I have every Christmas, wanted to get away from an English Christmas.
Pudding cake all the trimmings, pork ham, roast chicken, gee how I hate it.
My heaven, my wonderful Christmas would be a salad with a beer, maybe the sausage on the Bar B Q but it will never be.
Tradition binds me, the eldest it is my job, yes I am fair dinkum.
If I have my dream Christmas I have it alone.
Got away with easy cooking, chooks in the bag and no one knew they got micro waved.
pork looked good out of the turbo oven, but why?
One in my family true, thinks the baked dinner has something to do with worshiping God, other think it is not Christmas without it.
Tell me good news about real enjoyment and real Aussie tucker.

Belly,
I think the answer would be "what didn't I eat"

We had
- types of cold beer
- wine
- soft drinks
- ham, turkey (cold)
- two different types of potatoes (sweet taro, and two type of ordinary)
- 4 types of cheese
- dry bickies
- 3 types of pate
- 3 types of spread
- 2 cabana
- 3or 4 types of dry pretzel munchies.
- cake
- pudding and ice cream (honey comb)
- Did I mention beer
- 2 types cold slaw
- 2 types of salad
- chocies and jelly lollies, individually wrapped nuts,incl peanuts. (eldest son's idea of a joke)
- two small shihtzu running a-muck
- Three women a disapproving wife , SIL , my mum
- me, two sons and a daughter having a whale of a time mischief and did I for get a beer or two.

- we had three women a chating, Two children a flaking, son a performing, me listening and a laughing.(pickies of flaked, on their face books (he he he))
- two dogs a mooching
A great day was had by all
To day......2 panadols a swallowing and a beroca a drinking all around. Did I mention the odd hangover a throbbing?

GUESS WHAT I'll be having for lunches this week .....leftovers a plenty.

It seems examinator you had the Christmas I wish to avoid.
But had too.
Why?
In my case family loyalty holds me to an English winter style holiday.
I love hearing of Aussie innovation, a gum tree Christmas, Bar b q or even cold meats and salad.
Surely one day we will evolve and develop our own Christmas.
At this time of year, while not being a believer, I am aware why Christians celebrate the season, refrain from giving an opinion.
But my story of the many Christmases I did not want to have, is true.
My problem was a very much full on Christian, who insists the British style food is a celebration of Christ.
Gluttony, is celebrated in his home every day of the year.

Hi Belly - at our place we haven't done the traditional Christmas dinner for years. This year we went for prawns, cold ham and lots of fruit and salads - not to mention various forms of chocolate and the obligatory fruitcake. Oh, and much beer and wine.

Since we didn't have the kids or grandkids with us this year, we just kind of grazed, guzzled and snoozed all day - after which we watched the DVD somebody gave us of Baz Luhrman's atrocious 'Australia' movie, which was a very good way of putting us to sleep.

Mind you, I love the old-fashioned Christmas roast - in these parts we do that in July when it's cold and occasionally snowy, with absolutely no religious connotations!

Belly,
There was no hot food, it was all cold including the beer or two. The idea of BBQ on a hot day that rained? Nah.
All that cooking, all that cleaning....yuk
I don't see it as tied to English style,just a general pig out. 'Chook', my wife rules, the roost, she loves to put on a feast, and will do so at the drop of a hat. Besides which BBQ's tend to become a production with hot meat, anyway,(with blowies).

The Mum and sister in Law are the Crazy Christians One a nun the other a fundy. The rest aren't we celebrate Bacchus principles rather than Christian.

30 years of marriage has taught me '*don't interfere with the running of the house, or else*'. We, the rest, just let it roll and amuse ourselves, aside from doing what we're told. We did the park thing BBQ years, ago she just moved the venue. The restaurant, she waited untill we got home then jumped into the nibblies etc ...and complained over the bill. Over the top.....definitely.. but she's happiest this way. As she puts it she feels most content this way because its *her* brood. (hence, one of the reasons for the 'chook' nick name)

belly,
At our place, we have a sea food Xmas Eve, beginning about 4.00pm with canapes and then preparing each of numberous courses, as we go, untill we hit the sack about 10.00pm.

Xmas dinner is traditional, not for religion, but because we love roasts and have many during the year. We love roast veges and thick gravy on the meat. It is also an easy way to cater for a lot as you just throw it in the oven and put the veges in about a hour before the meat is due to be done. We can socialise with our guests while it is cooking. We generally forgo the pudding and have fruit salad and cream. Sweets and nuts available all day.

That evening we pick at leftovers and the same on boxing day. Fried roast veges and ham make a beautifull breakfast. Ham and turkey salads go down well for other meals.

We usually get enough bar-b-ques at community events and fund raisers during the year. Am told that even our local Maccas was closed Xmas day and that is good.

Even when the polys do their damnest to ruin this country, we still do pretty good. Tough life!