Christmas 2019

Huge bushfires this year. Started early and consuming huge tracts of SE Australia.
Smoke haze has only affected us for 2 days, unlike most of the rest of the Eastern seaboard.
Anyway, lovely visit from all, and we managed to get pictures of all the GC’s in one place.

Sue came down with Luca and Mikaela by Jetstar, arriving at Avalon Airport a couple  of days before Dim who drove.
They returned with Luca only by car providing Nic and Vas a great opportunity to spend some time with Mike.

Vic, John, Maddie and Amelia and Rolo and Amelia’s plants drove down, but not without a stopover in Jindabyne and Kosciusko for a couple of days on the way.

All stayed with us and we enjoyed Christmas morning together. Reindeer poo proved Santa had visited. Then everyone was off to other commitments.

Sue, Dim and Luca caught up with John and Vic in Gundagai and slipped thru road closures due to bushfires.

Jeff and Jill dropped Madds and Amelia off today so we could get them up to Bacchus Marsh for a sleepover with cousins Owen, Alannah and Zoe.
We couldn’t leave without mowing the lawns to reduce the risk of snake hiding in the grass.

So here are the photos.

Xmas at the Monties

The plan this year for Christmas was for every one to join us for a brief breakfast Chrissie morning before heading off to respective other family activities like lunch and dinner and drinks etc. So little planning was needed. But things turned out differently shortly after Vic rang two days before Christmas to say that Maddie had an ear infection and couldn't fly, and she (Vic) just got a dose of gastro. They thought that they might be able to drive down. This is in fact what they did, leaving Sydney at 7:00pm Christmas Eve with Vic still feeling like she should be curled up in bed in a fetal position.

Sue and Dim, Nic and Vas ( Dim's folks) were the first to arrive, followed shortly by Steve, Regan and Owen. Vic and John and Maddie arrived just in time for present opening which Maddie quickly understood was great fun.

We missed the group photo, but got some great individual family shots of a great Christmas get together.

Maddie and Owen Meet Santa

That Santa fella certainly gets around, last week he was in Shepparton with Owen, this week in Sydney with Maddie.

Ahh, Arn't They Beautiful

Pic taken of Madeleine and Vic during they stay over Christmas. Madeleine is 8 weeks old.

Christmas 2009 at Home

Guest blog-spot: Maddie's first Christmas, by Maddie's Dad.

What a week it's been! Vic plucked up the courage to take to the skies with Maddie on her first plane ride at 6 weeks old. I felt pretty bad not being able to join her but, by all reports, Mum and bub survived their one and a half hour trip together quite well. And the screaming part? Well, we've put up with our share of noisy babies in confined spaces.

I arrived on Christmas eve in time for a couple of beers with Geoff and a final flurry of gift wrapping. After a good night's sleep in my wobbly single bed, the big day arrived.

By general consensus, we forewent the traditional Christmas swim due to a fairly average show by the Victorian sunshine and the anticipated antarctic water temps. Yes, we are soft.

Maddie put in a brief appearance at gift time without too much apparent interest, then put herself back to bed. The rest of us swapped Kris Kringle pressies with talking bottle openers and barbecue implements receiving good representation.

Following the present ceremony, the Monties dispersed leaving Gaye and Geoff, Dim and Sue to enjoy lunch together. For Vic, Maddie and myself, it was off to my brother Scot's place. The main festivities were more subdued than the traditional overindulgence in good food and wine for me. I seemed to be constantly settling Maddie, who was a little rattled by the noise and attention of an eager family wanting to meet and have a cuddle. Unfortunately, this got in the way of a beer permanently attached to my hand. Nice day, though, with cricket and darts tournaments later on.

Vic and I have since found some time to relax, with plenty of willing baby-sitters. A couple of rides and games of golf and I remember how nice it is to be home again.

Work Christmas Function

Great dinner for all at Rosati Restaurant, 95 Flinders Lane, Melbourne.

Magnificent Chistmas Tree

The Editor asked Gaye a few questions about the recent set up of a Christmas tree at home.

Ed: I understand you you have for the past 32 years been the person responsible for setting up the Christmas Tree at the Montgomery household.

Gaye: Yes.

Ed: So obviously you once again set up a tree this year.

Gaye:No.

Ed: What was the different this year?

Gaye: Well, Regan and Steve set it up and they and Susan decorated it.

Ed: How did that make you feel?

Gaye: It was so nice to watch the kids decorate the Christmas Tree this year. I thought that it was lovely seeing the next generation taking over the Christmas traditions.