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Palate PLEASURES t
LOU PERRI
FROM THE STUNNED MULLET
W H Y N O T… I T ’ S C H R I S T M A S ?
A
nd just like that, this Christmas wonderland of epic proportions particular month of the and then some. Their wardrobe has its year has rolled around own Christmas section, planning for the again. There’s no other following Christmas starts on Boxing day… month of the year that you get the picture. inspires such a division of Most of us teeter somewhere around loving and loathing as this one. the middle with our attitude to the season, Many of us curl up in the foetal with a dose of slight dread at the thought position at the mere thought of it and of yet again taking on the extra pressures stick our heads in the sand, even though and obligations of the time, yet somehow unfortunately it is inevitable and repetitive we pull some of the old Christmas spirit (every 365 days in out of a hat (indeed fact). the Christmas ‘spirit’ There are those involved is inevitably There’s no that dread it with a the alcoholic kind). Christmas passion, whether it Somehow we make tradition too be from the horror of it through, mostly with overworked for these Christmases past, or a big exhale at the end folks, no party invite a mortal fear of tinsel of December 25 that declined, in fact their and carols on repeat. it’s all over for another place will resemble a And then for some, year. Christmas wonderland it is just a really sad And so it goes on. time. For the elderly, The question for those of epic proportions and those who struggle of us that aren’t full of then some. financially and those the ‘natural’ kind of who have lost loved Christmas spirit is how ones, this time can to turn the recurring amplify already fragile emotions. sense of ambivalence into something more On the complete flipside of this, there positive. are a few that completely embrace every There’s really no quick fix for this one. moment in a blissful state of yuletide Sure we can all be a little more organised in ecstacy. the old present buying stakes. Definintely There’s no Christmas tradition too avoiding the frenzied, sweaty, desperate overworked for these folks, no party invite Christmas Eve spending and late night declined, in fact their place will resemble a wrapping frenzy could be a good start.
50 GREATER PORT MACQUARIE
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As is the idea of ‘keeping it simple’. Certainly, this one’s nigh impossible as somehow it all just gets bigger than Ben Hur as the adrenalin and blood alcohol levels start to rise as the big day approaches. Hmmm, so is there even a way we can shift over into Christmas enjoyment mode, or at least not wanting to curl up in a dark room in the foetal position? I think the only way through it is just to not fight it, dare I say ‘embrace’ it? After all, whether we like it or not, it is happening. And of course there’s always that little mantra that we can repeat whenever necessary and that’s ‘Why not, it’s Christmas?’ Surely this is a one size fits all fix for all kinds of Christmas-related angst, to glide through the days with a carefree abandon that condones such things as day drinking (with responsible service of alcohol delivered by us hospitality folks of course), unbridled shopping sprees (after all the economy needs it, and it is absolutely crucial for mental health reasons to purchase oneself a Christmas pressie or two). And, last but not least, this mantra should most certainly be applied to allowing ourselves to take a big old break from the relentlessness of life too. Especially this year. It is absolutely better than ok to put your own feet up, with a good book, a Netflix binge, a snooze on the couch – or whatever floats your boat. ‘Why not… it’s Christmas’. You deserve it.
