Post Christmas post

 Now everything is calm again, chaos no longer reigns, and its just Rasta and I finishing off the leftovers, here's a brief review of Christmas 2025.

Ice beginning to form on the lake and the remaining duck rafts are huddled in the few patches of open water.

 

Chris, Jason and Cigi arrived first on Christmas Eve day and we took a walk on the beach and the pier.

While taking this shot I accidentally found out that my phone

will also do this.

A gingerbread house was constructed with Cigi eating the candies that "accidentally fell off ". 

 

Nic and Dave also arrived Christmas Eve and took charge of the Chocolate Log. Hobbit themed this year with Lego dragon and warriors.

Christmas morning meant Toaster Strudel (Jason's family tradition), stockings and gifts. Cigi received a camera from Santa and spent the whole day taking pictures and videos (and it also played some awful music, they will have to figure out how to disengage that feature)

Back when George had a camcorder he took a video of Nicola putting together Christine's Barbie Caravan, one Christmas. On the video she mouthed "It's a bitch". Fast forward and she and Dave bought Cigi a Barbie Hot Wheels Racer this year, which she then had to put together.

Next came the turkey. Mum used a recipe from a cookbook by Pasquale someone so I just have it written down as "Pasquales Turkey". It involves cooking it for a brief time at a high heat with a cup of gin and covered in bacon. Then at a reduced heat with chicken stock and white wine. It always turns out nice and moist.

Rick, Dan, Fiona and Lou (Dan's dad) were there for Christmas lunch. Photo by Dan on Fi's phone. Dessert was the chocolate log and Ambrosia (Dave's family tradition)

Nic and Dave left that evening and Chris and Jason left early on Boxing Day trying to get home ahead of the forecast freezing rain.

Rick and I walked, ahead of the storm. The trail was very icy already and we had it to ourselves.

 

We checked on the boats at the marina and the fishing basin had lots of ducks. I think this is a Common Merganser.

Red Breasted Mergansers and a lone Bufflehead.

Then the freezing rain started.

Rick left Saturday morning, pouring hot water on his wipers to get them unstuck.