It has to be said that although the weather has thrown a complete curveball to our Christmas emotions, Christmas day was a right royal affair that the most ardent of traditionalists could never deny. I still hold fast on my 'stop pretending it's winter' ideals but I am very grateful for Gill's delicious Christmas lunch with all the trimmings which went a long way in bringing us back into line with the festive spirit. In fact, when the lights go down, Christmas in Australia is not so different after all (see exhibit A, right).
Getting our heads around Christmas in the sun has been no easy task and I can't quite understand why Aussie TV promotes a wintery Christmas as being 'proper'. Surely they're just setting themselves up to be disappointed! I was always brought up to believe that sunshine was a pretty good thing - couple this with a shedload of pressies and far too much chocolate and I reckon you're onto a winner that should be exploited to the full as a unique Aussie experience. In a small attempt to promote this philosophy, we have purchased body boards with some Christmas money (thanks, Mum & Stuart) to fly the flag for a sunny festive season.
As I dismount from my high horse, I would like to point out the cutest Christmas Stockings in the southern hemisphere alongside an enormous pile of Christmas goodies that arrived in various shipments from Sue and Terry (thanks, guys). This has become our Christmas Tree of sorts as the traditional spruce just doesn't fit in with the fruit bats and cockatoos.
Anyhow, with only one present left to buy and a mammoth gingerbread fiasco to reproduce, we're almost there and it won't be long before we wake up and smell the Turducken.
...to live in Australia without a Barbie on the balcony and so, we treated ourselves to a Weber Q; a great little unit which roasts roo steaks as happily as it fits in the back of the Yaris for a trip up to the Hunter Valley for the weekend.
It's been an eventful couple of weeks here as Cath and I have both been going interview crazy and trying to manage the cross-Atlantic Christmas shopping by any which way possible. I am glad to report that we have both secured ourselves new jobs for the new year and can't wait to get stuck in.
I have finished freelancing for the holidays and as a result, have had a bit of time to put together some of the photos that we've been taking. Facebookers might find it easier to have a look at my profile whilst those of you shying away from the revolution can have a gander with these links...
Moving in, Cremorne Walk, Toronga Zoo, Random Sydney pics.
With a title like that, you'd be forgiven for thinking that Arnie has grown a beard and is starring in 'Junior 2' for the Christmas season - fortunately, all film lovers will be spared as it's just Paul looking more WWE than ever with the youngest addition to the Sewell/Goulding clan. I did promise a likeness verdict and I reckon, with those cheeks and confused expression, little Klark is definitely his father's son.
I'm sure you'll join me in Congratulating Mum and Dad and wishing a very merry Christmas to a future England forward.
...drive a vehicle seating up to 12 adults, to 4.5 tonnes GVM Tractor implement.
I doubt that line would have bedded James Bond quite as many swooning secretaries and femme fatale's had he chosen to use it over his preferred catchphrases. However, if he wanted to drive a car in New South Wales after 3 months of living there with a UK driving licence, that's what he'd need.
I have one, and by my own special brand of logic, that makes me better than James Bond which is very exciting indeed although doesn't grant me the same allowances of indiscriminate murder which is quite the relief I can tell you. All that power could go to my already oversized noggin and that just wouldn't do!