Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere doesn’t make for a relaxing festive period. While our European neighbours can look forward to a brief week’s break, and a roast dinner beside a roaring log fire, we down under have a lot going on. That’s because a Kiwi Christmas is preceded by schools breaking up (and all the attendant prize giving’s and celebrations grandparents are called on to attend). Then there are our own end-of-year functions to organise, host or attend and bake for. Not to mention extra requests for babysitting as our adult children head off to end-of-year work do’s. We then cook Christmas dinner in sweltering summer temperatures, and before we even have time to clear away the table, we’re packing to go away on a summer break! If this sounds all too familiar, we have a few tips to make life easier this festive season – because retirement doesn’t have to stop when Christmas starts!
Add the extras and call it your own!
We all enjoy having a Christmas cake in the house – it’s just the ticket when friends or family call, and when a few slices are popped onto a Christmas doily, it’s the perfect last minute ‘take-a-plate.’ But here’s the thing – you don’t have to bake it yourself (no, really, you don’t!). Instead, buy a cake and go all out with decorating it yourself. This gorgeous Pohutukawa flower cake topper has all the red you want for Christmas, and you can use it again next year! Or head to Gathered for some fun (and non-traditional) Christmas cake decorating inspiration.
Making Christmas fruit mince pies is part and parcel of the festive fun. But do yourself a favour with off-the-shelf fruit mince and ready-rolled short pastry (it’s available in vegetarian sheets, too). Personalise your creations with these cute decoration suggestions. If you’re catering for the gluten-free, check out these gluten-free mini short pastry pie cases, but be aware not all Christmas fruit mince and icing-sugar is gluten free.
Delivered to your door
No one likes to go empty handed to a Christmas dinner invitation, but in the midst of the festive rush, deciding what to make, and battling the supermarket crowds for the ingredients, can put paid to anyone’s enthusiasm. Skip the hassle, and indulge in a delivered-to-the-door Christmas food bag. Whip up a starter, a main, or sides, to take to your host, and pop the other elements in the fridge to use yourself over the coming days.
Christmas tree down-size
If you love the scent of pine at Christmas, but can’t face installing the tree (or the thought of dismantling it), don’t sweat the hard stuff. Instead, make life easy for yourself by heading to the garden centre for a potted conifer. Or order one of these little cuties on-line and have it delivered to your door. (Be sure to purchase a species that is not regarded as a pest plant in your region.) Potted Christmas trees are a sustainable option, they seldom drop needles when you know how to care for them, and they can be used year after year (our favourite is Troy)!
It’s a wrap!
Not everyone enjoys wrapping Christmas gifts. If this sounds like you, do a one-stop shop at a store offering the service free-of charge (phone ahead or look online to check). Or if you don’t mind the wrapping but can’t face the logistics, purchase at a store offering free Christmas paper, ribbon, gift cards, and the use of a wrapping table.
One size fits all
Skip the difficult choices that come with individual gift buying, and go with a family gift such as a hamper, board game, online movie streaming subscription, or family activity voucher. If you want to gift to individuals, buy the same (or a variation of the same) for everyone by choosing bathroom treats or gourmet eats!
However you go about it, remember Christmas is for you, too, so don’t wear yourself out before the big day arrives!