Peace and goodwill

What a lovely Christmas. We were 18 to lunch, they all arrived on time, 12.30 and after a few introductions, punctuated by chaos, we settled down to our first course. Shaved roasted beef fillet, smoked rainbow trout, peppered smoked salmon along with baguettes etc. Sion and Tiana brought a crayfish cocktail and I made some goats cheese and pesto pastries. After that the presents were handed out by Kelly and Jeremy, ably assisted by everyone else. Father Christmas had of course left gifts at the homes of the young ones but there were still a few more.
Main course was roasted Pork Loin and Lamb as well as chippolata sausages. Roast potatoes, glazed carrots and a big tossed salad. Rowlands mom had bought tiny red onions and I roasted those alongside the potatoes, delicious. For dessert we had Litchi Ice Cream (home made), Christmas Pudding, three colours of jelly, custard (home made of course) and cream. Cheese and biscuits were offered with coffee but there were only two valiant takers.
We had Papillon "champagne", kids bubbly, fruit juices and my personal favourite, Shirley Temples.
I guess we're on the list of highly privileged folk in this world.
The crowd finally left at around 4.30 . After the chores were done we sat down at 8.30 to watch our most recent traditional Christmas movie. Love Actually. We are such a couple of softies and thoroughly enjoy all the stories which we know so well by now. Richard Curtis produced a piece of mini history for future generations, complete with Ant and Deck, Barbie, Spider Man and the obligatory rolled eyes and "Duh"
On Saturday we lazed the day away, something we only do at this time of year. He watched sport and surfed while I went through piles of papers I've been saving, articles I want to read and so on. Most relaxing. That evenings intellectual offering was Beverly Hills Chihuahua (no, seriously) a no brainer which we totally enjoyed, including the note at the end from Disney and the American Humane Assc about not giving pets as gifts until you've put a lot of thought into the idea.
Sunday we only woke at 7.45 am. Wonderful. We showered and then hit the road. Off to the Waterfront where we had coffee at Vide Cafe. There was only one (delicious) cornetti left - a croissant type thing with delicate custard inside and a dusting of icing sugar outside - so we shared that and each had a (tasteless) toasted thing. Off to Exclusive Books (you'll perhaps recall that I don't frequent the local one) to use my voucher and spend a gift. It was so nice browsing. After that we took a drive through Green Point, past the stadium which looks just like a giant UFO and along through Sea Point, Clifton and Camps Bay.
We truly live in the BEST city in the world.
Over the top down to the city center, along De Waal Drive and finally, via Paarden Eiland we arrived at Century City. Ratanga Junction was in full swing and we chased into Canal Walk for the goodies we needed.
Finally back home where he sat at the computer sorting the photos we'd taken (the wonder of digital) and she embroidered some mermaids to be sewn on to a duvet cover for Kelly. Samatha and the kids popped in to say hello. What a nice day.
Last movie of the weekend, The Secret Life of Bees, starring Queen Latifa and Dakota Fanning. A gentle and most enjoyable film, a good way to end a weekend of total relaxation. It's back at work today, monday night ironing and then the countdown to New Years Eve.
Yes indeed, life is good.