2013 Christmas / 2013 的耶誕節

老何的耶誕節又到了, 今年老何很賣力, 親手做了低脂, 低糖什錦水果酥餅和Christmas pudding.
這是我們成家後的第三個耶誕節, 胸有成竹的我們, 在節日前兩週開始製作甜點, 佈置耶誕裝飾, 前一週擬好耶誕菜單, 前一天把所有未採買的食材購齊.

我們這兩隻驕傲的兔子, 耶誕節當天, 睡得飽飽才起床, 吃了個長長的早餐, 好整以暇地拆禮物後, 才緩緩進入廚房準備耶誕餐, 如此拖拉的結果便是下午四點才有耶誕大餐可吃.
慶幸的是今年第一次嘗試的烤火雞十分成功, 皮脆肉嫩, 我想事先將火雞以鹵水浸泡是成功重點之一 (食譜請見此文最下方).

這隻近四公斤的火雞, 我們當天只吃了半邊雞胸的三分之二, 其他的部份如何處理呢?
Andy 在隔天再度發揮大英帝國子民與生俱來的烘焙技能, 做了 Boxing Day Pie , 把部份火雞肉, 跟剩餘的烤馬鈴薯, 烤橄欖菜芽, 都丟進派裡烤了. (食譜請見此文最下方)
再來又吃了火雞肉沙拉, 火雞肉三明治, 大部份的火雞便差不多解決了, 僅剩一小部份, 放進冷凍庫當備菜.
火雞架子熬了兩公升的高湯, 也進了冷凍庫備用 - 家規第一條: 不浪費食物!

經過這密集的火雞料理後, 何家廚房再有火雞出現的機會應該是一年後了...

After practice from the past 2 Christmases this big event is no longer a task to Family H.
We worked on Christmas decorations 2 weeks before the holiday, fixed the Christmas menu a week ahead, and finished off all the shopping by 24Dec.

However, on Christmas Day, we had probably taken it too easy before heading to the kitchen to prepare meal. We had a late breakfast, took quite some time to unwrap the presents, read the cards, and played around with our Christmas present - coffee bean grinder - we ended up having our Christmas lunch at 4pm..., fortunately it was A successful meal!

The Christmas menu of 2013 was:

Tiger Prawn with peach salsa and crushed macadamia nuts
Roasted turkey with brown and white sauce
Potato gratin
Roasted Brussels sprouts and apple with walnuts
Home made Christmas pudding
Cheese selection
* please see recipt source at the bottom of this post *

The prawns were very fresh and went well with fragrant peach salsa, the turkey was tender and juicy. Andy made some white sauce to go with the turkey, which was a thumbs up.

The healthy Christmas pudding was made with almond meal and dates, which was much lighter than the traditional pudding, the accidity of chunky appricot balanced the sweetness of the dates.

We ate 2/3 of half a turkey breast, what did we do with the rest of the turkey?
Andy used part of the meat, left-over of potato gratin and Brussels sprouts to make a Boxing Day Pie, following the recipie of celebrity baker, Paul Hollywood.
We finished most of the left over with turkey salad, turkey sandwich in the following days.
With the turkey bones we had made 2 litres of stock for future use. House rule no.1 - Don't waste food!

After the turkey feast, we shall not see a turkey menu for quite a long time.

Merry Christmas and Happy 2014 to everyone!

 

送火雞進烤箱前必須好　善待牠.

Massaging the turkey before roasting

 

近 3 個小時的烘烤期間, 定時淋高湯保溼

Basting turkey every 30mins

 

 

兩人耶誕餐完成, 雖然已經很晚了...

Our 3rd Christmas meal was again successfully done, although it's late...

 

 

 

隔天很認真的做了火雞派

Making Boxing Day Pie

 

 

老何的第一個火雞派就這麼輕鬆地完成了...

Voila! there is the first Boxing Day Pie from pastry chef of Family H.

 

 

雖然都是剩菜, 但烤肉跟奶油馬鈴薯, 烤蔬菜一起在派皮裡悶烤,

又是一種不同的滋味.

