christmas is a time...

I never really know why my family celebrates Christmas. We're hardly religious. Well, make that - we're not religious. My grandparents are and were Buddhists or Taoists. Some of my aunts/uncles are of various Christian denominations. But my family, we are... 'free thinkers' although I would prefer to use the word agnostic for myself.

But we've always celebrated Christmas.

As a kid, it was a Christmas eve party at my paternal grandparents' house, with us kids doing some carol singing and even organising games for the whole family. But the grandparents having passed on and the kids now grown up (well, some of us are, the younger ones are still in sec school/jc) things are simpler.

My Christmas started off on the eve, with a dinner at my mom's sister's house. This time, with the addition of my uncle and his family, including a sweet almost one-year-old little girl.

So feast number included: green salad, pasta salad, roast beef, roast chicken, roast potatoes, a leg of ham, another lot of greens and mince pies.

For dessert, my mom had made a pumpkin pie and a chocolate cake.

Christmas music played from upstairs as the family sat around to talk about various things, including the upcoming wedding of one of my cousins - we're all just wondering who the groom is.

Christmas Day dinner was at my dad's brother's in the east.

This time dinner involved: turkey (and stuffing), a leg of ham, roast beef, green salad, brussel sprouts that looked overcooked, pineapple rice, some other greens, spaghetti, potato salad, cold crabs - which an uncle had steamed with some Chinese wine - yum.

And for dessert: my sister's brownie, a pecan pie, and white and dark chocolate fondue - fruits and marshmallows.

Each family brought home a doggy back of beef and ham. Looks like it's gonna be sandwiches the next couple of days.

A couple of rabbits ran loose in the front yard while the Bourne Supremacy entranced its viewers in the living room - the coffee table laden with fruits, chocolate and a pot of Chinese tea.

I hope your Christmas was filled with good food and good times.