First Christmas
I've not been spending time on computer over the last few days (hooray!), so here's a brief summary of the Christmas period here and there are some extra photos here.
On Christmas Eve the weather was cloudy and wet for much of the day, with a short period of very heavy rain which had rivers of water flowing down the street. We all went into Sydney in the evening to the 8pm Mass at St Mary's Cathedral in the city centre where there was a choir singing carols for 30 minutes beforehand. Not surprisingly the place was packed but we managed to get a pew for the lengthy service!
It was still raining when we left and so had a quick drive around the buildings that are currently lit up with projected images, including the town hall which looked impressive. Then it was back across the bridge to home and then we all went across the road where some neighbours were holding their annual Christmas Eve barby for people in the street, so spent a few hours there getting to know some of the others living around us - very pleasant evening sitting out in the warm and the rain had mostly stopped by now.
Christmas Day was spent opening presents at home and then we all went to Clive & Jane's house for lunch. It was getting warm and sunny by now so we sat out on their veranda and had a very good 3 course lunch, followed by general chat and some games with their daughter Emily. Back home for the evening of telephone calls back to the UK and more games!
Boxing Day was hot and sunny again and we headed off to St Georges Head to watch the start of the Sydney to Hobart race on the harbour. We hadn't quite expected such large crowds but it is a big annual event and it was difficult to find somewhere to park, before walking onto the Head where there were already a large number of people with their picnics settled in for the start at 1pm.
The harbour was crowded with boats and there were also lots of TV helicopters flying around. A canon was fired at 5 minute intervals in the run up to the start as all the yachts manoeuvred into position and then they were off to a general cheer and then gone within 10 minutes, out of the harbour and off to Tazzy! Everyone then left and we went home for a few hours before heading off to Hanna and Michael's house for champagne and mince pies (they are old friends of Angela's who we had met on our visit in 1993).
Today Laura and Caroline were off with friends, so Sue and I went with Rebecca to Mona Vale beach for the morning which was lovely and warm, although the sea was quite rough and we all got dunked under some big waves. After a picnic lunch on the beach we headed back to the house to spend some time around the pool in the afternoon.
I've not been spending time on computer over the last few days (hooray!), so here's a brief summary of the Christmas period here and there are some extra photos here.
On Christmas Eve the weather was cloudy and wet for much of the day, with a short period of very heavy rain which had rivers of water flowing down the street. We all went into Sydney in the evening to the 8pm Mass at St Mary's Cathedral in the city centre where there was a choir singing carols for 30 minutes beforehand. Not surprisingly the place was packed but we managed to get a pew for the lengthy service!
It was still raining when we left and so had a quick drive around the buildings that are currently lit up with projected images, including the town hall which looked impressive. Then it was back across the bridge to home and then we all went across the road where some neighbours were holding their annual Christmas Eve barby for people in the street, so spent a few hours there getting to know some of the others living around us - very pleasant evening sitting out in the warm and the rain had mostly stopped by now.
Christmas Day was spent opening presents at home and then we all went to Clive & Jane's house for lunch. It was getting warm and sunny by now so we sat out on their veranda and had a very good 3 course lunch, followed by general chat and some games with their daughter Emily. Back home for the evening of telephone calls back to the UK and more games!
Boxing Day was hot and sunny again and we headed off to St Georges Head to watch the start of the Sydney to Hobart race on the harbour. We hadn't quite expected such large crowds but it is a big annual event and it was difficult to find somewhere to park, before walking onto the Head where there were already a large number of people with their picnics settled in for the start at 1pm.The harbour was crowded with boats and there were also lots of TV helicopters flying around. A canon was fired at 5 minute intervals in the run up to the start as all the yachts manoeuvred into position and then they were off to a general cheer and then gone within 10 minutes, out of the harbour and off to Tazzy! Everyone then left and we went home for a few hours before heading off to Hanna and Michael's house for champagne and mince pies (they are old friends of Angela's who we had met on our visit in 1993).
Today Laura and Caroline were off with friends, so Sue and I went with Rebecca to Mona Vale beach for the morning which was lovely and warm, although the sea was quite rough and we all got dunked under some big waves. After a picnic lunch on the beach we headed back to the house to spend some time around the pool in the afternoon.
posted by Hawkins Family @ 3:46 pm
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