Like this:

Robbie and I set off on Christmas Eve.  I thought that there was bound to be a rush on the Ferry and it would be running as a shuttle.   I was wrong. We arrived in that dead lunch time period and had a longish wait. The Ticket lady, also surprised,  told us she had even read the sports section of the paper,every moment expectin the rush to start.

Time for a good coffee.  It was hot so we opened the car so Molly would not overheat. I thought about the absurd new road law that says we must totally lock our cars if we walk more than 10 ft. from them. Everyone has been talking of the absurdity of such a rule with pets.  Then we all had a glbal warming surpise! We were inundated by the most amazing horizontal rain storm. Robbie nobly rushed back to the car and shut the back and all the windows,  but everything was already soaking.

When we arrived at the Matilda (the caravan) Robbie produced  decorations and a branch from our christmas tree gathering day. It looked  festive with the special addition of the Beetles in cube form!  Little figures made from cardboard – which Robert had been cutting and folding while we were on the in Ferry.

By morning Santa had come and brought Robert a giant imitation match lighter which he donated to Matilda and a stash of chocolate  money - eaten fast! We had our presents – various absolutely correctly chosen books and DVDs.  Molly and Neika gave me “Love over Scotland” just in case I needed to be reminded ot Caroline and Andrew and all in the frozen North. The mobile rang – “Happy Christmas” from James and Edwina. Nick arrived from across the field and we tucked into a hearty bacon and eggs breakfast.  I had decreed a brisk walk to earn our Christmas Feast.

Nick has been working on clearing the track to the Lagoon – about a 30 minute walk.

Over the last couple of years the way had become impassable by 4WD because of  shrubs turned to trees, fallen branches and puddles a mud health spa owner would have been envious of. His recent work has transformed it into a stroll in a park.

At the shore of the lagoon it was good to see Molly enjoy sloshing about dreaming of catching a black swan for her Christmas lunch while Rob rested on a log.

On our return Molly had an aberration.  Yes! old Dogs have dementia too!  Two thirds of the way back up the track we find one of the mud spa puddles, such an ideal treat for a long coated dog. Rob and Nick were striding on I hovered nearby in case she did what she did last time – go back the way she had come. She did! and with such speed. She thought we had left her. Like a dog demented (she is) she headed back to the Lagoon. Deaf too – so no call will get her back. Thank Goodness Robert turned too and ran after her, but he was back at the lagoon before he caught her. Now Robert had earned his Christmas dinner.

Back home we adjourned to Nick’s tower.  He had gone ahead and set a fire in the washing machine liner BBQ and wrapped our bird in copious amounts of foil. Potatoes – sweet and regular were done the same way. The starter was an enormous oyster Nick found by the lagoon, smoked salmon and dips. We were prepared for fire with the old Karingal back pack spray while the wine cooled in a red water bucket.

Such a feast – followed by a break in which I took a walk on Cloudy Bay Beach and then Christmas pudding in Nick’s main room. Later up in the van we enjoyed our new reads by candle light. It may not have been a meal of enormous elegance but it was delicious and certainly my first proper bush Christmas after 34 years in Australia.

Advertisement