An Australian Christmas

from w
While our Fiji relatives ate kokoda, fish in lolo and lovo food, we also had a fine Christmas feast with king prawns, roast and barbecued meats, salads, oysters, calamari - and that's only today's lunch! Peceli and I had a delightful Christmas and Boxing Day time with my brother's extemded family in a beautiful part of Victoria called Greendale. There were fifteen children and eleven adults and a great time of talanoa with relatives who we rarely see as they are scattered over the world even one family in France. Vina'a va'alevu guys. We had lots of fun toasts and when Peceli said 'Live simply that others may simply live' we just laughed as we chomped on the king prawns! Okay, this family do know that motto and thank goodness my brother's kids were brought up with confidence, with reverence for life, a motivation to change the world a little and a world view that does include the spiritual dimension. One photo is of the side garden of the beautiful house we slept in - a hospitable neighbour up the road from my brother. Some kids slept in a tent, others bunked down throughout the home of my brother and sister-in-law, and we were up the hill in a mansion with electronic doors and lights that go on and off as you move throughout the house! I wonder what fun a mouse would have creeping about with all the lights flashing!