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Alicia's tips for a FIFO Christmas
In the mining industry, Christmas can mean several different things.
A) You are looking forward to a "normal" Christmas with family and friends; B) Your partner has to work over Christmas doing FIFO/DIDO; or C) You are unable to travel home to family and friends because you live remotely. If you're like me (B this year!) and your Christmas is shaping up to be a celebration away from some of your loved ones, here are a few things which might help to make it all the more merry. Send a Christmas box: we are all about the Christmas box in our house. This year Joe has to work up on site, so we are busy compiling a box full of Christmas for him. We have also done this many times for our families when we have not been able to make it home for the big day. We include things like a bon bon, some sweet treats, Christmas cards from each of the kids ... and a present of course. Then there's some tinsel, a little stocking (or sock) filled with some trinkets, a Christmas hat and pen, a mini Christmas cake and a silly picture of the kids and I wearing our Christmas hats. Basically anything that will help him to feel like it's Christmas and put a smile on his face. Have early celebrations: I know our two children find it hard when Joe can't be home for Christmas Day, so we are celebrating early. Abby and Sam love this as they now get two Christmas Days. So during his break home before Christmas we are doing the whole lot - setting a festive table, turkey, prawns, pudding, presents (not from Santa obviously) bon bons, the lot! It might seem like a lot of work doing the whole thing twice but I know it makes the kids feel better about Dad being away and it also makes Joe feel special that I have gone to the extra effort. Have an orphans' Christmas: If you can't get home for Christmas, my bet would be that other people in town share your predicament. Open up your house this year and have an 'orphans Christmas'. Get everyone to bring the food that means Christmas to them (although check first, otherwise you’ll be eating nothing but pudding) and do Chris Cringle (everyone buys one present of a pre-determined value and you draw names out of a hat). It'll be a Christmas celebration you'll never forget. Whichever option you're facing this year, we hope you have the most wonderful festive season and a safe and happy 2011!