The pie didn't last long as it was full of flavour with

a bit of left over from each dish.

Menu receipts:

Tiger Prawn with peach salsa and crushed macadamia nuts
(recipe: www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/christmas-feasts/macadamia-recipes-grilled-prawns-with-lime-and-queensland-cake-20131216-2zfs5.html)

Roasted turkey
(recipe: http://thebigoldsmoke.blogspot.com.au/2010/12/blog-post_26.html)

Potato gratin
(recipe: www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/cook/recipe/gratin-dauphionois-20131223-2zu89.html)

Roasted Brussels sprouts and apple with walnuts
(recipe: http://ohmyveggies.com/recipe-roasted-brussels-sprouts-apples)

Home made Christmas pudding
(recipe: www.thehealthychef.com/2013/12/gluten-free-healthy-christmas-pudding)

Boxing Day Pie
(recipe: www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/hand-raised_boxing_day_84945)

- the end -

Anniversary

沒想到一年就這麼過了, 我這個不知跑步為何物的都市弱雞, 竟然就這麼一步一腳印地持續每週末的跑步, 跑滿一週年了! 回想一開始跑半圈球場就喘到快休克, 到現在30多度陡坡也勇往直前 (雖然跑得如一台老爺蒸氣火車...), 不理會肺部壓縮機壓不出足夠氧氣, 無視雙腳威脅要出走, 持續地增加到現在近7公里的路跑.

 

Pilates 教練提到她初來雪梨居住時, 看見市區裡高高低低的坡道, 還搖頭說自己不可能在這個地無三里平的城市跑步的, 言猶在耳的她已經在雪梨參加過數次不同長度的馬拉松了.
每個都市都有自己的一套方法來馴服格格不入的新市民. 遙想當年自己還是雪梨的訪客時期, 看見穿著輕薄短小跑步裝的跑者, 揮汗從身邊一陣風地擦過, 心想我絕不可能穿得這麼輕便, 在外頭拋頭露面, 還面紅耳赤, 滿身大汗, 如今, 路跑完一身汗溼, 馬尾垂塌, 照樣臉不紅, 氣不喘地走進熱鬧的咖啡廳吃早餐, 喝咖啡. 身體精實了, 臉皮也厚了, 一舉兩得!
 

 

一開始連走路都會喘的好漢坡

 

 

跑上好漢坡不遠即可眺望雪梨港入口南, 北端

 

 

某日抬頭看見勵志標語!

(真正拼的字是GONSKI - 澳洲教育白皮書)

 

 

每週末都會碰到的笑翠鳥, well, 事實上是我們一直跑到他的家前停車.

 

 

春天到, 單身漢交了個女朋友了.

- the end -

Merry Christmas!

耶誕快樂!

Merry Christmas!

  這是在雪梨渡過的第三個耶誕節了..., 受到 Pinterest 網站上 DIY 高手們的感召, 我也東施效顰, 在馬路上撿枯枝, 漆上銀漆, 腦中想像著"極簡風" 耶誕樹, 可惜眼高手低, 最後的成果是淒涼風耶誕樹..., 還好 Andy友人及時送上聖誕紅, 加上我們彼此為對方準備的禮物, 稍稍撐起過節氣氛.

  今年何家耶誕餐很省事, 雖然還是三道式的菜色, 但老何今年不當甜點師傅了, 今年何大爺買了澳洲時尚甜點大師 Adriano Zumbo 的耶誕布丁, 加上住家附近貴氣麵包店 Victoire Bakery的酒漬乾果派 (minced pie), 我們當天只需下廚處理火腿跟烤馬鈴薯罷了. 於是乎, 耶誕節當天一早起來, 騎腳踏車的牽著車出門, 練Pilates的展開墊子各自健身, 在拖拉地用完早餐, 看完網路新聞, 抄完食譜後 (何大爺堅持要做 Jamie Oliver 版烤馬鈴薯), 好整以暇的踏進廚房準備主菜.

