Image - 2026-06-17 14:27

Imaginative Christmas at Nan's House When I woke up on Christmas Day (Christmas Eve) my sun was shining brightly through my bedroom window. However, even though it was only 7 am. the heat was already intense. As I looked out the window at a bright blue sky I could tell it would be just one of those very hot Aussie Christmases. We had to leave home early to head off to my Nan's place where we have an annual Christmas get-together. Mum started packing all the presents in their respective bags, and Dad put all the food he brought into the car. I was so excited to see my cousins and Grandparents; however, I did not look forward to the long trip. As we left our home driveway, and headed down the road, the Air-Conditioner worked hard against the extreme heat. There were lots of cars heading towards Christmas luncheons and family gatherings. I watched the dry grass and gum trees go by as we traveled along listening to Christmas tunes softly coming from the radio. It took what felt like forever before we eventually turned into Nan's street. When we did my excitement increased. Her house was adorned with Christmas lights and colorful decorations hung from her verandah. And there was Nan standing at the front door smiling so big for us. "Merry Christmas!" She shouted to us as we walked up the driveway. The aroma of food wafted throughout the house as soon as we entered. The dining room table was full of roast chicken, salads, prawns, and many different types of desserts. My cousins were already running around laughing and playing games. I thought the day flew by quickly. We opened presents together thanking each other for our gifts. Afterward we all sat around the table telling stories and laughing at some of our favorite family memories. Nan also shared with us some of her childhood stories of Christmas and everyone was listening intently. Before we knew it, the heat had reached extreme temperatures. So my cousins and I decided to escape into the backyard and run through the sprinklers. The cool water sprayed across our bodies and made us feel refreshed again. We spent most of the day laughing and playing in the back yard. Later that afternoon everybody decided to gather outside. The sky transformed to beautiful shades of orange and pink while a nice cooling breeze finally came to us. As I looked around at my family chatting, laughing and spending time with one another...it hit me... Christmas is NOT about presents! It is about having your loved ones close to you! The long drive, the heat and all the activities during that busy day were well worth it as they allowed us to experience special moments such as these. That night after we all said good bye, Nan gave me a tight hug. "See you next Christmas," she whispered. I smiled and waved as we left Nan's place and drove away knowing that I couldn't wait until next year.