Christmas celebrations - I love them

Tomorrow it will be New Years Eve.   We have experienced a week of Christmas celebrations.  And what an enjoyable week it has been too.  We have loved every minute of it.

Boxing Day lunch was spent with Sonya in her new house.  Sonya's parents, John and Jennie arrived from the UK on Christmas morning, and it was so lovely to meet them.  We ate a most delicious lunch, beautifully prepared by Sonya, with the help of Darren.  

In between the celebrations we managed to watch a little cricket on television, when it was not being halted by the rain.

I must mention that Adelaide, and the surrounding areas experienced a terrible storm on Tuesday night, with high winds and heavy rain.  Many houses had power cuts, which meant they were without power for hours.  It was also extremely humid.

But the next day we managed to drive south to Southborough, to spend the day at Sue's holiday house, where we caught up with her family and friends.  The weather turned out to be beautifully warm and sunny, and we all enjoyed a lazy afternoon talking, eating and drinking good wine.  The younger members went down to the beach for a swim, or for a look around Victor Harbour.  We all had a very enjoyable day.

Walter, Darren, Donna and I went for an evening drive around Aldinga Beach to look at the Christmas lights.  There were not as many this year.  However, the house in the photograph below certainly made the trip worthwhile.

And finally a Christmas lunch at Dave's house in the woodland area of Aldinga Beach.  It was quite a scrumptious spread, with many people contributing to the meal.

It was very difficult to choose, such an array of delicious food.

The prawns were enormous.

We all sat around the table in the verandah, sounded by bush.  Perfect.

A slice of mouthwatering pavlova.

After lunch we walked down the road to Aldinga Beach.  So easy.

Lucy, Jay and Scarlet carried Lucy's giant inflatable white swan down to the beach but the waves were too rough.  We also took the surfboards and body boards down, and much fun was had trying to surf the waves, which were the best I had ever seen there.  No doubt due to the storm, a few days previously.

Although I was tumbled by the waves a few times, I mostly managed to stay upright.  My attempt at body surfing and using a body board were total failures.

The tide was coming in, and many vehicles were having to drive though the water in order to get back to the entrance of the beach.  I hope they all washed their vehicles well afterwards.

Vehicles are allowed on the beach.

Elvis, the dog, looking at the cricket game.  Unfortunately he was not allowed to join in the fun.  Elvis is a passionate 'catch the tennis ball' fan.

I have been eating all my favourite food, and I think it is time to slow down.  We have had three lots of prawns, at Donna's, Sonya's and Dave's,  the freshest of rock oysters at Sonya's, an assortment of cold meats, mouth watering hams, tasty pulled pork, an array of fresh salads, plus fruit salad, pavlovas, cheesecakes and to top it all off fish and chips from Jimmies, the popular take away shop on the seafront.

Australians are definitely foodies.