  今年的菜單是: 夏日耶誕香料酒 / 龍蝦配包心菜沙拉, 佐檸檬芥末醬 / 蜂蜜芥末烤火腿配脆皮馬鈴薯 / 耶誕布丁和酒漬乾果派

   Andy在前一天已用薑, 香茅, 丁香, all spice, 加紅糖熬了糖漿, 耶誕節這天, 他將糖漿跟氣泡水, Vodka, 薄荷葉, 薑片, 香茅混合, 便成夏季版 Christmas Mulled wine.

   沙拉部份, 本應用耶誕應景蔬菜 – 迷你包心橄欖菜來製作, 但兩位慢牛為過節採購當然是慢半拍, 迷你包心橄欖菜早被人搶購一空, 所以用高麗菜切細絲來代替, 切完冰鎮後,  配上酪梨, 伴入檸檬芥末沙拉醬, 非常爽口. 龍蝦部份直接切半, 用熱鍋兩面各煎 3 分鐘即可擺盤. 在等龍蝦熟的時間已經喝掉半杯的香料酒了…

   Andy在廚房依Oliver大師的食譜按部就班烹煮馬鈴薯時, 我可沒閒著, 在旁殺了8顆柳橙, 擠出600ml的柳橙汁, 跟八角, 法式芥末, 蜂蜜攪拌成火腿淋醬, 待Andy將火腿劃完方格, 插上丁香, 我也照表操課, 每15分鐘為火腿淋上一次醬汁, 90分鐘後沾了香濃醬汁的蜜汁火腿即可上桌!

  說到這主菜, 並不是何大爺愛吃火腿, 東方俗人, 我, 建議今年換口味準備烤雞, 但何大爺堅持耶誕節從烤箱出來的雞非火雞不可, 想到我們光吃一隻火雞腿可能就飽肚了, 後續要處理其他部份的火雞壓力實在太大, 所以還是回到原點, 準備火腿較實際…

   今年耶誕節天公不做美, 前一天還是個可以曬人乾的大熱天, 入夜卻下起了豪雨, 老天還很堅持地下了一整個耶誕節的雨, 很多澳洲家庭的海灘耶誕烤肉大計都泡湯了, 我們餐後出門逛逛, 好奇地繞到Balmoral Beach看看, 這個夏季週末人人用海灘巾, 烤肉架佔地盤的海灘, 今天冷冷清清, 只剩海鳥群聚覓食.

  說到過耶誕節, 英國人過節實在跟我的耶誕節印象差很大, 已經搞不清楚是我的印象錯了, 還是英國人totally過錯了…, 在此列出差異處如下, 支持我的請舉手.

1.     A: 耶誕大餐是中午吃的, 不是晚上

K: 明明就是晚上吃大餐不是嗎!?

2.     A: 耶誕禮物是父母準備的, 不是聖誕老公公

K: 明明就是聖誕老公公給的!

3.     A: 聖誕老公公給的是小禮物, 放在耶誕大襪子裡

K: 不是看聖誕老公公高興放襪子, 或耶誕樹下嗎?!

4.     A: 耶誕禮物是耶誕節當天吃完早餐拆開

K: 這個我無所謂…, 但吃完耶誕大餐後才開不是可以讓過節氣氛在睡前畫下完美句點嗎? 就像春節, 吃完年夜飯領紅包, 大家肚子跟荷包都開心了.

   最後讓我最納悶的是耶誕節大部份的家庭會準備 Christmas pudding (耶誕餐後甜點), mince pie (過節糕點), Christmas cake (耶誕節下午茶配的茶點), 這三樣甜點的餡料基本上都是糖漬乾果加白蘭地, 再和麵粉製成, 到底是英國人對吃真的很沒創意還是實在太愛酒漬水果了..., 這個問題可能跟歪國人不瞭平淡無味的豆腐, 為何可以做成各種菜式, 還百吃不膩一樣讓人費疑猜吧….

