Ringo Edition #28
The happiest of times....
There is absolutely no doubt that Easter is my favourite holiday of the year – it has been, for as long as I can remember.
Family holidays with friends from the age of five at Victor Harbor, with the best Easter Bunny egg hunts, to Black Point as an awkward teenager, again with family friends, campfires, marshmallows, cards, terrible Dad jokes, fishing, disastrous sailing, tent malfunctions; the happiest of times.
As 20-year-olds, Easter represented the Oakbank Racing Carnival, Adelaide Hills, the height of fashion, champagne and orange on the bus on the way up at 6am, a little sideways by 11am, possibly a quick snooze, and then straight to the ringside bar by 1pm. A lot different to the healthy, focused, industrious, driven, worldly and adventurous 20-year-olds I know today!
As young married couples, pre kids, Mornington Peninsula was a favourite Easter destination, an insane amount of gourmet food (thanks Tone to this day for the best crumbed veal we have all ever eaten!), red wine like it was going out of fashion, only Haigh’s chocolates would do, golf, wineries, side splitting laughter and many a sore head; the happiest of times.
Now with my own family – the same traditions apply - many river Easter’s, campfires, marshmallows, camping, terrible jokes, singing, skiing in the freezing cold river, playing cards; the happiest of times.
This year, we are heading to Torquay, all the kids and their friends, where we have progressed to surfing in the freezing cold ocean, playing cards, the best Vietnamese Pho and sour dough crumpets (South Australian of course), hoping for another happy time.
So why is it that Easter is so relaxed, fun, and joyful, as opposed to the intense stress of Christmas. I decided to investigate this phenomenon. Is it to do with Jesus rising from the dead? The ultimate comeback, resurrection, like a phoenix rising – giving us all hope, a sense of renewal?
Christmas as we know can be hectic, the unachievable expectation of extensive and expensive gift giving, the perfectly themed house, the Ottolenghi inspired feast, family on mass, not just at mass – I mean why is there a need for some families to see their entire family tree in one day? Thank goodness or Godness my family gave up this malarkey years ago!
Easter is Yin. Christmas is Yang. There is a lightness about Easter – even at 20 years old, the excitement of how many eggs the kids will find is real. By the way Sophie, I see you have already discovered my Easter egg stash, and I have relocated it!
For me, there is the tradition of Easter shopping. Coming off a hot summer, there was always the need for a new Easter knit. Of course, being in fashion this was not a hard task. I can recall every one of my Easter purchases from the age of 19, from a black watch tartan ensemble, stripe knits, pastel sweats, stirrup pants (it was the 80’s) matching scarf and beanie accessories, cashmere of course, bootleg cords, polar fleece, and puffer jackets.
Fortunately, with my revised anti consumerist attitude I already have the Easter fashion essentials and will be instead focusing on an Ottolenghi/Maggie Beer style food extravaganza for the young, playing cards, reading, yoga, and definitely a spiritual time of renewal.
Enjoy a safe and happiest of times kind of Easter.
XX Ringo XX