Secret Santa Party

Secret Santa Party

Only three days to Christmas and the tempo is revving up.   Merv was up and ready long before 9am and watching the last hour of last night's Carols in the Domain which I had taped.  I was in the kitchen - peeling, cutting, dicing and packing a range of fruits and salad vegetables.  We were booked for morning tea with one of Mel's best friends and a midday Secret Santa lunch with family.  Full steam ahead and we are out the door just after 10am.  We arrive for morning tea and relax while enjoying delightfully juicy dragon fruit (pitaya), watermelon and colourful red and black grapes.  We chat sharing our passions and hopes for the future.  It is good to catch up, to share food and exchange small gifts.

My Sister's Amazing Christmas Cake

Next stop is our family Secret Santa lunch.  Everyone is already there but I thought ahead and I have already dropped off the presents and put the chicken salad and zucchini slice in my sister's fridge.  There is much hugging, kissing and niceties.  It's good to get together.  We adorn the table with festive eats and my younger sister has cooked an amazing Christmas cake.  It is huge and just like Masterchef she takes a knife, inflicts it from one side to another.  She lifts up the cake and voila it is cooked to perfection.  I love Christmas cake!  Our secret Santa began a month ago when everyone drew a name out of a hat and bought a present for that person to the value of $10.  The bearer remains anonymous and Santa gets the joy of giving.  It works well, everyone has a present and we all keep our bank balance in the black!
The afternoon is full of eating, chatting and reminiscing.  Everyone has enjoyed themselves, Santa has been and gone.  We part promising to catch up again soon.