Yes, Christmas, It's a vastly over rated occasion. Although it is better here, in Brasil, not anywhere near the commercialism. Religion? Well, I don't think that's the driving force anymore. Not in most families anyway. Instead, there is so much expense, so much work, so much worry that people will be comfortable and have plenty to eat. But, for some reason, it seems I am again, in charge. Drat fate!😎. Being pragmatic, I just swing straight into the process. I've done it so often before, I can do it again.
I had the perfect plans for this year. The family were coming, along with (my suggestion ) inviting two lovely people I really like..the female of the couple,said she was keen to do the honours and cook, I discover. A bonus as far as I was concerned. It was to be in my house, which as it's the biggest this year..made sense. I spent considerable time and money upgrading and enlarging the outside seating. With new hammocks, loungers and sun shade (it's only rented), I bought crockery and glasses (I own next to nothing, as it's only temporary for now), then, borrowied the big pots and serving dishes etc. Then, our good friend became ill, we thought recovered again, but not to be. Suddenly, at the last minute, it's all off. No special friends coming, and no one planning the food, or cooking it....help!!!!😎 sun or not...help!😟
I was devastated.....I had prepared everything as perfectly as I could, now I had to start thinking 'food'....ah no! I live alone, it was my house, so who had the shopping to do. Yes...ME! My daughter in law, the only other woman, just opened a new business, her head was not in Christmas at all! I went around the supermarket, in Brasil not that brilliant a choice anyway, it's definitely not Waitrose, or even Tesco. Trying to find some sort of inspiration. One son was bringing the giant prawns, ( thank god for the fish market in Porto) I had fresh salmon, wholewheat pasta, brown rice, lots of garlic, cream, onions, olive oil, butter etc, etc, as you see, they wanted seafood pasta. But I bought wine, beers, soft drinks, salads, fruits....no such things as Christmas pud in the supermarket here of course, or Turkey. Although I did find, at the last minute, a lovely small ham, which I just had to have. Faced with a heavy load, I tried in very bad Portuguese to ask for delivery. Well that was fun, but I eventually got it all put to one side..but hell, they left the ham sitting there as well. I had no idea how to sort that one out, as it would do no better outside with me in the sun.😎
Suddenly discovering my son was in town, my daughter in law, brasilian, who speaks Portugese...YESSSS, I thought. Result! they had shopping to do too, more beer, more fruit, another third stacked on my shopping hill by the door. It's all ok she said, it's being delivered in two hours, all organised. So relieved, we all sloped off for a drink, well it is Christmas and we deserved it. Although it's not quite the same, sitting outside in the sweltering heat, watching scantily clad holiday makers pass by, I still enjoyed it. Well anythings better than shopping in a busy supermarket. After two hours, I'd better go, I said, by this time my other son had turned up. Deliveries nearly due I said..no! Six o clock daughter in law said looking quite adamant. What? Another two hours? Well she speaks minimal English, we speak bad Portugese, my other son speaks good both languages, so he backed her up, no six o clock she says. ahhhh relax again, somewhat uneasily. After all we must have food tomorrow..😎
Before six I was there at home, at the security gate, which has to be hand operated by my key, waiting for the delivery. It didn't come. I tried phoning the number on the receipt...no comprende? the girl said and put me on hold. Nothing different there then. An hour later, with several other phone calls and after running back and forth up and down four sets of steps, looking for the van, I was tearing my hair out. My landlady said, 'give number to me, I will get them'. She tore them off a strip for a good ten minutes before saying, 'they come!' But two hours later and ready to go out for the evening, they still had not come. 'Ahh Biaha' she said, which is what everyone says when people fail to show when expected here....ahh Biaha..what else can you expect, manyana land. Tomorrow is as good as today, next week as good a last week....which is all true. But...it's my ham! My food! The old Christmas panic! Lots of people coming, no food..... I was stressed, but had people waiting so off I went, locking the door behind me.😎
Returning still stressed about it, after midnight, very tired, there was the shopping stacked at the door. Someone had let the delivery man in to the complex, but not into my house. What sat on top of the load, but the precious ham, after how many hours or sultry heat? Next day, my landlady said 'I saw meat, if bad..return, they change! Oh yes, I thought, that's all I need. So, there I was, getting on for one o clock in the morning, carrying in stacks of beer, bottles, vegetables and all, trying to fit it all in the fridge. Of course it wouldn't all fit, but I did the best I could.😎 at least we now had food.😋
The next day, after much walking to view my sons new property, we walked more, the length of the beach..in the scorching sun. The beach was crowded, Christmas Eve is supposed to be the big one here, the official exchange of presents big, but the beach was packed as usual and I for one was very pleased to finally find somewhere to sit, under an umbrella. I think we all had a busy week, because instead of returning to the house after a couple of hours, people turned up and we stayed and stayed. Still being there when the beach bars started stacking chairs at early evening. We were chatting, putting the world to rights, as you do, starting on the Baileys, that tastes just as nice in the sun as in the frost. Finally moving away fro. The beach, no taxis left, so another big hill to climb..I walked miles that day. We had to rest again of course, in the bar at the top. This time with coffe. Asaie, and more friends. Eventually, we all decided we were too tired, and went home to respective homes having snacked on rubbish and little else all day. I was relieved I must say...I certainly couldn't have eaten then, let alone cook.😎
The next day, I was up early making chicken stroganoff, brown rice, egg salad, getting beers cold, making green salad, setting tables, then when my son and daughter in law arrived she had a mad session making sea food pasta, I made white pasta (for the children) cut the ham, served drinks as my other son and family arrived..finally it was Christmas Day. Who would have thought it. Christmas Eve just didn't happen, and we had Christmas Day celebration as always. With my often too forward granddaughter, saying 'I didn't know you could cook?' Ahh, God save the young who know it all! How did we ever manage to live so long, without their wisdom.😎
But, as always Christmas happened, it always does. The young got another bit of useless information about their family, as they always do, and I survived unscathed, or reasonable so, for another year. Everyone loved the garden furniture when it came time to relax after lunch cum dinner. I was able to see a happy and contented family sprawled out, content in the warmth of our tropical Christmas. After all, isn't that why we really do it all....family. But I am sorry our friends didn't make it. May his health improve with the New Year.😎
Happy New Year everyone....won't be long now! Next year is going to be wowser!🎈🎉🎊🎈
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