  This is the third Christmas I had in Australia. Inspired and encouraged by the DIY projects posted by experts on Pinterest, I was thinking to make a minimal style Christmas tree, so we painted silver a few twigs which I had picked up in the street over the winter. After few hours of work and preparation, just like most of DIY works, the tree didn’t turn out to be anything near my imagination….lucky Andy brought back a Poinsettia from work, I put it next to our DIY tree to add a bit more Christmas atmosphere.

  In preparation for the Christmas meal Andy resigned as pastry chef this year, instead buying  mince pies from 2 pastry shops nearby our place, and a small Christmas pudding from celebrity pastry chef shop, Adriano Zumbo. Therefore, he could put most of his effort in making roasted potato in Jamie Oliver’s way and a summer style mulled wine.

  Here is this year’s Christmas menu: summer mulled wine / lobster with avocado, cabbage salad in Dijon mustard, honey and lemon zest sauce / orange and vanilla glazed ham with crispy potatoes roasted with garlic and rosemary / Christmas pudding.

  This Christmas was rather unusual as it was pouring with rain, I could imagine that lots of family must be in trouble in finding alternative sites from the beachfront BBQ…we went for a drive after the big meal and had a short walk at Balmoral Beach. It was nothing like Christmas Day in the past years, the only family having a big meal at the beach were seaguals…

  After having few Christmas celebration over these years, I do have a big question regarding Christmas pudding, mince pies and Christmas cake. In my point of view, they are the same sort of thing made with flour, dried fruit and brandy, why would people like to have similar desserts, though in different forms, over the entire Christmas holidays? Well, when I had this question in mind, another voice came out from nowhere, questioning why white squared stuff without any flavor is so widely used in countless Chinese dishes…
 

酪梨高麗菜沙拉佐蜂蜜法式芥末醬

avocado, cabbage salad with Dijon mustard, honey, lemon zest dressing

前菜: 龍蝦配沙拉

starter: lobster with salad

製作蜜汁火腿中

basting ham

主菜: 蜜汁火腿搭脆皮馬鈴薯

main: orange vanilla glazed ham

with garlic, rosemary roasted potatoes

甜點: 耶誕布丁

Dessert: Christmas pudding from Adriano Zumbo

下雨中的Balmoral 海灘

Balmoral beach in rain

耶誕節空無一人的沙灘

no one on the beach on Christmas Day

 

- the end -

三月的小喜悅 / The joyful March

驚喜其一

沒想到我竟然有在南半球吃到厥餅的一天!

感謝日本超市的厥餅粉和熟黃豆粉, 開個火, 厥餅粉加點水, 跟黑糖煮一煮, 攪一攪, 10 分鐘就完成了我的家庭版厥餅! 簡單得不可思議 (是說在台北的話更簡單, 就直接走去賣場美食街買一盒就可解饞了...), 話說回來, ...這等厥餅涼的時間真難熬ㄚ.....

早上寫的文, 時值傍晚..., 一整盤的厥餅只剩 4, 5 塊了..., 但還好我還有半包的粉...

驚喜其二

沒想到我們結婚周年就這麼靜悄悄的來臨了..., 這一年裡, 沒有冰風暴, 沒有因了解而分開的高潮, 也沒有異鄉難熬而摔鍋回鄉的劇情, 真是平順的讓人驚訝!

不敢相信彼此這麼和平地在同一屋簷下過了一年, 我們回到事發地點 Balmoral, 在原餐廳再度豪邁的大吃大喝了一頓. 這天天氣舒適, 不像一年前妖風邪雨大作的怪天氣.
Bather's Pavillion 夜晚的用餐氣氛與白天迥異, 碧海藍天被黑絲絨的夜覆蓋, Pavillion 如海上行宮, 停靠柔軟沙灘, 隨著溫柔潮浪的節奏, 精緻佳餚由訓練有素的服務生一道道呈現食客桌前, 遺憾的是當晚餐廳安排座位稍擠, 臉皮薄的歪國人求我不要拍照, 所有的美食印象只能私存在我腦子裡了...

總的來說, 我們這一年的生活就如下面這幾張照片一樣, 在笑鬧中過了...

