Brisbane, QLD


Saturday, July 18, 2020

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

We have been lucky in our state and we haven't had any new cases or community transmission of the virus for some time. So we have been eased back from lockdown through stages where we now have a lot of freedom but we must still social distance and sanitise. The size of crowds has increased but not unlimited yet.
So we were able to return to our village monthly dinners. This month's theme was Christmas in July, which I don't really believe in celebrating because I think it is a hang over from British Colonial days, where the people felt it was strange having Christmas in summer. So some people feel it is still right to celebrate Christmas in winter in July. Even though I don't agree with the idea , I'm always up for a dinner party, so we went along and enjoyed.
The organising of the dinners has been handed over to the residents. A committee was formed and they organised the lunch very well indeed. They set the tables.

 They organised a two groups of volunteers to wait on tables, one group for mains and one for dessert. Here they are getting instructions from the committee members. This was necessary because the high school students we usually have were not allowed to come due to school restrictions at the moment. Also it's not a good idea to have teenagers mingling with oldies yet.

 Some came dressed in Christmas attire.

 There were many tables of happy retirees, being able to socialise again. Our CEO mingling with the residents in the background.

The three of us are the village photographers and it is always hard to get a photo of ourselves. We usually take each others table but this time we were sitting at the same table. The CEO organises where we sit, so we don't sit with the same people every time. Julie conned her husband for this shot.

Our CEO/owner of the village, welcomes everyone back after lockdown. She also organised a would be candidate for State Parliament to speak to us.

 About 80 of us turned up to the party.

 Some of the staff joined us too.

 The CEO, Chiou See and partner Brendan with the candidate and PR person.

 The meal was delicious, beef, ham and pork with sprouts, parsnips, carrot and mash.

 After mains we have a guest speaker and look who it is, none other than my hubby, Bill. He was asked by the committee to talk about how Christmas is celebrated in Switzerland, since that is his homeland.

 Dessert was a treat. A mushroom made out of gelato and a brownie of some kind, with a lovely sauce.

Rosa and the other volunteers did a great job.

27 comments:

  1. Oh what a feast The dinner looks delicious They indeed did a very good job. Strange to have 2 Christmases. I did like Christmas in the winter better in Holland but that was because of the atmosphere. Especially when you had a white Christmas en all the Christmas last in the dark days

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  2. It's amazing how we can overlook our values when there is fun involved. It looks like a successful event. Brendan looks like a property developer. So few photos are taken of photographers, and I think generally they prefer it that way.

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  3. I don't suppose there is a recording of Bill's speech?

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  4. Glad you guys can party again. I feel for the people locked up in Victoria. Things are pretty free here too but perhaps not for long.

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  5. Must feel good to meet the others again and have a nice dinner. Although Christmas at this time of the year is a bit strange...

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  6. Hello Diane,

    Your community events always look fun. It is wonderful that they can start back up again. Christmas in July sounds like fun. It is nice to see a photo of you and Bill together. Enjoy your day, have a great new week ahead!

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  7. How wonderful that you can all get together once again, and for a winter Christmas in July.
    Everyone looks happy and the photos are great.
    It is good news that there are no cases in Queensland.

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  8. Well I won't say Merry Christmas but I will say that that is one gorgeous room every time you show it to us I think what a great place to have meetings and in this case celebrations. Everybody looks really happy and looks like they're having fun so why not

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  9. Your retirement place is just fantastic.
    I love how everyone comes together and gets things done.
    Well done on being able to be together again..
    Wishing for the same thing here in California..but it's not going to happen anytime soon.
    Not going to get into politics at all...just missing Life as it used to be.
    Sue

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  10. Neveer had Christmas in July just doesn't interest me that said looks like you had a gret spread with good company and made some good memories as well.

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  11. Looks like a delicious meal, even though it's not traditional in Aus. Any meal you don't have to cook is always special and it looks like you all had a good time. Well done!

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  12. Being able to come together again for a meal is enough reason for a celebration but why not use Christmas in July as the excuse? Iye looks like another wonderful event in your village.

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  13. Looks like you had a good day but despite lock-down being lifted we are still staying at home as much as possible. We have been to friends twice for an outside BBQ, other than that we are still only shopping fortnightly with masks. Stay safe. Have a good day t'other Diane

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  14. Looks like a fun time Diane, it is a funny old thing to celebrate but many do it here also. Nice for you all to get together in these strange times 💛

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  15. I'm glad to hear that your part of the world has returned to 'near normal' from the virus restrictions. While I think I would have trouble celebrating Christmas in July, it looks as if you had a wonderful dinner.

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  16. You have a lot of fun get togethers. Always enjoy your photos but so glad you had one of yourselves taken too :) I bet Bill’s talk on what Christmas is like in Switzerland was very interesting. The food looks fantastic too. I never thought about Christmas in July being a tradition started by the Brits in colonial times. We have Christmas in July here too, and people can correct me if I am wrong but I think it is more for the shops selling items for the holidays. Great post Diane :)

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  17. Christmas in July ! I would get a nervous breakdown, don't like Christmas anymore, but it looks real nice and apparently you all enjoyed your "Christmas" ! We are more free too, but have to wear masks in shops and closed rooms, except restaurants of course and not more then 15 people !

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  18. So nice that your community could get back to a celebration and Christmas in July looked like a lot of fun. Kudos to your CEO and the residents for helping to make this event a reality. Looks like everyone was enjoying themselves and liked the festive attire too.

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  19. It looks like it was a lot of fun.
    We will be celebrating Christmas in July next Sunday.

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  20. Goodness Christmas in July does look fun.
    Great photographs.

    All the best Jan

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  21. Outstanding - Just Admiring All Those Happy Faces - Well Done

    Cheers

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  22. You seem to have so many fun events at your community.
    That desert looks amazing. Whoever made it is very creative.

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  23. I'm SO jealous!!! Glad your area is doing SO well with the virus.... We still cannot (or won't ) get in crowds at all around here.... I say this almost every time I read a post from you, but I am just so happy that you and your boyfriend with his new toy are THERE now... What a neat place to live!!!!

    Thanks for sharing your Christmas in July dinner/party...

    Thanks for the SMILE today.
    Have a great week.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  24. Hooray back to normal almost. Happy for you (with an ounce of envy too I must admit...we do these kind of social things at our Florida home, not so much here even in normal times, definitely not now. Fun to see the photographers. And the one who was guest speaker! What would the place do without the two of you?

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  25. Really happy that you're all able to get together like that.
    Got to say, I have "parsnip-envy" so badly when seeing your plate lol... Hubby has seedlings in! xx

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