Three days later Kate sat at the kitchen table looking at the blank page in front of her. She was trying to write down all the things they would need over Christmas but was yet to write anything down. It was so hard as Grace was always so fussy with things and Chris didn't eat much anyway and Nicole had in the last three days decided she wanted to be vegetarian because she had seen something on Facebook that said what went in to chicken nuggets so had decided she didn't want to eat meat anymore. Although she knew it would be a phase that more than likely wouldn't make it in to the new year.

"Are you going to do your ginger glazed ham this year?" She asked tapping her pen off the page

"of course, it's a Flynn Christmas classic" Mike smiled

"okay then" Kate said writing down the things he would need for the baked ham. "what other joints shall we get.?"

"umm what about roast beef and a chicken crown" Mike suggested "and what are we going to do about Nicole being veggie?" he asked

"well, I will see if I can find a small nut roast but you know how much she loves the Christmas ham" Kate smiled

"right well I will also get some pasta and do my pasta salad and get some prawns." she said scribbling down what she had just said on her list. "what about desert?" she said. This in its self was also a drama as none of the kids could decide on one desert. Grace would only eat chocolate and didn't like pavlova, Chris was too little for anything really so just had ice cream, Nicole had said she was sick of chocolate puddings but she hated the dried fruit puddings typical of Christmas. So she would end up getting 3 or 4 different deserts for one day.

"what about a cheesecake?" Mike suggested

"i don't know. We could get an ice cream cake and that way Chris can have some and if we have a cookies and cream one that should please Nicole on the low chocolate and Gracie because it is Oreo" Kate suggested

"sounds good" Mike smiled

"right" Kate sighed it wasn't the best list and normally she would be more organised than this especially with just over a week to go till Christmas but with 2020 being as bad as it had been plus being crash sailed at the weekend, she barely had time to think and she was dreading going to the shops as usually this time of year it was bedlam. Although having said that the last 2 days before Christmas was always worse and she had tried it one year when mike had forgotten to get the carrots for the reindeer.

Grabbing her bag, she made for the door hoping for a quick getaway without the kids, she wanted to be in and out and if the kids were with her then she would be slowed down as they always would doddle and want to get everything.

"where are you going mummy?" Grace asked peeking round the living room door

"i just have to go to the shops. I won't be long" she said picking up the keys

"can I come pleaseeeeeeeeeee" grace smiled

"not to day sweet, I need to be quick" Kate said which was half right however she was hoping to have a solo coffee with Nikki and exchange Christmas presents and generally just have a moan about the kids. Something she couldn't do with three pairs of elephant ears hanging around

"please mummy" Grace begged

"no, I need you to stay here and help daddy sort the kitchen out so we can have Christmas dinner properly" Kate smiled hoping that would make Grace want to stay where she was.

"okay" Grace said sadly walking in to the kitchen.

Cheering silently to herself Kate made for the door before Chris or Nicole got wind that she was going out. Sitting in the car Kate checked the back seat to make sure that she had the gift bag she had brought for Nikki.

Pulling up outside Coles Kate grabbed a large trolly she was shopping first and then meeting Nikki in town for a coffee. Pushing her trolly in to the store she sighed, grateful that it wasn't too busy. Walking along the isles there were some things she knew she would have to get next week like the fruit and vegetables and she would more than likely order the ice cream cake to be picked up when she came out to buy the other last minuet things.

Wandering around she picked up most of the things on her list including a few extras. She managed to get in and out without too much bother from the crowds. Loading everything in the boot she headed over to the coffee shop that was opposite Coles store where she had arraigned to meet Nikki

"hey" she smiled walking in spying Nav already sat at a table

"merry Christmas" Kate smiled removing her mask as she sat down

"merry Christmas" Nikki smiled "i have ordered us some food. Christmas toastie okay with onion rings?" she asked

"sounds yummy" she smiled sipping the flat white she had also brought. "anyway, Merry Christmas" she smiled handing over her gift bag

"aww thank you" Nikki smiled "you shouldn't have" she said opening the bag pulling out a candle and a room defuser. Lifting the lid on the candle she inhaled the sent "ooh this smells nice" she said "well I also got you this" she smiled handing Kate a gold bag.

"why thank you" she smiled pulling out a glittery stemless wine glass along with a small bottle of prosecco. "ooh I shall enjoy this" she grinned placing the bag under the table as their food arrived.

"so, how's Christmas prep going" Nikki asked cutting in to her toastie

"well, all the presents are done thankfully. I just did the main food and I have a few last minuet things that I have on order that I can pick up next week on the 23rd. You still going down to your mums?"

"yeah, fly down on Monday" she smiled "although I don't know why she drives me insane asking when I am going to give her grandchildren and that. I mean she has three from my brother but she says its nit the same" Nav sighed

Three cups of coffee and 2 chocolate rocky roads later Kate stood to leave

"well I guess I shall see you next year" Kate smiled. "have fun down in Brissy"

"i swear I may be back sooner if my mum says anything" Nav said wrapping her arm around Kate. "oh and before I forget here is a little something for the kids." she said handing over a bag

"Nikki you shouldn't have" Kate said

"hey I like spoiling them." Nav smiled

"well I shall make sure they say thank you to their auntie Nikki" Kate smiled taking the large sack form her picking up the little bag for her.

Arriving home half a hour later she carried all the shopping in to the car, leaving the sack of presents for the kids as she knew grace would want to open them now. She would bring it in once the kids had gone to bed.

"hey I was going to send out a search party. Did you go and fetch the pig yourself?" Mike grinned

"ha bloody ha" Kate grinned "no I met Nav for a drink once I had finished shopping"

"hey I was only teasing." he grinned "so did you get everything?" he asked

"yep and I ordered the ice cream cake to pick up on the 23rd along with the veg so its that bit fresher" she smiled

"good" he smiled back

Flopping down on the sofa Kate smiled as mike handed her a mug. "thanks" she smiled.

This Christmas was going to be an odd one. Family and friends unable to really meet. She just hoped that this Christmas would still hold some magic for the children. Because after the year they had had the children still deserved some normality.

hope you enjoy this, as i have said before i am not 100% on how a aussie xmas goes. in the uk we have roast turkey and roast potatoes sprouts ect. so i hope i have done it justice. anyway 1 week to go