The resturant sounds good.  We did that one year at a local pub/wedding facility ... was a great event & was close enough to walk home together thru the suburb.

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For us its our normal extended family gathering.  All our children & their in-laws come together in a different location for the day, every year.  There are ususlly a few surprise guests too.

This year at son's new property, with lots of space for the kids to ride electric motorbikes & cars.  Even a grass cricket pitch in the front paddock for us all to do damage to our ageing bodies.  Expect a few neighbours to join in too.  Trampolines, pool & a jumping castle to keep the ankle biters entertained.

After the present giving .. great hit with the kids we will have a hot & cold lunch in the airconditing, away from the flies too.

I bake a ham ... special maple syrup, burbon, cider, 5 spice & star anise recipe, (ordered ham today from our favourite butcher), SWMBO does her fantastic rolled pork loin.  The ton of crackling is always a favourite. Daughter in law will provide a hot baked turkey.  Son's father in law was once a butcher so that takes care of the carving.  Daughter from the bayside will provide a mountain of seafood. 

Lots of XMASy side dishes & party hats.  Everyone has a special XMASy signature dish to contribute as well.

SWMBO has ordered a case of selected red, white & sparkling wines that is reserved for the day  & offered to drive home too.

-- Edited by Cupie on Thursday 22nd of November 2012 10:06:17 AM

We have a booking for the Insland Sea Restaurant at Warooka on the Yorke Peninsula.  What are other travellers doing?

Gday...

For Xmas lunch I will be buying a Red Rooster roasted chook and veg, buying a bottle of champers, leaving the van in the showgrounds, taking my favourite lady up into the Victorian High Country in the Landy, settling down next to a lovely creek we know and enjoying the solitude, peace and tranquility that cannot be gained doing anything else.

For Xmas dinner, we will dine with her parents and enjoy their company, and relive their old 'war stories' of camping/prospecting trips around this country.

Bliss

Cheers - and enjoy yourselves - John

Cupie wrote:

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The resturant sounds good.  We did that one year at a local pub/wedding facility ... was a great event & was close enough to walk home together thru the suburb.

................................................

 

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 The restaurant is having seafood and traditional fare,, YUM.  Can free camp behind the restaurant, so can walk "home" afterwards.  Will miss not seeing the grandies this year, but I am sure there will be plenty of ankle biters there. 

Have done this before, spent Christmas Day at Eagles Nest above Thredbo - it snowed, spent Christmas Day at Ulverstone in Tassie - it snowed.  Wonder if it will snow on Yorke Peninsula this year.

This year will be a different one for us as we have given up going to a local beach for the two weeks & having xmas day with my sister as she lives at the same beach which we have done for the last 30+ yrs.

Its back to the G/Coast again to have it with our son & daughter this time.

JC.

As with Cupie, it is a coming together of our families. My daughter just married in the last fortnight, so to do something with her inlaws would be pretty special, they are lovely.

My daughter with the children, is a single mum so they spend Xmas eve at our place and wake up to Santa there.

My bro and I make an egg nog to knock a cow over and never more than a few sips can be had BUT its tradition

A mix of cold and hot foods, my roast potatoes, the daughters German potato salad.

My son in law makes the most amazing cob bread dip, thats become a must on Xmas day, along with caramel and banana trifle.

I get together with the eldest daughter about a month out and plan the finer points of the menu. The youngest is an eater not a chef.

No matter what we do we have a very special day together and I look forward to it every year.

Firefly wrote:

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As with Cupie, it is a coming together of our families. My daughter just married in the last fortnight, so to do something with her inlaws would be pretty special, they are lovely.

My daughter with the children, is a single mum so they spend Xmas eve at our place and wake up to Santa there.

My bro and I make an egg nog to knock a cow over and never more than a few sips can be had BUT its tradition

A mix of cold and hot foods, my roast potatoes, the daughters German potato salad.

My son in law makes the most amazing cob bread dip, thats become a must on Xmas day, along with caramel and banana trifle.

I get together with the eldest daughter about a month out and plan the finer points of the menu. The youngest is an eater not a chef.

No matter what we do we have a very special day together and I look forward to it every year.

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 And on boxing day, you hit the gym???

 And on boxing day, you hit the gym???

You must be physic mate.

I can feel the excitement building here. The grandies, one in kindy, the  other year 3, are doing their Chrissie cards for their class mates.

I have not been told yet 

As we will be slow poking it back to Qld in the new van, don't quite know yet.

Cancelled plans for family get together (brawl) and being selfish by spending this year together, might find a pub for lunch ??? but one thing for sure, a good time will be had with extra special company.

The rest can fend for themselves!! 

Hi Deb-Gary,

Not sure about either of the caravan parks you mentioned, we usually stay at Coral Coast (Top Tourist) when we head for Townsville - surprised this time, we have been offered to put our van in s-i-l's yard!! But have found Coral Coast really great, yes you get the planes overhead, but having lived up there previously at Mt Louisa, and also at Oakey, we are used to planes flitting around, so they don't bother us. Perhaps we may be able to get together for a drink or something over the Christmas/New Year period. When are you leaving to head north - may see you on the road somewhere.

We wish everyone,no matter what or where you are a very safe and enjoyable Christmas day.

For us is a case od the weather and choices?

If the weather is fair to good, we will be out on the brinny somewhere having a quiet Christamas day, enjoying the moment and each other.

Weather not looking too flash, will probably tow the van up to The Bay of Fires and have Christmas there.

Ken.

Will be having the family and inlaws at our place.

An exciting Christmas ahead as our first grandchild is due in a week, a new little Oliver to join our family celebrations. I am sure he or she will not remember it, but we will.

So it will be roast lamb, pork, chicken and ham with heaps of veg sides, followed by a selection of sweets, including plum pudding. All washed down with champers, beers and wines.

Glenda

Quiet Christmas Day with the parents and a big family get together on Boxing Day at my sister's.  Will miss the usual Boxing Day of cold leftovers and Boxing Day Test - and the start of the Sydney to Hobart if we get up early enough (not!!) - as it is a two hour drive each way. Was hoping for the Sunday before Christmas for the family get together as my eldest grandson usually goes away camping with his mates after lunch on Christmas Day.