Christmas with Kaye Kelly

Starting this week and running through December 3rd, I am interviewing some special authors for some holiday fun.
Plus, these authors and I have worked up a little something special just for YOU, our followers as a way of saying thank you for all your support.  The best part is...you don't have to sign up for anything or even create a free account. 

My premise for these special holiday interviews is "What These Famous Authors are Doing for the Holidays". 
Opening week, we are visiting with Kaye Kelly.  Kaye has authored several books including Cross the River to Home and her latest being The Body Snatcher. 
So, please help me welcome back author Kaye Kelly from New Zealand.

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Alexia:  Kaye it is so good to have you back.  I’m so grateful you found some time for a Christmas visit.  And I'm equally grateful that you were able to join me for a special Christmas project for our followers.  I'm sure they will be delighted.

Kaye:  Awe, thank you Alexia. And thanks for having me back again. 
 
Alexia:  So, are you doing anything special this Christmas that you don’t normally do? If so, what would that be?

Kaye:  We’ll probably head off to our daughter’s.  She and our son-in-law have a cattery and boarding kennels so … Tony and I will probably be chief poo picker-uppers. Here is a picture of my Tony from an earlier Christmas.

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Alexia:  Well, I’m sure you will enjoy your family time. 
I love decorating for the holidays.  My favorites are the old fashioned ones. So, how about you; do you favor old fashion Christmas decorations or new/modern ones. Why?
 
Kaye:  Some of our tree decorations are as old as our marriage – 55 years! So very traditional. Why? Just because I like them and they look … well … Christmassy.  

Alexia:  55 years - amazing.  It is hard to find real "Christmassy" ornaments amidst all the commercialism anymore.    
What is one of your most favorite Christmases as a child?
 
Kaye: I think my most favourite Christmas would have to be the year I was six years old. An older brother had told me Santa wasn’t true. But on Christmas Eve Mum and Dad left a bottle of beer and a piece of Christmas cake on my bedside cabinet for Santa because they said that after all his travelling he’d be hungry and thirsty. In the morning I was just as thrilled about finding the bottle empty and only crumbs left on the plate as I was about my presents because in my mind it meant Santa really was true.

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Alexia:  Oh, how funny.  My mother and father in law tell our children that if they don’t believe in Santa, they definitely won’t get anything. 
So, what’s it like decorating around your house for the holidays? Do you have family over to help string up miles of lights and finish off the day with holiday treats/drinks? Perhaps, you all go shopping for the perfect Christmas tree and discuss new things to do this year.
 
Kaye:  On December 1st, I dig out the old trusty
fake Christmas tree and decorate it. Some years I
also put it up on my birthday in June and we
have a mid-winter Christmas dinner seeing June
falls in winter here in New Zealand.
Any excuse to have a glass of bubbly. 
This is a picture of me with my trusty tree.

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Alexia:  Ah, Christmas in June, sounds exciting.  That has been done here in the states as well. 
If you could go back to your childhood, what Christmas treat did your mom make for you that you would most enjoy baking for your family today? Would you have a recipe to share?
 
Kaye:  Although a very good cook, by the time I came along when Mum was 43, she was over baking so I don’t have any memories of special recipes, but one I make every year is Russian Fudge.
 
And yes, here my recipe:
 
675g (1 ½ lbs) sugar
½ cup milk
½ tin Condensed milk
125g (4 ozs) butter
1/8 teaspoon of salt
1 tablespoon golden syrup.
 
Put sugar and milk into a saucepan, mix, cover and slowly bring to the boil. Add condensed milk, butter, salt and golden syrup. Boil until it reaches soft boil stage, about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool then beat until thick (doesn’t take long and you have to be careful as it can start setting in the pot). Pour into a tin. Mark into squares before it sets hard. Sets very quickly in fridge.

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Alexia:  That sounds so yummy. 
All we do to prepare for the holidays sends out a message to our families and friends. What is your message?
 
Kaye:  No matter where you are, we’re always here for you, we’ll be thinking of you and sending our love.
 
Alexia:  Precious. 
Now, if I were visiting your home for the holidays, what should I expect to see, taste, and do?  What would it be like?
 
Kaye:  When the kids were still at home you would have seen Christmas wrapping scattered from floor to ceiling, kids squealing with excitement as they opened their presents, then at dinnertime, a table full of traditional fare; roast turkey, lamb and ham, and seasonal veggies, followed by Christmas pudding, brandy sauce and cream, pavlova and trifle. Now? Being summer, it’s usually stinking hot and we have a barbecue (sausages, mince patties, and salads) along with a few glasses of bubbly for me, and for Tony, a few glasses of his home brew beer. Then a nice afternoon snooze.
 
One Christmas Eve when Tony and I had had to work until really late, we waited and waited for Marg and Ray to go to sleep so we could wrap their presents and put them under the tree. By midnight when we could still hear the little angels laughing and giggling in their room, we decided we’d go to bed, get up early and wrap their presents then. However, the best laid plans… We were woken by Ray yelling out, “Marg, Marg, wake up the buggers haven’t got us anything.”

Alexia:  Sounds like a lot of fun and love at your home, Kaye.  I wish you and your family the best this holiday season.  Thank you for stopping by; I always enjoy our chats.
Merry Christmas!

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To purchase Kaye's books contact her at her website at Kaye Kelly.

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And thanks to each of you who have taken the time to stop by and visit with Kaye and I.  And, I also want to remind you to check back here on November 18th to open your special gift from us.  It is our way of saying thank you for all your tweets, likes, fav's and general support.

Next week, I'll be interviewing Theresa Snyder.  She and my favorite chocolate eating dragon, Farloft, will be stopping by for a holiday visit.  It will be fun - you won't want to miss it.

See ya then.  Take care and have a safe and happy holiday season!
Alexia