![]() ![]() All things seldom being equal inevitably there will be a mint room and a dud. Nicol Reed’s top takeaways: “Prepare, prepare, prepare! Do not turn up and hope for the best. Because when it works, when the crickets are singing and you’re lolling about on the lawn with a full puku, surrounded by loved ones, well your cup runneth over, doesn’t it?” And yet, call me cray-cray, but I persevere. A brittle shell of the pre-holiday me, the one who was stupidly all buoyed up with hope and goodwill, alight with anticipation. “I have been on group holidays from which I’ve returned a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown. We asked Nicol Reed (author of One of Those Mothers) why she keeps returning to the scene of the group vacation crime? Hotels are a democracy - and shared holiday homes are Lord of Flies with a barbecue. well, I think you can probably see where this is going and it doesn’t include three complimentary items of dry cleaning. If Lucy booked the bach, but Bridget’s husband drove the boat that got them there, and Roz didn’t do anything except complain. But well before we get to its truly dark heart, we find ourselves empathising with the main character as she stands on the doorstep of a summer rental on an island somewhere in the Hauraki Gulf. Megan Nicol Reed’s recently released first novel centres on a middle-class group holiday that spectacularly implodes. The kids are obviously bunking in the sleepout, but how do you decide who gets the bedroom with the view and the ensuite? If you haven’t eaten meat for years or even dined near it, and suddenly your senses are assaulted with the smell of death and everyone’s going ‘yum, yum, yum’ …” GROUP HOLIDAYS: Three families, one shared holiday rental. “It definitely looks like a pig or a chicken or a turkey. She says meat eaters might not always realise how confronting a traditional whole bird or leg of ham can be. And they would cook some potatoes separately, not in the turkey fat. ![]() “They still love you! I always brought a vegan meat alternative with me to cook on the day. Insley says most families are happy to accommodate newly vegan whānau, so long as they have plenty of warning. Any number of local companies now make vegan ice cream and dark chocolate is generally vegan friendly (but do check the ingredients list). In the supermarket freezer section, Australia-based Fry’s caters to multiple barbecue and bring-a-sausage-roll situations. The same company does a Beet Wellington (the clue is in the name and, yes, the pastry is dairy-free). Photo / 123rfĬhristchurch-based Grater Goods, for example, sells Roast Furkey - a one kilogram roll of wheat protein-based seitan, stuffed with herbs and wrapped in a soy “skin” with a maple glaze. There's just no disguising the origins of some Christmas dinners. The less craft-inclined might consider googling “tofurkey”. Insley’s personal boundaries once extended to creating a Christmas table showstopper constructed out of parsnip “bones” coated in a turkey-shaped plant-based mixture. We consulted Claire Insley, New Zealand Vegan Society media spokeswoman, who said “it’s always hard - but it is also easy to be gentle and have your boundaries respected”. And for those who prefer their festivities flesh-free? Cater to the gluten-free with pavlovas and wild rice stuffing the lactose-intolerant will love an almond milk and agar agar custard. Let’s assume this is a true scenario and not some desperate ploy by a grown adult too afraid to confront their family with the unpalatable truth: Turkey is a crime against Christmas and a pair of novelty socks soaked in gravy will provide the same textural effect as 99 per cent of all meals centred on this bizarrely large and famously dry bird.Īt any large gathering, dietary requirements are a given. DIETARY REQUIREMENTS: How do I tell my family that just because I loved Christmas turkey when I was 12, I will not be eating it now I am a 40-year-old vegan? We asked the experts for sensible solutions to some sticky seasonal situations. What is the etiquette for getting rid of holidaying house guests? How should you ‘fess up to accidentally breaking something at someone else’s Christmas party? And what, exactly, is the protocol for serving Stilton? Meanwhile, back in your own lounge, a third cousin has extended his couch residency beyond the limits of your patience. You were thrilled to finally score an invite to the swanky neighbours - and then you spilled pinot on their carpet. ![]() It’s summertime and the living is anything but easy. Your best friend booked the bach and neglected to mention your “room” would be a caravan next to the long drop. Your sister put chicken stock in the vegan Christmas gravy. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |