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!