C6 - Sunday News, November 1, 1981

Last year about this time I
mentioned in the column
that we were going to spend
a Christmas in Hawaii. A
kind reader wrote a set of
guidelines (duly noted and

published) to make our
Christmas a happy one. I was
happy as hell. Mom ac-
cepted the whole thing as
“lovely, dearie” and Brian
and the kids considered the
whole thing as “Paradise
Lost.” :

I couldn't believe that they
felt cheated until last July
when everyone got into the
old Christmas spirit and
began planning where to put
the Christmas tree this year.

You begin to get the
message when the kids start
hauling out the Christmas
pudding recipes in July.

Anyway, there we were in
two lovely condos in Hawaii.
We started out by renting
one but two days later rd
had wall-to-wall
togetherness until I was
ready to check out the
nearest loony bin. We rented
the next-door condo and
Brian and I began living like
human beings instead of
sand traps.

Sleep? You bet! If I never
see another broadcast of
“Good Morning America” it
will be too soon. The kids
insisted that the “mess” that
plagued Dad was strictly of

‘my making - leave them
alone and watch how neat
their side would be.

= U s e ue

We watched. For all of
one day, there never was a
cleaner condo than theirs.
Then tropical rot set in.
“There’s nothing to eat
here!” they complained,

overlooking the $50 worth of

by Barbara
McCreadie

eee
junk food they'd insisted
upon. “What are you and
Dad having for dinner?”
They eyed the salads, chops
and mashed potatoes with
loving glances.

“Bring your own pilates
and cutlery and I might be
able to find you some din-
ner.” And the poor little kids

had to take the dirty dishes
home to wash. Our condo
stayed remarkably clean. So
much so our middle
daughter announced that her
sisters were “pigs” and she
thought moving back
“home” with Mom and Dad
might be a good idea. Un-
fortunately for her, Grannie
was arriving for Christmas
and we insisted upon an
“Adults Only” oasis.

I brought my own poultry
seasoning, Italian herbs and
seasoning salt from home.
With the turkey “on hold” at
the supermarket I began to
plan the rest of the menu.

We had meta great couple
from Los Angeles and in-
vited them to share dinner.
She wanted to make a
contribution so volunteered
her best mixed vegetable
casserole.

Then, just in case some-
one might be lonely on

Christmas night, I put up a -

notice in the lobby of the
condo and had a call from a
couple from Minneapolis.
Could they come and bring
something? “How about a
salad?”

Normally I spend half of
Christmas day fussing
around with preparing
stuffing, paring vegetables
and all that nonsense. This
year I headed for the
packaged goods counter and
bought three packages of
stuffing mix. M.J.B. BRAND
STUFFING WITH WILD

AND AFTER CHRISTMAS dimectr, there is always the beach and a relaxing swim.

triendty
helpful

personal

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More than 25 modets to choose trom
including the newest trom Panasonic,
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and

Betore you buy do yoursett and

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UY

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RICE, CHICKEN
FLAVOUR is super. I
rammed two box-fuls up the
tail end of the bird, and
another up the other.

Early in the day, I conned
one kid into paring a whole

lot of potatoes. Meanwhile, I .

semi-cooked some
cauliflower, added cheese

sauce and refrigerated. I°

mixed up a cupful of flour

with water and stuck it in my

fridge, along with
cooking water from
cauliflower. (Gravy
later!)

We stole some red flowers
and paim fronds and made
centerpieces for
tables.
their own plate and cutlery.

One guest, a surgeon from
California did a neat job on
the guest of mor - Sir
Thomas Turkey. Never had
a turkey been so neatly
carved.

At the last minute, I
whipped some potatoes and
made gravy. Dessert was
fruit and cheese. The kids
hung around long enough to
fill up and then headed for
the pool.

the

for

I thought it was great).—~

Simple meal. Family and
new friends. Small mess.
Damned if I wouldn't like to

repeat the whole thing this
year.

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14 Days, Aw & Hotel

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Rng. Agent 157-3

RENSHAW’S
TRAVEL LTD.

* ae hig
EDNA BERTEAUX
Don Renshaw. Sr of
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with pleasure the appointment
of Edna Bertcaua. as
travel agent and tour
of Renshaw's Iravci

seniors
planner

Idan) Bericaus bnings 20
years cxpenence in the travel
industry having been
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Canada) in Vancouver

She haa travelled extensively

throughout the  (C anbbcan
Hlawan Mearco and crutsed
both Alaska and Panama

Canal Her personal hoowledpge
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Please contact ber at bome
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1O1O

Remshow's Travel
Sette £860
Paecihic Cemtre Tower
700 Wess Gcorngla Serecs
Vaaecoever, B.(.

the -

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Everyone brought ||

Bains Travel Lid.

-LONDON $599.00 Return!
AANCHESTER $599.00 Return!
“Aboard CP Air Holidays Full-Service

ir -
Departs April 25, May 2 & 4/82
Return before May.19/82

For specific flight dates contact:

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FALL SPECIALS!
HAWAITI “. *389

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* INCLUDES AIRFARE & 6 NIGHTS
ACCOMMODATION AT THE
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SUGGESTED HOLIDAY
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(DOES NOT INCLUDE AIRF ARE, VANCOUVERIHONOLULU RETURN)
a OAHU ‘STAYPUTS 2-ISLAND HOLIDAY

| incu INCOUDES

ear 8UN me Wee ne
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+ 245 Hasse Biete ter

| pamamance maiery 4 '
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* Based of cudweerk fare of $ 9.4 06 Ce 1
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North Park Royal

fF? LAWSON TRAVEL 1) Years

of service