Christmas began with vigil Mass on Christmas Eve, held under the stars outside one of our little country churches. Dad and I sat together on a rug on the grass, surrounded by hundreds of other parishioners. It was a beautiful evening and a lovely, simple ceremony.
The next morning I prepared a few dishes to take to Mum and Dad’s for lunch, fed the neighbour’s chooks and pony, then my husband and I sat down with a cuppa and exchanged gifts.
Lunch at Mum and Dad’s was relaxed and plentiful, with barbecue chicken and turkey, salads, and Mum’s ripe tomatoes with basil and bocconcini – still mouth-watering in memory.
After dessert and presents, we settled down together to watch The Sound of Music and let the food settle.