It started off with a 4:30 am alarm, a quick change, a short drive into Southbank to meet up with some friends. And the fact that a couple of my boys had decided to tag along made it even that much more special. 10k done before the day really got started. 10k of smiles and greetings from strangers and Ho, Ho, Ho-ing which I chose to believe was not casting aspersions at our moral character. That would have had to be my favorite part of the day.
A fabulous sweaty start to the day.
Then we managed to find one of the few cafes that had opened up on Christmas Day and got a really good coffee. Actually that was probably my favorite part of the day.
Back home it was sweaty hugs as punishment for the son who didn't come running and a breakfast of poached eggs on toast made by my boys. I did help - I put four slices of bread in the toaster then forgot to push them down so maybe it wasn't much of a help but the intent was there. Having breakfast cooked for me would have to have been my favorite part of the day.
And then it was on to the very traditional bagel-making part of the morning. Again a family effort. Measuring, mixing, kneading. rolling, shaping, boiling and baking. It's something I did one year for no reason that I can remember and enjoyed it so much that we've done it ever since. All that family togetherness in the kitchen is my favorite part of the day.
A Christmas Bagel Tree - of course it's a thing.
My parents and eldest sister came over for lunch. We'd lost a couple of the boys to the 'in laws' so it was a small group around the table. A nice, relaxed lunch of prawns, ham, salad and bagels with some cherries and lychees to finish with. And finishing early enough so we could get in a nap before the final Christmas event. That was my favorite part of the day.
Then it was out to my sister's and b-i-l's place for our family get-together. A big, bustling meal with a big family that seems to get bigger by the year. Sitting around the tables listening to what each person was most grateful for in the last year was probably my most favorite part of the day.
Just one of the four tables
And then we dragged our weary bodies home. I headed off to bed to get ready for another early start on Boxing Day but as I drifted off I could hear the laughter of all the boys with all their girls as they sat around the dining table playing Taboo. Listening to their laughter and hearing them enjoy each other's company - that was really my very favorite part of the day.You might be wondering if there were presents. Yes there were, but as I've gotten older they take a lot less significance in the day. All the best bits are the people bits. Being with people that you love. My day was filled with people that I love so no wonder it was so hard to choose my favorite part of the day.