An early Christmas

Christmas comes early for the Counsel clan.

Not because we're an impatient lot, but because it's so difficult getting everyone together on Christmas Day. Our older girls go to their husband's or boyfriends' families, some of us work, travel, etc.

So we gather at the home of my brother, Peter, and his partner, Pam, for a relaxing weekend of sitting around, chatting, eating, drinking, playing golf, walking, watching the grandchildren play together, napping, reading and generally enjoying each other's company.



Pete and Pam live on the Churchill campus of Monash University, one of Australia's largest multi-national institutions of higher learning where they both work, Peter in security and Pam teaching statistics, as well as completing her Ph.D. Education is a major export industry here, especially to Asia. Over the past decade, our universities have established campuses across Asia to reduce the cost for local students, who previously had to spend 3-7 years in Australia, away from family and friends, with all the expenses entailed. That made it difficult for Asian families who weren't wealthy to access higher education for their children.

It was also a smart move in terms of international relations.

Churchill is a university town on the southern fringe of the beautiful Latrobe Valley in central Gippsland, in the east of the state of Victoria. Behind it rise the rolling hills and rainforests of the Strzelecki Ranges.

The Latrobe Valley is where most of Victoria's electric power is generated. The world's largest brown coal deposits are open-cut mined there to fuel the massive power stations, which are supplemented by hydro-electric power from the Snowy Mountains to the far north-east of the state. (Australia has no nuclear power generation.)

Pete arranges for us all to stay in the student housing units for the weekend. The university year is over by the end of October, so we have the run of the campus facilities for the weekend, which is typically held in mid-November. I can't recall why it was so late this year.

Pete organises a spit roast with lamb, marinated in lemon juice, Greek-style, and Pam makes salads and other fresh foods for us for lunch, and to nibble on throughout the afternoon and evening. My mother usually bakes one of her legendary chocolate cream sponges, that the entire family -- and anyone else who ever gets to share them -- hangs out for the whole year.

Mid-afternoon -- after most of the adults have had a nap -- is when the presents under the Christmas tree are opened... ending the hours of anticipation and sheer torture endured by all the grandchildren.

Most of us stay overnight and invade one of the two local wards of the Church on Sunday morning, then, after a leisurely lunch, we return to our homes, well-fed, all caught up on family news and events, and generally feeling happy and relaxed.

Naomi wasn't able to join us this year because of her big break... she was the only "up-and-coming" DJ amongst a field of established and international stars at the huge annual Rave party at Kryal Castle near Ballarat, 75 miles west of Melbourne -- and over 200 miles from Churchill.

I haven't yet heard how she did, but she's a very talented girl and a popular performer at major Melbourne raves. You can see photos of her performing with her dance troupe on her personal page at http://www.counselfamily.org/naomi -- she choreographs, trains the team, designs and makes all the costumes and organises the engagements for them.

Lynne and Esther were there, and I brought Esther home with me for the next four or five days, which is always a treat (for me, anyway!). We had to return home Saturday evening because Angus was on his own and on his leash. The workmen replacing the roof were working here all day Saturday and they seem incapable of closing any gates. So Angus has to stay leashed while they're here because he's a wanderer. Apart from the risk of being hit by cars (he's hopeless on the roads), there's a $200 fine if he's picked up by the local Ranger and taken to the dog pound.

He was very pleased to see us, as always.

Yesterday I went to Church without Esther, who forgot to bring any good clothes with her (and needed a sleep-in to recover from a late night of movies we hired and watched). I had a lesson to present for my High Priests Group and choir practice to attend (I'm Ward Music Chairman, so I have to lead by example). We spent the afternoon and evening together and had a relatively early night. We enjoy each other's company, and never seem to run out of things to talk about. For a couple of Aspies lacking in social skills, we do okay. :)

Photos from the weekend are on view in the family album at:

http://www.counselfamily.org/album/41212.html

The family web site is currently undergoing a complete revamp, but most of the main sections are visible. Visit us here:

http://www.counselfamily.org