Joy I

What a pleasant surprise that I could have Warabi Mochi right in Sydney (Warabi Mochi is a kind of sweet jelly texture of dessert in Japan, it is also popular in Taiwan)! Thanks to Tokyo-Mart (a Japanese supermarket in north of Sydney), where sells the dessert ingredients. I bought a pack of Warabi Mochi mixture and finely grinded soy bean, and spared myself 10mins in kitchen to prepare it, . It's awfully easy to make this dessert, which was a surprise to me, but if I was in Taipei, I would never bother myself to make it...


Joy II

We had our anniversary in March, can't believe that our first year had past... peacefully..., that's something to celebrate, therefore, we went to Balmoral, Bather's Pavillion Restaurant for a re-visit.

The dinner dining atmosphere is totally different from day time, the velvet-like darkness wrapped around restaurant, diners enjoyed more in food and chat, with steady rythem of waves in the back ground.

Generally speaking, the story of our first year is more or less alike following images,


- the end -

農婦年報 / Annual report of plants

雖然沒有定時更新農作狀況, 但農婦並沒離職, 還是全年無休地照料苗圃, 雖然期間遇到許多病蟲害的挑戰 我也沒放棄任何一株植物 (自己想不開的不算…).

去年夏天購入的香料植物, 因為盆栽擺在乏人照料, 天敵埋伏的花園裡, 它們經歷了白粉虱, 菜蟲, 蚜蟲, 蛞蝓, 紅蜘蛛輪番上陣蠶食, 負子鼠剃頭式的鯨吞, 竟只有香菜陣亡了, 羅勒, 辣椒, 香菜, 薄荷, 西洋芹雖然長得奄奄一息, 但都生存下來了, 連我自己都不敢相信… (連植物都這麼努力為生命搏鬥, 萬物之靈豈能虛擲人生…, 真勵志啊!), 唯一不須讓我特別照料的是蔥, 因為所有昆蟲, 負子鼠都嫌棄它, 唯一攻擊它的就是我本人 J.

今年同樣的蟲害隨季節更替, 再度輪番登場, 但因換了住處, 這些菜至少可以免除被蛞蝓和負子鼠的攻擊了.

 

目前的盆栽除了舊班底, 我也試著從撒種子開始種香菜, 從超市買來用不完的新鮮香料, 有根的生菜, 我全部拿來扦插種種看, 奧勒崗, 鼠尾草, 百里香很賞臉的生根, 在我的花盆裡住下來了, 生菜雖然長得很抱歉, 但至少沒有”厭世”.

為了彌補空蕩的新居陽台, 我們買了一盆叫”Syzygium Australe”的小灌木, 加一盆叫”冰山” 的白玫瑰, 希望它們也能在新居安頓下來, 漸漸地讓我的農村菜圃轉型成悠雅的花園!

It’s been more than a year since I set up my herbal garden. I am pleased that most of plants are growing well through care of a junior gardener, which is me…. I am actually quite surprised that most of them have survived after seasonal attacks by white flies, aphids, slugs, spider mites, and even a possum almost finished off the herbs while we were away to England.

The current herbal garden has Basil, Chili, Coriander, Mints, Oregano, Parsley, Sage, Spring Onion, Thyme and one lettuce. I can’t say that they are in good condition, but they provide enough supply for my daily cooking.

We have also got new plants, an Iceberg Rose and Syzygium Australe, for the empty balcony of the new apartment. Hopefully they will feel at home and grow happy in our balcony and gradually transform my practical herbal garden to a relaxing floral garden.

一直向外發展, 但葉子長不大的羅勒
Booming Basil but with little leaves...

薄荷跟雜草? 是開花的香菜啦...
Mints and Coriander with brooming flowers

香菜花, 近看還蠻可愛的...
Coriader flowers

受紅蜘蛛攻擊, 已起死回生的辣椒
(秘密武器: 牛奶水!)
Chili plant survived from spider mites attack
(the milk with water turned out to be the most efficient spider mite repellent) 

明明是包心生菜, 被我養成招風耳生菜....
The lettus with an "attitude"...

