The Aussie Barbie

Xmas barbie. A very relaxed way of entertaining.

No not the Australian version of the barbie doll but the barbecue. I can remember my first ever barbie, it was in fact one we hosted--the Xmas street party at our neighbourhood.  When Stan told me we were hosting the annual community Xmas party, the Pinoy party planner in me started figuring out in my mind all the things that we needed to organise--the food of course, the drinks (and boy can they drink!), the tables, chairs, decor, programme, sound system, etc all the paraphernalia I associated with big parties. After all, coming from a family of ten children plus extended family of 100+ cousins on either side, family reunions would range from a handful (20, not including the yayas and other helpers) to a barangay-ful (200+ was the last major one)---party planning was in my blood. To my huge surprise and most pleasant relief, I was told to relax as everything was BYO. Bring your own food, drinks, chairs, tables. Nothing too organised, just provide a welcoming, christmassy ambience for all the neighbours to enjoy each other's company.  True to the laid-back relaxed approach Aussies take to life in general. No worries. Too easy. I must admit it was discombobulating for me the first couple of years as a Pinoy hostess to have guests bring food (I could feel my Dad shake his head in shamed disapproval and my Mom gasp que horror!) I very gladly adapted and eagerly allowed everyone to share their bounty and vice versa. Takes the pressure away from the host. Very fair way to have a communal event and best of all there's not a huge mess to clean up afterwards because everyone helps with the clean-up. How good is that? I love it! Makes entertaining that much easier and more spontaneous. We try to have a barbie as often as we can during the warmer months. Everyone's just a phone call away. Nice.

Stan's shed. At left is his latest toy, a bobcat.

The barbie also refers to the grill. I am told that in Au, a man is measured by two things: his shed (see right photo) and his barbie (see above photo). That is why the man is always expected to cook the meats and anything that need to be grilled. Stand back woman. I am all too happy to oblige.

lovely Pinoy accent in our backyard

Outdoor entertaining is big here in fact I'm sure if given a choice most Aussies would prefer to live outdoors than indoors. I'm with them on that. How can I resist the clear pollution-free blue skies, the fresh cool breeze, the myriad of wildlife that surround our home, the sweet chirping of beautiful parrots ("look at me, look at me" that's what they sound like, really!), the odd kangaroo or two leaping across the bong at dawn and dusk. All that makes country living very attractive indeed. Yeah sure, there's the tyranny of distance but one gets used to it and works with it. To top it off, my dear hubby built me a nipa hut in our backyard. How sweet is that? He says it's to help assuage my homesickness. But really it's to assuage his. He fell in love with the nipa hut the first time he laid eyes on it on his first trip to the Philippines. It has since become central to our barbecues. Also, a charming way to integrate both cultures you reckon?