December 2016

LIFE & FAMILY

“This year, we’ll spend Christmas at a beach shack near Kingscliff, a town in northern New South Wales, Australia, with family, beach-goers, surfers and sharks for company. Our plan is to eat and drink ourselves silly. On the menu will be prawns and oysters, ham and turkey, mangos and cherries, and beer and bubbles – oh, and a dangerously flammable pudding. I’m likely to gravitate mostly towards the prawns and the beer. Reading is kind of my job, and it’s been a busy year, so I’m actually hoping to read the back of my eyelids a lot.” – Shamus Sillar, Group Editor (Australian)

“I’ll spend this Christmas with my family in Germany where Christmas Eve is the most important day of the holiday. My mum traditionally hosts dinner at her house and this year there will be 13 of us. The tannenbaum , or fir tree, is usually put up and decorated on Christmas Eve, and for dinner we usually have stuffed turkey or roast goose and dumplings. After dinner we sing carols and exchange gifts. I’m wishing for snow; we rarely get snow over Christmas, but when we do it’s magical! Frohe Weihnachten , Merry Christmas!” – Karin Galley, Sales Manager (German)

“ I ’ l l s p e n d Christmas here with my family (Mum, Dad, my partner and

“This Christmas, I’ll be in England’s Yorkshire Dales with family! We’ll tuck into a traditional roast (complete with Yorkshire pudding and mince pies for dessert), and spend a few merry hours in the pub to keep warm. I’m looking forward to getting cosy by the fire with a recently purchased book: A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. I already got my Christmas wish: after two years of long distance, my boyfriend is

“For the first time in six years, we’re venturing back for a hot Aussie Christmas. It will be a

our cats!) eating typical Eurasian fare. On the menu is curry debil , shepherd’s pie, turkey, ham, pineapple tarts, cake and wine. Our family tradition is to go to Christmas Eve midnight Mass, followed the next day by visits to extended family and my godparents. On my wish list is a newMP3/iPod, some books, and a facial.” – Christel Gomes, Editor (Singaporean)

festive week of celebrations across three cities with my family and husband’s family, and my birthday on Christmas Eve, too. On Boxing Day, I’m locking myself away with The Story of the Lost Child by Italian author Elena Ferrante and will hopefully find a year of good luck in my Christmas stocking.” – Katie Roberts, Editor (Australian)

finally moving to Singapore in January.” – Leanda Rathmell, Client Services Manager (British)

“Australia is my second home and because my husband is Australian we’ll head there for Christmas with family and friends. On the menu is a tradition meal including Grandma’s turkey and swimming in her pool afterwards. I’m a sucker for all things Apple, so the iPhone 7 is on my wish list.” – Susan Knudsen-Pickles, Events Manager (Danish)

“Roy and I will be heading to Perth, Western Australia for Christmas at the home of our son and his family, plus daughter Blaire and her new fiancé – so there’s lots of reason to celebrate! I’m looking forward to plenty of hot sunshine, fresh air, swimming in the sea and cooking up family meals with all that great WA produce; and with two young granddaughters, the tree, the presents and Father Christmas will feature high on the agenda. As for books, I’m expecting Mia (nearly seven) to read bedtime stories to me.” – Verne Maree, Freelance Editor (South African)

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