Lighting up the house for Christmas all started many years ago when Carmen, Paul and their three children lived in Altona Meadows. It is a tradition with a life of its own and not without its dramas. One memorable year, all was going well with the decorations until, a week before Christmas, Paul a butcher, during their busiest time of the year, climbed up onto the roof to fix a gap in the lights, slipped, grabbed the spouting on his way down, landing himself a ten stitch gash in his hand, and a broken toe – his boss was not impressed and that was the end of the lights for a few years.
That said, we believe Santa with sled and reindeers may appear on the roof next year. Carmen and Paul’s plumber son may do the roof work this time – though Carmen says his last effort had Santa ‘popping out of the top of the chimney looking for all the world like Jesus’ second coming.’ We can’t wait to see what he comes up with this time.
Despite each year Paul proclaiming this to ‘be the last year’ Carmen says ‘he can’t help himself, he gets carried away and this year the Christmas train was added’. She said they both ‘love decorating the yard, the lights, seeing people coming past to have a look and stopping to say how much they like it. Making people happy is what it’s all about when there is so much sadness in the world.
Around seven years ago Carmen and Paul moved to St Leonards permanently; into a house they’d had for seventeen years, and a neighborhood they’d known since they’d started going out together. Carmen’s mother had a house in Second Avenue so every weekend for years they came and stayed. The house was later sold and Carmen and Paul didn’t come for a while until, seventeen years ago they ‘came for a drive’ and once here, decided to look for a house. They popped into an agent, were shown two options; decided on one and with a handy $500 paid a deposit, and by Monday it was theirs. For the next ten years they visited most weekends then one day the ‘washing machine packed it in’ and with that – rather than getting a new one and keeping two houses running – the gradual shift to St Leonards began.
Both Carmen and Paul are ‘sort of retired’; Carmen from Aged Care a field she has worked in for many years – though it is possibly only a six month pause; and Paul who started work in a butcher shop at age seven washing dishes (we presume that means knives so no obvious danger there) still works occasionally when called upon in busy times at a butcher shop in East Geelong. Having a little more time means not only more attention to Christmas decorations, but for Carmen it means more time in her sewing room making all kinds of beautiful pieces from children’s toys to dog coats and patchwork quilts. Paul has more time to work on, polish and cruise about in his collection of cars – currently a HR Premier, HJ Premier, HR Panel Van and a VT Club Sport Commodore. And barbeques – Paul loves to put on a barbeque and knows just the right cut of meat or sausage for the occasion.
Family, their Maltese heritage, hard work and a festive spirit are the heart and soul of Carmen and Paul. Carmen’s parents met on a boat from Malta to Australia, married and had two children – Carmen and her brother. Her father’s best friend since childhood was Paul’s father who came to Australia a while later. Paul’s mother followed with their eleven children, and once here three more were born, Paul was number thirteen (which might explain why he began work so early). While Carmen’s family lived in Deer Park and Paul’s in Newport, their fathers’ remained the closest of friends. Paul and Carmen’s brother were friends (‘they got into trouble together’) and it was at her brother’s wedding that Paul and Carmen met; they have been together for the forty two years since. Carmen said that when she first went to Malta forty years ago ‘everything was on rations’, and her mother ‘hated it because nothing had changed.’ Paul and Carmen went again twelve years ago which was Paul’s first time. Carmen said that Malta ‘loves a festa’ and perhaps that’s where their idea to decorate for Christmas comes from.
Carmen and Paul adore spending time with their children, their partners and eight grandchildren, who will all be coming to stay for Christmas. One can only imagine the festive joy of the occasion. It is a joy that Carmen and Paul are happy to share with anyone who walks by.
Thanks for helping up light up our Christmas’ Carmen & Paul!
Happy Christmas festa everyone!
Humans in St Leonards 