Drop in for Chaos, oh, I mean Christmas

Our friends and family are invited to call in any time, any day, this year.

We are not doing a Christmas Day. Instead, multiple days of feasting, fun, games, swimming and day trips exploring.

It’s Choose our Own Adventure.

I’m not responsible. No-one is. We all are. Each day will roll like the dice on our board games.

At a time when the most family members are present, we’ll open our presents. This year is one present each from Secret Santa.

We’ve been on a mission to simplify Christmas for nearly two decades.

For about ten years we had family camping trips. Our small family group of vans and tents clustered in a beach-side caravan park.

On the day we arrived and set up, we were all as busy as elves. Then, we enjoyed a week of relaxation.

Christmas feasting was limited to what could be kept fresh in small camping fridges or cold on ice.

The kids got presents including pushbikes and ‘walky talky’ two-way radios. They spent days running about with newfound camping friends. Over the years, we got to know other repeat Chrissy Campers at the caravan park.

Then, the years flew by like a red nose on Christmas Eve. Grandparents sold their vans. Families formed step-families, and kids needed to share Christmas Day with both sets of parents. We moved on, simplifying camping to a morning picnic.

Chrissy breakfast at the beach followed by a swim. Afterwards, everyone was free for lunches and dinners with extended families. Or, by 11am, head off on holidays. Jump into the car when most people were jumping into other Christmas traditions. Get well ahead of the holiday traffic.

Our Christmas picnics usually had a theme, most memorably, 1970s Finger Food. Who agrees food on a toothpick just tastes better?

After moving to the country, the new Christmas tradition is to celebrate at our place. It’s hot and the property and animals need us at this time of year. But the family loves visiting from the city, enjoying space, the pool, and quiet starry nights.

The kids are older now. The pressure of step-families has been replaced by the pressure of juggling time between us and their partner’s family.

After 20yrs of us simplifying Christmas, there’s still time pressure.

So, this year, it’s Christmas Day/s. Call in any time. Stay as long as you like.

There’s a draft menu for four-days. We’ll all be cooking together. All hands on deck to Deck the Halls. And low stress preparation in the days beforehand.

The days may be chaos, but it will be jolly chaos.

Merry Christmas to all the many and varied families!