We celebrate on the 23rd, the public holiday, with a roast turkey: first ever roasted in our steam oven, so was a bit apprehensive as to how it would go, but thankfully it went well, and we are still enjoying the bird in soup, sandwiches and anything else we can think of to get rid of it, lol.
We didn't go overboard with food - turkey with a few roast potatoes, steamed beans and honey glazed carrots, gravy and apple sauce.; tabara crab; salmon pressed sushi; pumpkin salad. It turned outto be just the right amount, and good mix at that.
PIL came over around 11am and we had lunch, after which Santa arrived to hand out the presents to K. She was super impressed with Santa and didn't even twig that it was daddy! Big presents included:
We bought PIL a digital photo frame, but since they have a Sony camera, got them a Sony photo frame, but it meant that I couldn't upload any photos of K onto it for them since we have a Casio. It was cool tho, and I think we should get one ourselves, for the piles of photos we take of K and R....
After presents, everyone (except K who was too excited playing with new presents) fell asleep, so in that sense, it was just like a Xmas at home in Aus, lol. I actually managed to bribe K upstairs into bed by reading her some Dora books, and she ended up having a nap, so it wasn't too bad. We started again for dinner, leftovers with added Chili Prawns (this was what almost ruined Xmas day for us....J had bought some prawns, and said that he would bake them or something nice. I therefore figured that was what he would do. So when I came downstairs Xmas morning after making the bed for PIL (who stayed over) and cleaning upstairs rooms, I was SHOCKED (to say the least) when I saw him making a chinese chili sauce. He said he was making えびチリ for lunch. I might have muttered under my breath a bit, then went upstairs cursing him and his stupid chili prawns on Xmas Day of all days. An altercation ensured (him calling me selfish for saying that we were not having Chili prawns on Xmas Day, and that Xmas was *not* all about me) but he actually apologised later when he realised that when I said Xmas was mine, I meant that it was my culture, my special day and that the choice of えびちり was probably not the best for such an occasion. In the end, we put it out for dinner with the leftovers, and his parents did enjoy it, but there was NO way I was gonna eat it, lol! And imagine having it for lunch?!!? Sorry, that was just so NOT on my Xmas wish list.)
I also managed to source out a Christmas Pudding a couple of days before Xmas, so I pigged out the whole day. We had that with individual strawberry shortcakes for dessert after dinner.
I must admit that for a Xmas in Japan, it was not all that bad (lol) def. better than previous ones. Although it still doesnt cut it when I think of everyone at home around the pool ALL DAY, and all Boxing Day....
We rang everyone on Christmas Day - this year my parents went down to my Auntie E's place in Victoria for Xmas. When I as little, we used to go there every year, when my Granny was alive. I think it has been a while since my parents have celebrated Xmas away from Bris too. So everyone was ばらばら this year anyway. When I spoke to my sister, she said it didnt feel like Xmas (her kids were down in Vic with my parents too, lol) and I said that I hoped to get back next year for Xmas in Aus...then I spoke to my brother, and he said that they are thinking of coming to Japan next year for Xmas, then to go skiing in Hokkaido over NY, and will we be here in Japan for Xmas next year. Hmmm. it would be cool if family came over for Xmas. I might have to try to convince my parents, and also my sister, or at least my nephew and neice to come over (my sister prob wont be able to, realistically, as she got sick on the plane to Melbourne, lol). Looks like next years Xmas will be interesting too.
