I had) great fun singing it!
By Armen
on 28.12.07
Glenn - lol…yeah. Well, actually, if you go to mum’s for Christmas dinner, then sometimes you get prawns as a starter.
I would imagine you’re able to relate to the song.
By MrCorey
on 30.12.07
Well, Armen, it sounds like you had a great Christmas day. To tell the truth, we didn’t have turkey on Christmas day either (for the second time in a row - but last year we chose to have a ham instead). Of course, on Boxing day, we had turkey! So, it was just a different way to organize the holiday. We decided to take the bustle of Christmas dinner and move it to the next day this year.
I love your rendition, by the way. Catchy.
By Taleen
on 30.12.07
You’re going to make me cry!!!
I sang this song around our table on Boxing Day to Cyril’s family and Faye….hehe….
Wish you were here for your birthday….
By Armen
on 02.01.08
MrCorey - Hey buddy! How’s things? Happy new year to you.
Ham to replace turkey…are you serious? Rather you than me
At least you did have some turkey the next day. I suppose you have it for Thanksgiving too? So in essence, you’ve already had some. For the rest of us though, turkey is a Christmas only affair. Well, you don’t get your fill, because there’s usually enough for Christmas day, Boxing day, and then turkey sandwiches for the next fortnight!!
Taleen - Hey you!
Did they enjoy it? I forgot to ask you what you thought of it.
By Jermayn Parker
on 02.01.08
You try having hot roasts on 40 odd degree days (Perth), it just does not happen!
I spent Chrissy with our family and seeing me and my wife had to spend time with her parents, my parents had to break several trends off Christmas which did not go down too well.
In regards to the song/ poem, you can actually get CDs full of Aussie styled Christmas hymns that are just as funny as that.
By Nyssa
on 06.01.08
It’s good to know you still enjoyed your Aussie Christmas even though it was very different. I know no different so it’s a normal Christmas for me.
Christmas 2008 will be a big shock for me though as I’ll be in the UK for my first ever winter Christmas. I’m looking forward to it.
Happy new year by the way!
By Joanne Norris
on 30.01.08
I can’t believe you didn’t have any roast potatoes
I had two Christmas dinners…….except one was on New Years day with mum, David, Granny, Auntie Melody and Uncle Ian.
Great song, by the way. Curious as to what a ’swaggie’ is, though!
David says hi aswell. I hope you’ve both had a lovely Christmas/New Year
xxx
By Joanne Norris
on 30.01.08
and I didn’t have turkey either! snap! I had nut roast mmmmmmm
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