Christmas Eve reflections and a chestnut soup

Christmas eve!  It has been busy. I've made nut roast, cranberry nut buns and chestnut soup.  Presents have been wrapped with the help of our sticky tape dynamo, Sylvia, and more are yet to be done.  We've been sitting watching Carols by Candlelight on the telly with some festive punch.  The tree is lit with coloured lights.  I am taking a moment to get this post done while Sylvia helps E with present wrapping.  Here are a few random photos and thoughts from Christmas this year.

Brandy Raisin Macarons at Cacao at the GPO

Some bizarre sightings of Santa Claus this year

• Santa on a jetski salt and pepper shakers - see in a shop
• Santa in sleigh being pulled by a dinosaur in a local garden- heard on radio
• Santa breathing dragon's breath in Hong Kong display - relayed to me by my friend

And it seems that cars are now believing themselves to be Santa's reindeer.  This year has seen the new phenomena of people attaching reindeer antlers to their cars.

Melbourne Town Hall

Why do we have to queue and pay to see Santa in Melbourne's major department stores in the city.  Sylvia is not old enough to want a photo with a strange man with a beard but she would have enjoyed seeing Santa.  But I will not pay and queue for the sight!  Where is the spirit of Christmas?

Santa climbing the Eiffel Tower on our tree

I love our Christmas trees but others do it differently - some alternative Christmas trees I have come across:

• A Christmas tree on a tea towel
• Cindy and Michael's Dalek with tinsel
• Brydie's Bundle of Sticks

Miss Marples tearoom, Sassafras

Among all the joy, spare a thought for the sadness Christmas brings.  The death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has made international news.  However, there have been some notable sad news that have more meaning for me:

• Ian "Molly" Meldrum has been in a coma after falling from a ladder while preparing the house for a Christmas party.  My best wishes for his health.  He brought so much music and enthusiastic into my childhood.
• George Whitman died last week.  He resurrected the English Language bookstore, Shakespeare and Company in Paris after Sylvia Beach's first incarnation closed.  I visited the store on my first trip to Paris and was offered accommodation there.  Unfortunately at the time I was too naive to realise it was a genuine offer.
• Bruce Ruxton, former RSL president, died this week.  He was no role model for me with his right wing views but he was always there with a news bite through so much of my childhood.

For each high profile death and sadness, there are many of us with our own private griefs.  I know of those among fellow bloggers and others in my life who will face this Christmas lacking someone or even something that matters deeply.  Or there are those like "vegan alone at Christmas".  My thoughts go out to everyone whose Christmas isn't the jolly merry event that the media likes to portray.

Dinner tonight was a relaxed affair of Celery and Chestnut Soup (recipe below) and Cranberry Nut Buns (recipe to come - thanks Kari).   It is similar to other chestnut soups I have made - velvety and flavoursome.  I was relieved by the end of the day that it was simple and quick.  I had already been the shops twice - used up my walnuts intended for the nut roast when I made the buns and I also used up sour cream so I got inventive and served it with brandy cream.  Surprisingly this sweet cream worked but is not essential.  I am sending the soup to Ricki for her Holiday edition of Wellness Weekends.
 

Here is a nativity scene from Melbourne's city square.  Nothing fancy yet the kids loved it.  Sylvia has been very excited by Christmas and especially baby Jesus.  I've seen her running around the kitchen yelling, "I want Jesus", because she was impatient about getting the Jesus figure out on the advent calendar.  You can see below how much dolly loved it too.  She sat in the highchair this morning to view the calendar.

We have had a couple of hot days over the last few days.  Sylvia got out her woollie hat yesterday before we went swimming.  In fact it was so hot that her a new plastic sparkly hat half-melted in the hot car while we were doing our supermarket shopping.  Tonight we have had a thunderstorm but it has dissipated quickly.  I am not sure we have seen the last of it but the weather is forecast to be 30 C tomorrow.

Sylvia now asleep.  All the presents are wrapped.  A mince pie is left out for Santa.  The table is set for breakfast tomorrow morning.  I wish everyone a merry Christmas, a great feast and a happy and safe holiday.

Celery and Chestnut Soup
Adapted from The Great Big Vegetable Challenge
serves 4-6

1-2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2-4 garlic cloves, crushed
4-6 celery sticks, sliced
1 carrot peeled and chopped
400g tin of chestnuts
2 medium potatoes, chopped
1 tsp salt flakes
3 cups stock
juice of 1/2 an orange
freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons brandy cream, or yoghurt (optional)

Heat olive oil in a large saucepan (I used a stockpot).  Gradually add onion, garlic, celery, and carrot as you chop them.  Gently sweat until softened.  Add chestnuts, potatoes, salt and stock.  Bring to the boil and simmer for about 20 minutes.  Puree with a hand held blender.  Add orange juice and pepper to taste.  Serve with brandy cream or yoghurt as desired.

On the Stereo:
Dr. Demento Presents the Greatest Novelty Records of All Time, Volume VI: Christmas