香料盆, 小小一盆裡養了鼠尾草, 奧勒岡, 時蘿, 西洋芹
The herbal plants with sage, oregano, thyme, and parsley 

貪便宜買了很多花苞的玫瑰, 努力的開花中
We bought the Iceberg Rose with most of buds in the shop :-)

這是第一朵經過我照顧而發芽, 長出花苞的玫瑰!
After all flower wilted, this is first rose bud grew from tiny shoot in our balcony!

- the end -

泳池煩惱退散功

1) 深吸一口氣
2) 吐氣, 望著由氣息推起的圈圈水波, 就讓煩惱隨著水波在大大的泳池裡消散, 消散到淨水道,  濾去雜亂, 還原乾淨思緒.

- the end -

行李箱

從今天開始, 我們不再頻繁飛航,


不再去程裝滿期待; 回程裝滿悵惘,

感念你十多年來的陪伴,

收納我往返機場的雜陳五味

今天我將你收拾好, 安頓在櫥櫃,

下次出門, 我們裝點別的



- the end -

這裡不是美食教學網站 / A quick meal

這裡是懶人快餐網站...呵呵...
這是我煮過最快的一餐, 而且可以保證剛端上桌就可以震懾人心, 吃時更是讚聲連連啊! (好啦, 難得自豪, 讓我誇張一下ㄇ ㄟ...), 各位有緣人請看準備步驟分享如下.

Well, this is not a cooking blog, but this is the fastest way to cook a decent meal that I couldn't help to share with you all...


材料: 長條白魚片 / Zucchini / 義式薄火腿片 prosciutto 或煙燻火腿片 / 菠菜 or 其他煮過會變很軟的青菜, 才好跟魚肉搭配
Ingridients: fish fillet / Zucchini / prosciutto / spinach

步驟一) 將 Zucchini 直向切片變長條型, 約 0.3cm 厚, 灑鹽讓 Zucchini 出水, 方便待會兒捲進魚片中 (也可用削皮刀把 Zuccini 削片, 但力道要平均, 才不會一端厚, 一端薄)
Step 1) slice Zucchini lengthwise into 0.3cm thickness, sprinkle salt on zucchini slices to make them soft, so that Zucchini slices will be easier to shape in step 2. 

步驟二) 把魚片攤平, 擺上兩片 Zucchini, 再擺上一片 prosciutto, 把魚片像捲紙一樣捲起來, 魚片厚, 捲不緊也沒關係, 可以捲成一圈半即可 (如果是用火腿片, 因為比較厚不好捲, 就切絲擺在魚片跟Zuccini上面的一端, 捲的時間讓火腿絲捲在中心即可), 魚片全部捲好放旁邊休息.
Step 2) lay fish fillet, put 2 Zucchini slices on top of fish fillet, add prosciutto on top layer, then roll fish fillet as wrapping a bottle of wine, set aside all fish rolls.

步驟三) 把青菜洗好, 放到一個可微波的深盤或磁鍋裡, 淋上橄欖油, 鹽, 也可撒些火腿粒增加菜的味道
Step 3) put rinsed vegetable in a deep bowl or microwave save pan, sprinkle olive oil, salt, may add few finely sliced ham or pancetta to give vegetable more flavour.

步驟四) 把魚捲放在生青菜上面, 蓋上微波蓋 or 封上微波專用保鮮膜, 時間就是熱一個很燙的便當的時間 (請不要讓保鮮膜碰到食物), 我的微波爐是1200W, 煮 3-5分鐘.
Step 4) put fish rolls on top of vegetable, cover fish n vegetable with microwave save lid or wrap (please do not let plastic wrap touch your food), in go the microwaver. Cooking time is approx. 3 - 5 mins in 1200W power)

