It’s finally Christmas Eve here…family has all arrived, the presents are wrapped, the fridge is bursting with food, and we are hoping for a lovely sunny day so we can sit outside for lunch!

For those who celebrate on Christmas Eve, I hope you have a wonderful night, full of fun and Christmas cheer!

And I hope Santa brings all you wish for tonight!

To finish, I would like to share with you a well known Christmas Eve poem…with an Australian twist!

‘Twas the night before Christmas, there wasn’t a sound.

Not a possum was stirring, no-one was around.

We’d left on the table some tucker & beer,

Hoping that Santa Claus soon would be here.

 

We children were snuggled up safe in our beds,

While dreams of pavlova danced ’round in our heads;

And Mum in her nightie, & Dad in his shorts,

Had just settled down to watch TV Sports,

 

When outside the house a mad ruckus arose!

Loud squeaking & banging woke us from our doze.

We ran to the screen door, peeked cautiously out,

Snuck onto the deck, then let out a shout.

 

Guess what had woken us up from our snooze.

But a rusty old ute pulled by eight mighty ‘roos.

The cheerful man driving was giggling with glee,

And we both knew at once who this plump bloke must be.

 

Now I’m telling the truth – it’s all dinki-di,

Those eight kangaroos fairly soared through the sky.

Santa leaned out the window to pull at the reins,

And encouraged the ‘roos, by calling their names.

 

‘Now, Kylie!  Now, Kirsty! Now, Shazza & Shane!

On, Kipper!  On, Skipper! On, Bazza & Wayne!

Park up on that water tank, Grab a quick drink,

I’ll scoot down the gum tree. Be back in a wink!’

 

So up to the tank those eight kangaroos flew,

With the ute full of toys, & Santa Claus too.

He slid down the gum tree & jumped to the ground,

Then in through the window, he sprang with a bound.

 

He had bright sunburned cheeks & a milky white beard.

A jolly old joker was how he appeared.

He wore red stubby shorts & old thongs on his feet,

And a hat of deep crimson as shade from the heat.

 

His eyes – bright as opals – Oh! how they twinkled!

And, like a goanna, his skin was quite wrinkled!

His shirt was stretched over a round bulging belly

Which shook when he moved, like a plate full of jelly.

 

A fat sack of prezzies he flung from his back,

And he looked like a swaggie unfastening his pack

He spoke not a word, but bent down on one knee,

To position our goodies beneath the Yule tree.

 

Surfboard & footy-ball shapes for us two.

And for dad, tongs to use on the new barbeque.

A mysterious package he left for our mum,

Then he turned & he winked & he held up his thumb;

 

He strolled out on deck & his ‘roos came on cue;

Flung his sack in the back & prepared to shoot through.

He bellowed out loud as they swooped past the gates –

‘MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, & GOODONYA, MATES!’

Author : Yvonne Morrison

Christmas-Roo