Who on earth doesn’t agree that Chocolate makes it better? No matter what IT is, chocolate, in its many forms will do you good my friend. And no one knows that better than my friend Peter. This bloke from Down Under is the most caring of fathers and I love reading his blog Chocolate Makes It Better with a strong Australian accent echoing in my head. Now, to top it off, he has joined the Great Eight over at DadCentric where you can catch him from time to time. I was thrilled when Peter agreed to share what an Australian Christmas was all about. So, break out the sunscreen, pull out a vegemite sandwhich and enjoy.

Christmas Down Under.

The haze of a summer hangs low on the horizon while white fluffy clouds meander past in a floating line. The smell of freshly cut grass infiltrates my senses. The sounds of children playing in the backyard fill my ears. It’s early and it’s already hot. The night before was sweltering and the storms the weatherman predicted didn’t happen, leaving a low muggy heat hanging in the air.

I look out my front window and see children riding new bikes, laughing and yelling in the morning heat. My wife is cutting up slices of icy cold watermelon for later in the day, humming her favorite song and smiling at our daughter who is shoving another slice of vegemite on toast into her mouth.

“Honey, what time are we going to our parents?”

“I told you last night, we have to pick up the seafood then get some petrol. After that we can go, so we should get there about 11.”

When we arrive it’s sweltering. We walk up the driveway with the sun beating down on us relentlessly. I’m starting to wish I didn’t leave my thongs in the car as my feet are starting to burn on the concrete.

“Hi, Mum” I say as I kiss my mother on the cheek. The smell of food wanders across my nose. Chicken, ham, nuts, chocolate, it all smells good. My wife walks through the door with a bag full of presents. “Hi Sue” she says as she happily offloads the heavy bag. “Hi Love, how are you? Would you like a cold drink?”
“Yes please, it’s so hot outside!”

“Muuuum” I call from the kitchen “Do you want a hand with anything?”

“Yes please love, can you pull apart that cold chook (chicken) and put it on the yellow platter.”

“OK, have you got any beer in the fridge?”

“Yeah, in the one in the garage.”

As I crack open my first of many cold beers for Christmas day, I hear my daughter playing in the lounge-room while my wife tries to keep her away form the Christmas-tree and the presents that lie enticingly underneath

After helping prepare lunch I say enthusiastically “Should we open our presents?”

“But it’s almost lunchtime.” My mother says, knowing that this won’t make any difference.

“C’mon mum, you’re up first”

We sit in the lounge-room and hand out brightly wrapped presents to each other, all laughing and smiling. All of us are sharing the half melted chocolates and lollies we open, knowing that once Christmas is over we will need to start exercising again. Everyone gets a present each and opens it with great enthusiasm. I let my daughter sit on my lap and help rip open the wrapping of all my presents as she squeals with glee and delight.

Once the presents are all opened we make our way to the table for lunch. Ham, chicken, prawns, crabs, Moreton Bay bugs, salad, bread rolls, butter, potato salad, nuts, curried eggs, coleslaw, corn, asparagus, beetroot, fresh fruit, cheese and crackers, cold beer, fresh lemonade, lots of napkins, chatter and full bellies – All cold, all fresh and delicious.

We talk about family and tell funny stories. Drink too much and laugh too hard. It’s a time we all come together to share and enjoy each other’s company on a very hot day with a big lunch.

This is Christmas in Australia.