A scary Christmas present

Christmas this year started technically at 12.01am. I was rostered on to be 'Vision Mixer' for the streaming videos of my church's Christmas eve services - 7.30pm and 11pm. The latter finishing just after midnight.

I've been volunteering to be a camera operator and vision mixer since church started live streaming a few months ago. It's a bit of a dream come true as being a TV camera person was the second job I wanted to be when I grew up (this is before I discovered computers!). Mixing is a challenging job, and I have greater respect for those who do this as their paid job. It's one of those things when done right, you don't even think about it. The Christmas Eve services should be uploaded to the Seeds Uniting YouTube channel soon if you're interested.

I love Christmas. It was always an exciting time when I was a little kid, and I still enjoy it now that I'm well and truly all grown up. It is special as a time to remember the birth of Jesus, and a season of catching up with family and remembering old traditions (or possibly making some new ones).

COVID has obviously had a massive impact on many. Fortunately here in Adelaide and South Australia things are currently in a good state, so any remaining restrictions didn't impact us personally. I'm all too aware that there are many who are doing it much tougher, or who are missing loved ones that couldn't be with them due to travel restrictions, or tragically through sickness or death.

Narelle loves a brunch (and she's not alone there!), so she organised to have her parents and my aunty over for Christmas morning.

For lunch, we headed over to my sister's place. Food continued to be a highlight of the day. My sister, her husband and their very cute dog did a great job of lunch.

Christmas lunch.

Yum! Oh and it turns out the Christmas crackers had balloons in that you could make balloon animals with. That was a great laugh.

Then just when I didn't think I could fit another thing in, Mum brought out the Christmas slices for afternoon tea!

Christmas slices

Wow. We got to bring some leftovers home (plus my mother in-law's home-made fudge). Not sure how long they'll last. I'll have to try and keep up the physical activity to counteract all the good eating.

I'm on annual leave for the next 3 weeks. Will be great to have a break, recharge, catch up with friends and family a bit more, and staying cool over summer.

Oh, and what was hiding behind that scary wrapping paper (see first picture)? That was my son showing his creative flare to wrap a bucket of Cadbury's Favourites chocolates. Still deciding if I'm going to share them🙂