Did what I think lots of people probably did aorund NZ today....held an early Chiristmas gathering. 'My side', the Barrells, gathered for brunch in Amberley today.
We had ham-filled croissants, filled rolls, trifle, fresh fruit, mince pies, and a lovely Jaffa cake delivered from Janine, next door. We repayed her by opening the windows and inviting everyone to have a turn at Singstar.
Niece Rach brought along her magnificent Halloween werewolf costume, which naughty nephew Jason put on, then leered over the fence at a young neighbour who was gently rocking on her swing. Bit like the Anti-Santa. I reject any suggestion that it was my idea.
I hear from a friend tonight that a member of her family removed her socks and placed them on the dinner table.
I will faithfully collect and record on here any of those moments of family folklore, for posterity. Send me the word. Christmas is ripe for such things.
And thinking of family, one of my enduring memories of childhood (scarred, see?) was of my three elder (late teenage) sisters, Marnie, Trisha and Mary, all sitting little me on a kitchen chair, standing in front of me, and using their beautiful singing voices and much pathos to render me a blubbing fool. And their song of choice?
A dragon lives forever
But not so little boys
Painted wings and giant strings
Make way for other toys.
One grey night it happened,
Jackie Paper came no more
And Puff that mighty dragon,
He ceased his fearless roar.
His head was bent in sorrow,
Green scales fell like rain,
Puff no longer went to play,
Along the cherry lane.
Without his life-long friend,
Puff could not be brave,
So Puff that mighty dragon sadly
Slipped into his cave. Oh!
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And froliced in the autumn mist
In a land called Honali,
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And froliced in the autumn mist
In a land called Honali...
Puff the Magic Dragon, sob!!
Me, in the black, with my friend Kathy.
Did I ever tell you about the time my mother in law made a Christmas hat made entirely out of recycled Christmas decorations? There was a miniature Xmas tree sticking out at a very odd angle :) That was the Christmas that we watched an hour long slide show of sister in law's Pacific Island cruise while father in law sat grumpily in the kitchen refusing to take part..and my poor old brother in law was being consoled as he sobbed away because his wife had left him 3 months prior, and my other brother in law was being fed spoonfuls of dessert lovingly across the table by his new devoted wife, oh dear...families are funny old things ay?
ReplyDeleteThe hour has struck for me to apologise for that teenage sadism! Poor wee mite. Do u remember the time I took you to Jesus Christ Superstar at the Theatre Royal?
ReplyDeleteOh, I certainly remember that wonderful production. Set off a life-long love of that show. And we had pancakes in Chancery Lane, and a trip to Delarno's Magic Shop!!
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