Belmont North's Eunice C. English may have a funny accent but she's been an Aussie since she landed in this sunburnt country, having come from the UK in 1972.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Even after 47 years here, she still wants snow for Christmas. [Don't we all. Some rain would do, though]
"But I'm happy to have some snow on a Christmas card while I sit in the air-conditioning looking at the sun," Eunice said.
"I admit I love a traditional British roast Christmas dinner, but I can get that here.
"One of my best Christmas Day memories was a family picnic with salad and fresh prawns at the top of King Edward Park."
Those days are gone and people are gone.
"There have been many changes and now, like so many people, I shall be glad when Christmas is finally over for another year," she said.
"Christmas is for children, when it is all still magic. I almost said 'bah humbug!', but then two Christmas cards arrived from the frozen north."
She wonders whether they came on the same jet in the same postal bag. They did come in the same bag on a postie's motorbike.
Eunice's yearning for snow was heightened in recent days as the mercury rose towards 40 degrees. The cat Christmas card, with its snow imagery, kind of made her wish come true.
"Now I have snow and a funny cat that made me laugh," she said. [We had a giggle at that cat, too]
Her cards now sit by the window, one from a Scottish cousin named Maureen and one from Scottish friends in England.
"The second card is bringing me a bit of Scotland, where I grew up. Beautifully handmade by Hazel and specially for me, says John in the accompanying note. How cool is that."
After Christmas, the cards will go into a box for memories.
"They said on TV the other night that people are now sending emails instead of cards, but that will pass," she said.
"There is nothing nicer than a tangible piece of decorated card showing that someone thought of you."
Christmas Coffee
TAFE Newcastle urges readers to spice up their Christmas celebrations with spicy iced coffee with a splash of brandy.
TAFE tourism and hospitality head teacher Ajith Cooray said it was the "ideal after-dinner drink for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day".
"These drinks are best when prepared two to three days before Christmas, giving it time for the flavours to really develop. It's delicious and can be served with or without ice, or with ice cream, really letting you customise it to suit your celebrations."
Ingredients [serves 24]: 100 milliltres of espresso-style coffee, 3 litres of full cream milk, 8 cardamoms, 8 cloves, 1 teaspoon of nutmeg, two 500-gram cans of condensed milk, 2 teaspoons of vanilla essence and 100 millilitres of good quality brandy [cognac!].
