Faux festivities

Tuesday 23rd December 2014

Now, don't let the title of this blog decieve you, I had a great and memorable time over Christmas... but it just didn't feel like Christmas.  Spending Chrismas day on the beach in the sun just didn't feel right!   I flew back to Sydney on the afternoon of Tuesday 23rd and within a couple of hours of landing I'd bumped into a friend from Railway Square YHA.  I tried to make my room Christmassy by pinning mu Christmas cards under the bunk above me!  I have to admit that while I was queueing at Brisbane Airport for the Bag Drop, the realisation that I wouldn't be at home for Christmas hit me and I had to hold back the tears!  I had visions of me sobbing to the poor Check In assistant but luckily by the time I reached the desk I was composed once more!

Wendesday 24th December 2014, Christmas Eve
Now I was back in Sydney I was keen to see the Christmas sights as well  as Martin Place after the seige the week before.  The first stop was the Lego Tree in Pitt Street Mall which was very impressive.  The tree itself was made of Duplo but all of the extras were made of small lego bricks.

Arriving in Martin Place, I admired the impressive tree before continuing to the floral tibutes.  The majorty had been collected up and those that remained were sheltered under a marquee.  It was very moving to be there for the first time since the seige and I'm not ashamed to say I choked up and shed a few tears.  Even wrtiting this a week later, I'm welling up.  Thoughtfully the City of Sydney had printed montages and fixed them around large screens.  I don't know why but I felt compelled to sit opposite the Lindt Cafe and it was quite haunting to see it boarded up with black plastic covereing some of the windows.

Later that day I went to Broadway Shopping Centre to try to get even more Christmassy, this being the extent of my efforts!

In the evening I headed over to Railway Square where they were holding a Christmas Eve dinner.  Frustratingly, I'd missed out on a ticket but still enjoyed a few drinks before heading to the fireworks in Darling Harbour.  We didn't make it in time though, only catching glimpses in the reflections of the nearby buildings and arriving just in time for the final flurry!

We enjoyed some busking dancers though and another drink in a nearby bar and I have to say I really enjoyed this different Christmas Eve!

Thursday 25th December 2014, Christmas Day
After a slow start, I headed over to Railway Square YHA where I met Steph and Zoe for our Secret Santa Book Exchange.  It worked really well with everyone pleased with their gift - I received The Messenger by Markus Suzak, the author of The Book Thief - I hadn't even realised that is had published other novels.

After a short while, Steph, Zoe, Ceri, Judith and I headed to Bronte Beach on the bus.  Luckily we got on at one of the first stops as in the end it was heaving with revellers visiting Bondi or Bronte.  We had glorious weather but when it came to having a barbeque, the public sites were heaving!  Zoe and I gave up waiting, electing instead for a medicore hot dog and chips from the kiosk, eating them in the park. 

We left Bronte at just the right time because after battling a massive queue for the bus, the heavens opened, welcoming a thunder storm.  Back at the hostel, Steph and I shared Mr Kipling's Mince Pies (imported from the UK!) and a Trivisal Pursuit card game and Stategories.  In amongt games I Facetimed home to share in Jamie's Santa excitement.  He'f left a note asking Santa to tick a box and forgotton to check.  When I reminded him I heard squeals of "He has!" from the hallway!  After Steph went home, I watched Elf before returning to my hostel. 

Friday 26th December 2014, Boxing Day
I think there's something about sleeping in a very dark room that makes it easy to lie in so I got up late and before I knew it, it was 12:30pm. Realising it was the day of the Sydney to Hobart boat race I jumped on a train to Circular Quay before discovering in left from nowhere near!  Nevertheless, I managed another sunny selfie and proof that I had at least tried to get there!

I enjoyed the afternoon at the Art Gallery of New South Wales at the Pop to Popism exhibition where I saw lots of my favourite pieces of art. I'll try to add images at some point. 

Richard Hamilton - Carapace

Eduardo Paolozzi - I was a rich mans plaything (only A4!)

Jasper Johns - white numbers

Richard Hamilton - just what... (again, really small!)

Peter Blake - Self portrait witb buttons 

Andy Warhol - Campbell's soup

Roy Lichtenstein -in the car

Andy Warhol - triple elvis

Andy Warhol - Marilyn Monroe

Niki de saint phalle - black beauty from the nana series 

Erro - pop's history

Mike Brown - big mess

Martin Sharp - Mr Tamborine Man

Martin Sharp/Tim Lewis - the unexpected answer

Martin Sharp/Tim Lewis - still life

Andy Warhol - self portrait no 9

Maria Kozic - masterpieces (Warhol)

In the evening I saw the lego tree lit up and deafened Jamie and Dad on FaceTime when it started belting out Christmas tunes.

