THE CHRISTMAS SUN HAS ARRIVED!

GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!

"MAXMOM" here...

Hello there everyone!

I thought I'd take over some blog time today...It's Toby's way of saying

"Merry Christmas!" to me.

The weather here has finally cleared.  The sun is out and our summer fun has returned!

 South Africa's highveld is like no other in the world!

 Our weather can transform itself in a matter of half an hour.  Dark thunderstorms suddenly become magical as rainbows emerge and a new, clean aura decends on our city.  We've had pouring rain for the past few days, which have caused flash floods in various low lying areas. Yesterday it continued to empy buckets on us, but suddenly lunch time arrived and the clouds dissipated.  A beautiful warm sun poked out its head. 

 "I'm back again," it seemed to say "just in time for Christmas!'

Toby was only too happy to oblige the call of the sun.

It's a long weekend here in South Africa.

Although today is 'officially' a working day, many people have converted this one working day into a long weekend and the start of their Christmas break. Long convoys of cars decorate the highways on their journeys to the seaside and our shops have turned into a buzz of humanity - something I try to steer clear of. 

Each year, when December arrives, a new vibrant culture emerges in our city.  The dormant chrysalis of the last 11 months erupts into a frenzy of reckless spending and revelry.  Drunken parties droll into early hours of the morning and endless Christmas carols get pumped through public address systems at the malls. "Little Drummer Boy" is a firm irritant to my own ear!

Despite this, I have to admit that Christmas is just not the same without carols! I too have succumbed to the craziness of the season. The shops have risen to the occasion and have filled their spaces with mounds of futile gifts. Their uses and value escape my understanding.

Anyway, it truly is 'Silly Season' and I prefer to avoid the shops.

(Although I admit that I still have some last minute Christmas shopping of my own to complete.)

Instead I've been in my kitchen for many hours recently - churning out Christmas cakes which have yet to find homes. 

For me, there is no better place than my kitchen!

 It is my space and somewhere where I can totally relax while I'm being productive.  Inevitably my mind wanders into a spirit of generosity and I conjure up all sorts of ideals and aspirations for my family.  I am always uplifted if I've spent time in my kitchen and my family always reaps the benefits.

The dogs too seem of the same opinion about my kitchen.  Wherever I walk, they are in tow and when it's into the kitchen, they sink down to their various allocated spaces on the floor, knowing that

 'This might take a while but it has rewards!'  

Slumber settles on them as they keep a lazy ear out for any generosity which might fall in their direction.

Our Christmas tree is finally up but...

This year, I've placed it on 'stilts' in the hope that Toby doesn't create his usual tornado.  He has already started the convertion of his singing "reindeer anklers" into a scrunchie.

The Christmas carols which have been designed to play from this contraption have merged into one long inexplicable musical masterpiece.

"Toby's Christmas Carol"  

(Jingle Bells silently Rocks!)

We have had quite a few giggles while trying to make sense of it all.  I hope he doesn't do this to our tree.

Perhaps this is false hope?....Watch this space!

So as we all wind down to Christmas day I remind you that Toby will be

FIVE MONTHS OLD...

on the 24th December 2010!

I also want to remind you that....

I love you all and wish you a...
MERRY CHRISTMAS!