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Going cold turkey

So I have just about made it through the Crimbo limbo - that awkward week between Christmas and New Year in Perth, Western Australia , and feel rather proud to have not been 1) bitten by a shark, 2) heat stroked or 3) injured by a leg of ham. Our hunk of ham was a monster this year, almost deserving its own postcode, so taking it out of the fridge for yet another soft white bread, heavily buttered, mustard smeared sandwich without pulling a back muscle has been quite a feat. Just when we'd broken the back of it and thought we'd have to move onto the sinewy section I flipped it over and found another slab of moist dark pink meat. I honestly nearly cried with joy.

Perth isn't especially big on tradition. You meet as many families chowing down on potato salad as goose fat roasties for the main event and when people say they're going cold turkey they literally mean it.

Boxing Day was a picnic at Matilda Bay with family friends. 'Bring leftovers' was the call but if there's one thing Perthites come prepared for it's al fresco eating. We had Moroccan lamb pies, frittatas, smoked salmon bagels, fancy canapés, THAT lemon drizzle cake, choc and beetroot cake, and my poultry (sorry) offering, a tray of turkey sandwiches among other impressive dishes.

Tomorrow we wave goodbye to 2008, and to ham sandwiches as we transform the raggedy looking leg into a delish, but somewhat unseasonal, pea and ham soup. The forecast is for another 39 degree day so it might be gazpacho instead. No wonder we do things a little differently down here.

Are you somewhere far flung and fabulous this Christmas and New Year? What's on the menu?

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