I also found a huge Christmas tree in the Queen Victoria building which you can see on each level. I wonder how they got it in there. 

Unfortunately the animations were no longer being projected onto the town hall but it was still beautifully lit. 

As I said at the beginning of this post, I really enjoyed these few days with good company but it just didn't feel like Christmas! Imagine the hottest week in July with everyone wearing Santa hats - it was just like that!

It's true, Christmas can feel like a lot of work, particularly for mothers. But when you look back on all the Christmases in your life, you'll find you've created family traditions and lasting memories. Those memories, good and bad, are really what help to keep a family together over the long haul. - Caroline Kennedy

Summer holiday shennanigans part 3

Monday 22nd December 2014

Having taken Gracie and Mollly last week, it was Jack's turn to experience Velocity Park this morning.  I wanted to record what it was like through videos and photos so I didn't bounce this time but the kids loved it again.

At home Jack, Gracie and I made Rudoph out of paper plates.  Jack was contrating so hard at one point that his little tongue was poking out!  I didn't manage to capture it but did get this cute one!

I had to take this one to prove that Jack's did have two antlers!

That evening, as I wouldn't see the kids on Christmas Day, I gave them their Christmas gifts which were soon opened and played with.  Gracie was particularly appreciative for her Guess Who game with lots of kisses and cuddles showing her thanks.

When Mandy arrived home we went on The Big Light Hunt!  Although the kids enjoyed it, I think I was more excited, particulary by the house in the photos but I was also impressed by the shear quantity of houses with large amounts of decorations.  In places, whole streets had been decorated, something I've never seen in a British suburb.

In 100 years times it will not matter what job I had, or what kind of car I drove, or how much money was in my bank account, that I made a difference to a child's life.  

Summer holiday shennanigans part 2

Thursday 18th December 2014

Happy 5th birthday Jack!!  And what better way to celebrate a 5th birhday with a surprise in a lunch box!  My surprise for Jack was not putting plain rectagular sandwiched in but star shaped crustless sandwiches but apparently one was nice but not the rest!  Never mind! What was impressive was my first attempt at a dinosaur cake!

When Jack arrived home from Kindy, we broke all the rules, sprinting around the house firing Nerf bullets at each other with Jack's shrieks of excitement filling the air!

With Scott at home, he could carry out fatherly duties of putting together the Big Green Machine and while he tried to piece together all the parts, the box was more exciting for the kids - of course!

Friday 19th December 2014
Although it seemed a little mean, on Jack's last day of Kindy, I took the girls to Wet 'n' Wild.  Having said that, he's too young for many of the rides anyway so it's not really fair to take hime anyway.  Although I didn't get chance to go on many of the rides, the girls did and they had a great day.  I did too, enjoying the wave pool.  Their superb behaviour was rewarded at the end of the day with churros and they tried to eat them without licking the sugar off their lips.

Saturday 20th December 2014
There were all sorts of events on in Brisbane City in the run up to Christmas and over the weekend I took in several of them.  On Saturday I saw the Myer parade in all of its glory.  It was based on the Nutcracker and consisted of several dance groups representing different parts of the story and was really professional and impressive.  

Elves chatted to the children as the parade began...

...elegant dancers swayed to and fro...

... scampering cheekily amongst the soldiers, cheeky mice tap danced down the street...

...impressive acrobats balanced, leapt and somersaulted through the air...

...elegant roses sauntered past...

...and enthusiastic singers paraded along with actions acommanying their joyful songs.

A Christmas parade wouldn't be complete with out a donkey carrying Mary, camels carrying the 3 wise men...

... and of course Santa in his sleigh!

Following the end of the parade to King George Square I managed to get a prime position for the pantomine.  The story was a true pantomime story of good (the Christmas elves) outdoing evil (the ice maiden) who had cleverly turned the town hall to ice.  Comically, the chief elf contacted Santa for advice via video link while he was having a paddle on the South Bank!

When the short but impressive panto was over, the City Hall was lit with an impressive animation which played every 15 minutes until around midnight. The second time around I Facetimed home so that Mum, Dad and Jamie could enjoy the spectacle.

I'd planned to see the fireworks over the South Bank and coupled with the fact that I've been spoilt by the weekly Darling Harbour fireworks and the fact that I couldn't get a good spot, I didn't stop for the whole show.

Sunday 21st December 2014
Returning to the city  on the train, I headed to the South Bank where I meandered around the Christmas Markets and listened to some girls singing Christmas songs before heading to the Courier-Mail Plaza for a screening of the Queensland Ballet's Nutcracker.  I was glad to get there early as I relaxed on a bean bag lounger and I impressed myself by recognising some of the dancers from when I'd seen Coppelia on the Riverstage.