25 December 2006

The Wee Lad is just beginning to comprehend the whole Christmas thing and to his excitement was fantastic. Most of his gift were sourced in Jamaica and they all looked a little on the cheap side, even if that was not necessarily the case. Little Madam is far more discerning, so great care and attention had gone into her presents being sourced on the last trip home and the Lady of Leisure’s recent Miami trip. She did rather well for herself too, though there was an element of compensation as there were no gifts from relatives. Gift giving was over pretty quickly indeed. Our fear of the officialdom Jamaican Customs is such that we have told all our extended family no to send anything as it would likely just cost us more to receive than it did for them to give. The upside here though is that we should receive a steady procession of Christmas gifts all year as we receive visitors.

Heat isn’t that bad but still detracted immensely from the experience, swapping presents in our pyjamas in 30 degrees – it’s just wrong. Having no family round had its advantages and we were able to choose to visit friends. Kir Royale by the pool is a superb way to spend any day. The champagne and glad rags lend some sense of accession to the day, though I was embarrassed to say my Christmas shirt made me incredibly overdressed to the rest of the menfolk who mere put on a clean pair of O’Neill surf shorts. This killed any of the festive spirit I had been trying desperately to cling to.

Back at the house I managed to rekindle so Christmas Cheer. The ham had been boiled the night before and the glaze was coming along swimmingly. Turkey was browning off a treat. I had gone to great trouble an expense to get a pudding and a bottle of port, all rounded off with a very expensive Bordeaux.

I was bitterly disappointed. The turkey, although it looked perfect had that peculiar “Jamaican” flavour. It is difficult to explain or even pinpoint, but it is part organic / earthy part plastic. It is reminiscent of the smell of the supermarkets. It was still edible but not enjoyable, and with plenty of ham, the turkey went in the bin. The wine too, was had past its best. Little fruit left and it was visibly oxidizing in the glass. By the second glass, it was getting toward vinegar, so the cork went back in to be kept for cooking at some point in the future. The pudding was sticky and heavy and not to my taste, though there was absolutely nothing wrong with it. – except the price, £16!
In bed by 10, sober. Bah Humbug