Thursday, December 22, 2016

HIT THE DECK! MAN THE HALLS!! HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS!



Merry Christmas from Remy and Shama

I heard that Christmas is nigh.  Is this true? I don’t believe everything I hear, read or am told.  What happened to 2016?  Did I sleep through it? Did I, perhaps by accident, tear the months off my calendar, leaving only December?  Surely 12 months can’t have passed since last Christmas!

From the moment the Christmas seed was planted melodies have been swirling around in my head non-stop, e.g. “Just hear those surf bells jinglin’, ring-ting-tinglin’, come on it’s lovely weather for a surfboard ride together with you.  The heat is descending and friends are callin’  ‘Yoo-hoo’! Come on, it’s lovely weather for a surfboard ride together with you.” 

Listen up!  Tinsel is a-glistening; balls are a-baubling!  Whoo-hoo! Stop your dawdlin’!

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas so I guess the stories I’ve heard are true.  

I’m not dreaming of a White Christmas.  Not overly-fond of the heat, I’m hoping for a cool Christmas, though.  

With no intentions of going anywhere I’ll Be Home for Christmas.  Do You Hear What I Hear?  Hark!  The Herald Angels Sing!   

I won’t be Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.  I’m not putting up a tree.  

Rudolph’s nose is still red.  Has he spent too long under the sun, or could it be he’s been hitting the rum again?  Drunk leading a sleigh is not a good look!  

The Little Drummer Boy has a brand-spanking new drum and pair of drumsticks.

Here’s a bit of trivia for your Christmas bonbons – the popular song was written in 1941 by American classical music composer Katherine Kennicott Davis.  It was recorded in 1951 by the Trapp Family Singers.  Yep! The Von Trapp family who later were made even more famous by “The Sound of Music”.  

The Little Drummer Boy had been busily drumming long before Julie Andrews brought the hills alive by dancing to Jingle Bell Rock.  

It’s never a Silent Night when he’s wandering along the streets, but no one ever complains.  Some even call out to him, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside!”

I never saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus.  On Christmas Eve Santa was too busy for any hanky-panky.  As soon as Santa Baby filled the pillow cases hanging off the end of the beds of my brother and me (no measly stockings for us), Santa yelled out – “Run, Rudolph, Run!”

Fortunately, Rudolph always allowed Santa enough time to leap into his sleigh before he did as instructed.  

Be prepared! Joy to the World!  Don’t have a Blue Christmas! Santa Claus Is Coming to Town!  It’s Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingling all the way! 

Last Christmas I had a Jolly Holly Christmas.  I intend doing similar this year.   

I won’t be All Alone On Christmas – my best mates, Remy and Shama will be sharing Christmas with me.  Do They Know It’s Christmas?  Yes, they sure do!    They love the Silver Bells, the Mistletoe and Wine. - well, I like the wine - and they hang around the mistletoe.

Frosty, the Snowman will have to remain holed up in the freezer.  Sandy, the Sandman can take his place on the beach throughout Christmas.

My thanks are extended to everyone - friends, acquaintances and strangers alike – for treating me kindly during 2016; to those who were never miserly with their smiles.

Last, but by no means least, my special thanks go out to you - my blogger friends...for sticking with me through 2016, and for taking time to respond to my ramblings.  Your friendship through this medium is as valued by me as our friendship would be in the “real” world.  There are times, oft times, I prefer our world within our blogosphere to the “real” world.  We frequently make more sense!!

We Need a Little Christmas...each day of the year.   

If you’re Driving Home for Christmas - stay alert; be safe.  

All I Want for Christmas is peace on earth, happiness and good health for everyone. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Prawn-Melon Salad: In a large salad bowl gently combine 750g cooked, peeled, deveined, tails intact king prawns, ½ honeydew melon, peeled and chopped, ¼ watermelon, chopped,  1 small red onion, halved and thinly sliced, 200g crumbled feta, 4 grilled prosciutto slices, torn and 1/2c fresh mint leaves.  You can add some chopped rockmelon, too, if you like.  Make dressing:- ¼ cup x-virgin olive oil, 2tbs red wine vinegar and 1tsp Dijon mustard; drizzle dressing over salad just before serving; toss gently.

Christmas Citrus Pork: Remove rind from 2.5kg boned pork loin; rub salt and oil into rind for crackling.  Seasoning;  combine 1/2c  cooked wild rice, 1/2c brown rice, 1c chopped pecans, 2tsp butter, 1 finely chopped small onion, 1 finely chopped celery stalk, 1 crushed garlic clove, 1/2c stale breadcrumbs, 6 shallots, chopped, 1tsp grated fresh ginger and 1 lightly beaten egg. Open loin out flat; place seasoning along centre; roll up; secure firmly. Place seam side down in dish; bake in hot oven 30mins; reduce heat to moderate; bake 1hr. Brush with combined orange juice, marmalade, honey and soy sauce; bake 30mins. Place rind on oven tray; bake on top rack until crisp while pork is cooking.  Citrus Sauce; chop 1 peeled orange; combine with 1c orange juice,  zest, 1/4c orange marmalade, 2tbs lemon juice, 2tsp French mustard and 1/4c water. Over med-heat; cook; stir until thickened and still a bit chunky; chill. Serve with sliced, cold pork. The pork can be cooked previous day.