步驟五) 把煮好的菜從微波爐拿出來, 魚捲先放旁邊, 菜拌一下, 夾到主餐盤上, 再把魚捲放在菜上就完成了.
我畫蛇添足在魚捲上放了一點點煮義大利麵的綠醬 (pesto), 但因 proscuitto 的味道和鹹度已足夠, 綠醬變成多餘的了.
Step 5) take cooked food out, move fish rolls aside, mix vegetable well with cooked juice, then lay vegtable on serving plate, put fish rolls on top of vegetable, then dig in!
I put a bit of pesto sauce on top of fish roll, but it's optional as proscuitto gives enough flavour to fish rolls

煮好的樣子

 擺盤

魚捲切開的樣子

懶歸懶, 也是因為之前有唸書喔, 以下是我得到密技的網站:

http://blog.udn.com/bruhlmeier/2321124


- the end -

遊民

遊民 / 其一

這一天我悄悄地回到這塊土地遊走, 彷彿隱形,

沒人發現我在這裡消失了好一陣子

透過厚厚的時空鏡片, 我重新認識時間斷層裡的人, 事, 物

唯有偶然的問候,  能讓我顯影


遊民 / 其二

我已不在這邊的集體記憶裡

那邊的生活記錄還只是草稿

neither here nor there,

這種質輕單薄的生命階段裡

我輕鬆存在

- the end -

顛倒國的耶誕節 / Christmas Downunder

跟我們過農曆年一樣, 在真正的大日子到來之前, 會有好幾ㄊㄨㄚ的尾牙活動, 只是這裡沒有客戶辦的活動需要參加, 都是自己的公司, 社團辦的Christmas party.
在過節前, 這裡還流行辦 ”Christ Kringle” 的活動, 這是類似”小天使”的活動, 公司裡每個人被指定買耶誕禮物給某個同事, 預算多在20-25澳幣之間, 禮物用包裝紙包好, 或直接到文具店買耶誕紙袋裝好, 再附上一張不具名的小卡片, 裡面只寫收禮人和恭賀詞. 所有的禮物會集中起來, 再推派一, 二位同事當耶誕老人 (這裡叫Father Christmas, 不是 Santa) 依照指名卡片發禮物.

這裡除了沒有靄靄白雪, 溫暖爐火營造傳統耶誕節氛圍外, 其他活動跟北半球的類似, 諸如過節前的聚餐, 趁商店打佯前大採購, 採買聖誕樹, 居家耶誕佈置…等一樣不少

但也發現溫度不同, 過節氣氛差很大, 北半球在低溫中, 街上靜悄悄, 屋內熱鬧團聚, 紅的, 綠的, 金的耶誕裝飾, 讓餐桌上的噴香烤雞, 龍蝦鮭魚更加美味, 溫馨過節氣氛是從每一扇窗戶中透出來的;

而在南半球豔陽高照, 微風徐徐, 怎麼可能窩在家裡? 多數人不是在自家花園, 就是跑到公園, 海邊慶祝, 大熱天佳餚怎麼可能乖乖的從烤箱出來? 當然是架起烤肉架, 一份一份從烤架上往野餐桌上送, 大家在草地上或躺或坐, 吃喝說笑, 一整個熱情洋溢的慶祝耶誕.
今年 Andy 領了第一次過耶誕節的我, 和第一次過豔陽耶誕節的愛爾蘭同事到海邊入境隨俗的過節.


Christmas preparation in downunder is pretty similar to northern countries, Christmas season started from numbers of pre-Christmas party, Krist Kringle event, Christmas shopping and house decoration.

I find people from “The North” has difficulty to fit in Christmas downunder, I reckon the main reason is because of temperature.

Traditional Christmas celebrates in house due to cold weather, but Australian celebrates it in great outdoor, it’s a shame not to embrace big sunshine and soothing breeze, therefore, many Christmas gatherings take place in flora gardens, green parks or sunny beaches, people will have BBQ or open buffet as Christmas meal.

This Christmas, Andy held his first Australian Christmas lunch at Balmoral Beach with me, the one having first Christmas event, and his colleague Bren, the one having first sunny Christmas.

