CHRISTMAS
There’ s nothing like the festive season for bringing families and friends together. Whether it’ s a barbecue by the beach or gathering round a dinner table laden with all the treats and trimmings, everyone celebrates Christmas in their own special way.
intouch Magazine has taken a sneak peek behind the Santa stockings of a few of the region’ s most well-known residents to find out just how they plan on making merry this Christmas.
JOEL GRIFFITHS
The former Newcastle Jets striker and Golden Boot winner made the dream of every Hunter football fan come true when he helped his teammates clinch the 2007- 08 A-League title. Now he spends his time making Hunter homeowners happy after swapping the football field for life as a mortgage broker with Aussie Home Loans, The Junction.
Where do you celebrate Christmas and who do you celebrate with? What is a traditional“ normal” Christmas Day for you? This year we will spend Christmas in Brisbane, most of my family live up there and we normally take turns, this year it is their turn. Normal Chrissy would be around family, opening presents and eating way too much. Love it. Turkey and ham are the mainstay Christmas meats- which do you favour and why? Wow, that’ s a tough one, I can’ t neglect either of them, it’ s a dead set dead heat.
What else is usually on your Christmas menu and what is your favourite festive food to indulge in? Prawns are a must, must leave some room for dessert, though, not fussy when that comes around. Do you have any particular Christmas family traditions? Santa makes a surprise entry, I’ ve been in that suit before but will think twice pending the Brisbane weather. What’ s either your 1) most special OR 2) craziest( you choose) Christmas memory? Most special would be spending Christmas with your kids for the first time, nothing beats Christmas morning when they run into your bedroom at first light yelling“ Santa has come.” If you could make any changes to Christmas traditions what would they be? Compulsory that you leave Santa a present. If you could invite one extra guest to Christmas this year- who would it be( dead or alive)? It would have to be the birthday boy( Jesus), I would throw him one hell of a birthday bash.
Lake Macquarie City Council Lord Mayor Councillor KAY FRASER
This will be Cr Fraser’ s first festive season wearing the Lord Mayor’ s robes after she was voted into the top job at Lake Macquarie City Council during the September Local Government elections.
Where do you celebrate Christmas and who do you celebrate with? What is a traditional“ normal” Christmas Day for you? We rotate
Christmas celebrations around the homes of family members – this year is my turn to host. It is a very traditional sort of Christmas. This year we will have four generations represented, with my grandchildren and two of their great grandparents. Turkey and ham are the mainstay Christmas meats- which do you favour and why? We have all the traditional meats and trimmings and they are all lovely – but I don’ t think you can go past ham as a Christmas treat. What else is usually on your Christmas menu and what is your favourite festive food to indulge in? We all contribute to lunch and my Chinese sister-in-law, Ying, always brings something a bit different and non-traditional to the table, like spring rolls or Asian fritters. Her dishes are always fresh and delicious. And my Italian mother-in-law, Dea, is a fantastic cook. Her tiramisu and rice salad are to die for. Do you have any particular Christmas family traditions? We like to play darts and cards after lunch or have a round of Balderdash.
What’ s either your 1) most special OR 2) craziest( you choose) Christmas memory? About 10 years ago we had a Christmas lunch at my house where all of my siblings were present. I am the youngest of five, and we are all scattered now – two are in living in Queensland and one in Sydney – so it is difficult for us all to get together at Christmas. That was a very special year. If you could make any changes to Christmas traditions what would they be? I wish there was less pressure to buy presents and spend money and more emphasis on families and loved ones being together and reconnecting. Exchanging gifts is lovely, but it shouldn’ t be the focus of Christmas and buying presents certainly shouldn’ t cause hardship and stress. If you could invite one extra guest to Christmas this year- who would it be( dead or alive)? I think it would be nice to have the opportunity to welcome someone into your home who didn’ t have family or friends to share their Christmas Day.
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