Mango Salsa:  Cut 1 large, ripe, peeled mango into 2cm pieces; place in bowl with 1 avocado, cut into 2cm pieces, 1 finely chopped fresh red birds-eye de-seeded chilli, 1/2c fresh coriander leaves, 2tbs finely chopped red onion, 2tbs lime juice and 1tbs x-virgin olive oil; toss; season; serve with your Christmas ham.   

Stay cool....be happy - and love the ones you’re with! 



29 comments:

  1. Anonymous5:58 PM

    Made me smile. Very clever. Best Christmas wishes to you.

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    1. Hey there, Andrew. I'm glad I made you smile! My job is done! :)

      Merry Christmas to you...enjoy it to your utmost. Thanks for coming by. :)

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  2. A very happy Christmas to you and your furry friends.
    I have a fondness for six white boomers. Christmas, aussie style.

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    1. G'day, EC.....I hope you have a lovely Christmas, too. I hope it's not too hot down your way...stay cool...and enjoy at leisure.

      Thanks for coming by. Cuddles to Jazz from me and my two furry rascals! :)

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  3. Well done with all the songs! I had no idea the Von Trapp family recorded the Little Drummer boy.
    The weather here is expected to be HOT, ugh! so I'll be staying close to whatever air conditioner I can find.
    Christmas hugs from me and Angel, who seems to be in a biting mood lately :(

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    1. Hi River....Yes, I've been keeping watching on the temps down your way on the weather reports at night. Not good at all...stay cool...if and where you can.

      A Merry Christmas to you...I hope you have a lovely one...and cuddles to Angel....take good care. :)

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  4. How come you are not sending Christmas wishes to the helpful folk at Telstra for dealing so swiftly and efficiently with your telephone issues?

    Loved the pictures of Remy and Sharma. Please give them tasty Christmas slices of NZ wild salmon from me... but don't send the bill.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Yorkie...

      Actually, I did wish each and everyone of those with whom I dealt during the lengthy, frustrating crisis I had with my phones a Merry Christmas...all of them except that Dexter fellow.

      I wasn't rude to anyone of them...as I believe that doesn't help in getting the job done.

      And the two men who came and fixed the line on Monday were lovely fellows and I shook their hands and wished them well, too.

      To my surprise and gratitude I also received my mobile phone back on Thursday...the one I'd returned to Telstra the previous Friday because there was a fault...and all is fixed with it, too.

      Remy and Shama send their Christmas miaows to you ...they have a few special treats awaiting them!

      I wish you and Shirley a very Merry Christmas...thanks for coming by. :)

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  5. Merry Christmas to you dear friend!

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    1. G'day there, Sandie....so nice of you to drop in. I wish you and yours all the very best for Christmas and may 2017 treat you all with kindness.

      Take good care...hugs from Down Under. :)

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  6. Bedt wishes for Christmas and the New Year!

    And thank you for the recipes I filtched during the year.

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  7. You're welcome, Cosmo.

    Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Thanks for the smiles and for coming by throughout the year. :)

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  8. I love your Christmas recipes Lee. I couldn't get watermelon today at the supermarket ~ but Christmas will survive in spite of that. I am looking forward to the prawns. Have a lovely couple of days Lee with your fur babies.

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    1. Thank you, Carol....my very best Christmas wishes to you, too. :)

      I did what I needed to do at the supermarket etc., yesterday...I've a huge hunk of watermelon in my fridge. I'll think of you as I munch away on it! lol

      I hope you have a wonderful Christmas...enjoyed your way.

      Mine is going to be low-key...purposely. I'll enjoy it...my way. I'll be playing lots of music, keeping Remy and Shama entertained!

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  9. My head is swirling from your clever montage.

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    1. You sure it's not from the eggnog, Annie? :)

      Have yourself a Merry Christmas...I hope you have a wonderful time with your family and loved ones.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  10. And the same to you, Gail! Enjoy...relax...time for reflective leisure. :)

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  11. Aww! Remy looks like my Mandrake. ;)

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  12. Trust you had a good one Lee..
    Only put my tree up about Wednesday.
    Merry Christmas...

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    1. Hey Margaret....I had a quiet day...purposely so...just me and my two furry rascals. Ate well, and too much, of course...but then I spent the afternoon digesting it as I watched "The Phantom of the Opera - at the Royal Albert Theatre". I've seen it before a couple of times...it was the 25th anniversary of "The Phantom"...and it is truly wonderful.

      I hope you had a good day, too. Now I'm watching the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race...it's about to begin.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  13. Remy and sharma do not look very full of Christmas cheer!
    Put some brandy sauce on their dinner!

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    1. Oh, they were full of good cheer, Mr. Ad-Man. They kept close to me all throughout Christmas Day and Boxing Day...very affectionate were they...and they're still being very cuddly. They had their treats and were very happy. Those photos were taken a couple of years ago. :)

      I hope you had a lovely Christmas. Thanks for coming by. :)

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  14. Merry Christmas to you, lovely!

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  15. Thank you, Lux...I hope you had a wonderful on.e :)

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  16. Hope your Christmas was Merry and Bright, my friend!

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    1. I'm running late with my response, Lynn..sorry! I hope yours was, too! Thanks! :)

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    ReplyDelete