IT'S quiet in the house this morning. I've been up, saluting the sun, drinking tea, making a list of all the things I need to do today. Tomorrow the house will be noisy, messy, food will fill the table and drink will flow. The boy is back from his weekend of camping and the girls - and their fellas - will drift in from interstate, around the corner and most likely from the surf to decorate the tree. It's an annual gathering, a tradition marked by each of the children getting a new decoration to hang, Bing Crosby playing through the house, fighting over the placement of tinsel, a spat and crazy Christmas crumping. 

Merry Christmas to you and yours. Wear your sunscreen, eat a banana Paddlepop, or two, and make sure you get a nana nap in after lunch on Christmas day.