戶外耶誕餐: 沙拉, 烤蝦, 烤鮭魚加番茄煮蛤蜊,
旁邊的東西叫 Cracker, 是英國及前英屬國家耶誕節必備助興玩意兒
Christmas lunch with salad, grilled tiger prawn,
and stuffed salmon, clam with tomato sauce

餐後點心: 洋梨塔, 起士, 水果, 巧克力
pear tart as dessert, to go with cheese, fruit and chocolates

大餐吃玩, 娛興節目開始, 兩人努力排拼圖 (Andy 的教母给的耶誕禮物)
Bren and Andy are trying to solve the puzzle given by Anne

隔天, 我們跑去 Middle Head 看 雪梨到塔斯馬尼亞島的風帆賽
We watch SYD to Hobart Yacht race on Boxing day

雖然現場估計不到一千人, 而且不算是最熱門的觀賽點,
救難人員還是到場待命 (典型的澳洲風格: 邊吃三明治邊聊天的待命)
比賽結束後還有警察指揮疏散遊客, 整套公共安全措施施行完備
Emergency rescue is well prepared for special needs



比賽開始, 風帆從雪梨灣裡開出, 經過 Middle Head,
North Head往海口的太平洋航去
Yachts set off in SYD Habour, after North Head,
they are out of SYD Habour and into the Pacific Ocean

到灣口, 風帆往南開, 目標是塔斯馬尼亞島,
整個賽事須花兩天的時間, 也是挑戰很大的比賽,
許多風帆因為折桅而不能完賽,
圖中船帆上有數字7的即是今天的冠軍船
Yachts turning south at North Head, and heading to Hobart
This year's winner took 2days, 7hrs and 37mins to arrive Hobart

 
ps. Cracker 長得很像大顆的糖果, 中間的部份放有紙帽, 小玩具, 加一個冷笑話. 玩法是由兩個人各執一端用力拉, 打開時會有禮炮一樣的聲響, 之後一人會只拿到角角, 另一人則拿到連著中間的戰利品, 雖然都是小東西, 但是對保守的英國人來說, 應該算是很大的樂趣了吧!?
 
- the end -

夏天來了嗎?

是的, 當天落下紫色的花瓣, 把人行道給灑成不真實的紫色大道, 夏天就來到了這顛倒國...
在北半球生活慣了, 習慣將粉的,  嫩的歸類為春天的顏色, 夏天是火紅豔麗色彩花朵的舞台, 在這裡要把冷調的紫跟愈來愈熱的天氣畫上等號, 我還需要一點時間...

是土壤的關係嗎? 這裡不僅 Jarcaranda 的紫色花朵怒放, 還有各種不同植物也開紫色花朵, 叫得出名字的如小菊花, 繡球花, 牽牛花, 薰衣草,  叫不出名字的有長得很大叢還想裝蒜的 Agapanthus, 開完紫色小花後, 結出大顆泛紫色寶石光澤果實的 Dianella...

雖然腦袋中一直重覆著鬼打牆訊息: 啊! 春天 --> 錯! 是夏天!! --> 啊! 春天 --> 錯! 是夏天!! 但能在熱烘烘的天氣裡, 擁抱幽幽的紫色花海, 已彷彿得到溽暑入植物園遇見夏荷的清涼舒爽.

豪宅探出頭的可愛菊花

長得茂盛的薰衣草

紫藍牽牛花

紫色夢幻冰淇淋?

超大朵繡球

結出夢幻果實的 Dianella

是存心要迷住路人, 不讓人離開森林的邪惡果實吧!

是誰在裝蒜!?

呵呵, 是我 Agapanthus...

又是誰在地上耍浪漫?

需要這麼大器嗎!?

花瓣要高高地灑下才自然

妳可以再靠近一點, 我是頂頂有名的 Jarcaranda.

當然不是所以的植物都是惹人愛的...,
這是雪梨最常見的路樹

果實成熟時, 黑黑的長滿樹, 成熟了一陀陀掉滿地,
讓一個來自在路上隨時會看到黃金的台北人非常害怕...

- the end -