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Like it or not, the big “C” word is looming on the horizon and approaching us at a rate of knots. Whether you’re in the “love Christmas” camp or the “hate Christmas” camp, it really is everywhere you look.

We thought it would be fun here on Aussie Bloggers to share a little with one another our few Christmassy thoughts. We’re starting with a few of the Admins. Here is a chance for you to get to know those who are responsible for the “behind the scenes” running of Aussie Bloggers.

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Admin Name : goatlady

If you could have anything your heart desired, what would you ask for for Christmas?
Erm, I spose world peace…

And on a more serious note (and so that you can refer your partner back here if need be ), what would you really like for Christmas?
Ah! A HTC Touch Pro mobile phone. Don’t think that’s gonna happen though

What are you doing for Christmas this year?
We will be having a semi-traditional European Christmas Eve dinner, with a range of Polish traditional dishes and some German traditional dishes (my partner is Polish, while my family is German and Croatian). We leave out the Christian aspect of the holiday and celebrate it more in line with Germanic pagan winter solstice/new year traditions (which did include a decorated tree).

What is your favourite Christmas Tradition?
The Christmas Tree! We always have a live tree which we decorate with real glass baubles (no plastic allowed). Traditionally, the tree should go up on Christmas Eve during the afternoon (something for the kids to do while the grown-ups are cooking) but we usually have ours up a week or two before that, more in line with Aussie traditions.

What is your favourite Christmas food? (feel free to share a recipe if you have one)
A few years ago I would have said German chocolate pudding with boozy cherries, but since my partner has introduced me to Polish traditions, I think it’s pierogi – pastry crescents filled with meat, mushroom and cabbage, or cream cheese and potato (or any one of hundred of other combinations, including sweet ones) which are boiled and then (in our household at least) lightly fried. We serve them between the soup course and the main courses. Although I still love the chocolate pudding!

Admin Name: Kin

If you could have anything your heart desired, what would you ask for for Christmas?
Understanding

And on a more serious note (and so that you can refer your partner back here if need be ), what would you really like for Christmas?
Ok, well, there’s the new Doug Anthony All Stars DVD, Dr Who, Torchwood, NCIS DVD’s that all need adding to my collection. A Pandora bracelet (want me to find a link?), a storage container for my car and about an extra 4-5 hours a day

What are you doing for Christmas this year?
This year will be our first big family Christmas for a couple of years. My sister will be over from the US for her wedding, my brother has leave from the army and we will be home for the big day. Our immediate family is now up to 18, so by the time you add on extra aunts and uncles, cousins and kids, we’re looking at over 30 people this year. My Mum will be up at 5am with the air con blasting roasting pork, chicken and turkey rolls, along with her famous roast vegetables, fried rice and about 8 different salads. My younger sister will help and make 2 (or more) pavlova’s for dessert while I distract the children from the pile of presents under the tree (can you imagine how many presents you need for 30 people??) and cut up fruit for the fruit salad and pav’s.

What is your favourite Christmas Tradition?
My favourite tradition is special to my little family. Our Christmas Eve dinner where we each get to open one present, call as many family and friends as we can to wish them a Merry Christmas, then retire to the patio with a couple of kilo’s of prawns, followed up with Mango Wies Bars. So it’s not traditional Christmas fare, but it’s special to us.

What is your favourite Christmas food? (feel free to share a recipe if you have one)
I love chocolate rum balls. I’m not allowed to make them anymore because I eat the whole batch in one sitting.

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Admin Name: Lightening

If you could have anything your heart desired, what would you ask for for Christmas?

For my hubby never to have to work again (then we could travel and do whatever we liked with our time).

And on a more serious note (and so that you can refer your partner back here if need be ), what would you really like for Christmas?

I’m usually one to ummm and ahhh when asked what I would like for a gift but this year I seem to have a growing list:

A massage chair or cushion

A watch that monitors heart rate, calories burnt etc (like my personal trainer has)

Pink hand weights

Lots of chocolate

Magazine subscription (although narrowing down my preferences to just one would be hard)

A gift certificate to a bookstore (it’s so much more fun getting to browse and choose yourself!)

A new laptop (okay, that’s probably pushing it a bit)

What are you doing for Christmas this year?

We’re spending Christmas with my mummy and daddy this year. It’s been a few years since we’ve had Christmas with them. And we’re taking our NEW caravan!!!

What is your favourite Christmas Tradition?

Eating!!!!

Okay, on a more serious note, a few years back we began a tradition of having a hot meal (turkey and roast vegies) celebration with just our immediate family (DH and I and our 3 children). We usually do this either Christmas Eve or a couple of nights before Christmas. Christmas Day is often a hectic affair and we mostly spend it with extended family so it’s been nice to have this quiet family time together as part of our Christmas Tradition.

What is your favourite Christmas food? (feel free to share a recipe if you have one)

Rocky Road Christmas Pudding

It’s not *really* a Christmas “pudding”. You just make the Rocky Road up in the shape of a Christmas pudding.

I don’t really have a recipe but I make Rocky Road with chocolate melts, a small amount of copha, salted peanuts (gotta be salted!!!), marshmallows and red raspberry lollies. Just melt the chocolate and copha and stir the other stuff in until the mixture is full (ie the chocolate won’t coat any more stuff).

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If you’re interested in sharing a few of your own thoughts in response to these questions, keep your eyes out in the forums as we’ll be inviting forum members to participate very soon.