Christmas Day 2014

Stockings are set with care, bribes are out and children snoozing, desperately trying to stay awake to take a peak of Santa Claus.

I'm eternally grateful for the wonders of technology. Christmas morning ( Aussie time) was something I could share with my family, while here, in the dark and cold, we were still waiting for Saint Nick to arrive. It was wonderful to see and hear my family back home getting stuck into presents, firing up the nerf guns and getting ready for a big family meal together.

Here, in the Lakes District, we slept to a respectable 7 am and called more friends and family, chatting till mid morning ( and hunger overcame the desire to talk)

One of my favourite breakfasts is smoked salmon Eggs Benedict. Its one of those luxury breakfasts that screams "holiday". I also adore a fruit platter ( most meals if we have to be honest here)

The kids were very excited to see what Santa had brought; the toss up between the books and the new ipad ( what great kids I have!)

Continuing the tradition of wearing silly hats at the main Christmas meal, we have Morgan sporting his turkey hat and Lilly wearing a very fetching reindeer hat.

Again, through the wonders of tech, we were able to share our meal with Michael, who at some terrible time in the morning in Australia, also put on a silly hat and joined in virtually.

I didn't go stupid on the meal - just the traditional stuff - turkey ( so succulent!) roast veges, brussels sporouts, honeyed carrots and minty peas, cranberry sauce and a thick gravy made from pan juices.. yummmmm.

We toasted absent family and friends, were grateful for a wonderful year and welcomed in the new opportunities 2015 will bring us. 

Though it is promising to snow later in the week, it doesn't look good.  We are in the lovely town of Ambleside in the Lakes District,where the home is snug and warm. Our plans extend to watching Christmas movies on the box and eating popcorn.

Wishing all our loved ones a wondrous festive season.

Christmas Card 2014

Merry Christmas to all our friends, family and loved ones. 

A note ( and apology) on my Christmas Cards - I had planned to be ever so organised with Christmas cards this year, having ordered personalised ones early in October. After a month and they not arriving, I had to re-order - which was a pain to start with, but a little difficult to manage given our traveling lifestyle ( no set address for periods of time). In the end, I received them late November, wrote and addressed them, sent off the European ones and sent the Australian ones in a large envelope to my mum to put stamps on and send from there.. Sorry Aussie mates, its been 4 weeks and that envelope has not yet arrived... I just hope it does eventually arrive and you do get a card.. But just in case..... this is what it looks like.. and I'll type the message I had on the back below.

As you read this, we will still be in Europe, hopefully experiencing a white Christmas.

2014 has seen the three of us travel much of Europe, complete the Camino and most importantly, begin to come to terms with the cards we have been dealt.

Christmas is a time for celebrating family relationships and for gratitude - this Christmas will be no different. With a tumultuous two years behind us we are looking forward to an exciting, bright future, filled with travel, spending time with loved ones and family while living our lives to the fullest potential. Though we will be far away from loved ons, Christmas, like all of 2014, has been a time for out new family to bond and begin to plan out future. 

With much love Annie, Morgan and Lilly Mitchell. 

,

He's behind you!! Pantos - Mother Goose at the Salisbury Playhouse

The stage was set for Mother Goose Panto at Salisbury and I was completely entranced the entire time.

For those who have never seen or heard of a panto, let me share a few insights and historical facts with you.

Its a purely British institution performed around Christmas time. Though often there are celebrities as the star act, it is not a must. Based on the Italian comedia dell'arte, its slapstick and physical comedy rolled up with bawdy banter, songs and dance, often with a local twist and often referencing television or cultural events from the year. 

What really sets it apart from 'normal' styles of theatre is the audience participation; something that I doubt would work or occur anywhere else in the world. Most characters have a key action or word that they illicit a response from the audience with.  Everyone knows that when the baddy comes in everyone boos and hisses. When a character begins an argument with "Oh no I don't", the audience yells "Oh yes you do". Other instances include characters hiding and only the audience can see them, yelling " They are behind you!" and sighing and sympathising when a character is poor or is having a bad time with "Awwwww".

Pantomimes run along a set storyline with a dame, who is normally very poor (and played by a man) with a young man ( played by a woman) who has a love interest. There is a battle of good against evil, with a moralistic message, culminating in temptation and good finally triumphing, ending with a wedding or a party.  Other ingredients include a 'messy' scene where two or more characters get extremely wet or messy with gags on the audience of fake buckets of water.

Pantomimes are normally written with risque lines so that the adults in the audience have a good giggle and the kids are none the wiser.

Reflective of the Greek and Italian Comedia Dell'arte performances, the 'good' characters enter the stage on the right ( symbolising Heaven) and the 'baddies' entering from the left ( symbolising Hell).

I particularly enjoyed the slapstick humour and the nod to the Laurel and Hardy skit of the wallpaper glue. 

Character performances were strong, comedic timing was smooth and practiced and best of all, the actors looked like they were enjoying themselves, rather than running on automatic. 

A huge thank you to Sally who surprised us with this kind gift of tickets to see this wonderful performance and introduction into a very special British institution.