Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Land Down Under!

Is this not the funniest Christman card ever?

This is totally what we'll be doing today...

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Christmas Eve Day is here!  I woke up feeling very festive and excited.  (Too bad I had to work from 9-7...).  I left the house at 8:15 and it was already like 30 degrees and 100% humidity (hence the wavy bangs).  Ridiculously hot.  Anyway, thought I should grab a Christmas picture with a palm tree this morning.  (No, I didn't get to decorate one)  Turned the ipod to my Christmas mix and rocked all the way to work.  It was pretty quite in the city as most people are now on holidays.

Since Edmonton is eighteen hours behind I was able to skype into my family's 23rd celebrations back home on my lunch break!  Not a great connection today, but good to see everyone.  Dewey said it's not the same without me and I should come home now.  Soon Dewey, soon.  Everyone bragged about how good the broccoli mushroom casserole was (it's a favorite) and wasn't I jealous I missed it and I pulled out my leftovers and said haha I have my own!  Anyway, I got to chat for a bit with each guest and was offered prosecco (another recent addition to the 23rd) by my Mom.  I wish.  Before my lunch ended they all sang me "We Wish You a Merry Christmas".  So cute.

I had a good day and Andy told me again how proud he was of me- I surpassed my quotas big time last week.  Awesome!  Then I promptly felt bad because I'm going to have to tell him I'm leaving pretty soon...

In the late afternoon I got another panic attack.  I've been getting them again the last few days out of the blue.  I think it's because deep down I'm stressed about what's next.  I'm leaving a good paying job here and going home to who knows what city or job back in Canada.  I know that is totally the right choice, but my poor brain just likes to stress and over-think things.

We were supposed to go out to another co-workers for drinks tonight but we just didn't feel up to it.  Joel picked up a bunch of groceries and made up some cold meals for our Christmas feast at Koren's tomorrow.  We ate chocolate mousse from Coles, the closet we could get to a DQ ice cream cake in Oz.  It was so humid and muggy all day and the sky finally burst and we had torrential downpour for like an hour.  I'm praying it's sunny for our long awaited trip to the Blue Mountains (which is near Koren's) and pool party tomorrow.  The Weather Channel says otherwise.

The 23rd

In my family the twenty-third of December is the highlight of Christmas.  All the cousins, aunts and uncles who we don't see on Christmas Day get together at Mom and Dad's for a night of good food, baked goods, caroling (featuring the kids on the stairs), and presents (and youtube viewing in recent years).  We've been doing it since like 1997 and every year someone new gets added into the mix.  This was the first year I've missed it.  I wanted to do my own version so we got together with Christina and Josh and cooked up a good feast, North American style.  Christina and I did all the cooking (and Joel did the meat as neither of us wanted to touch raw chicken).  Be proud people- I made TWO dishes that were very edible!  My Mom's traditional 23rd meal, broccoli mushroom casserole, and marshmallow salad.  Christina made some awesome mashed potatoes and stuffing and Joel did up two Christmas chickens and a festive punch.  We gathered make shift decorations from around the house and I used my mad staging skills (props to Jill) to create a festive table display.  Josh worked all day so we gave him candle lighting honors when he got home.

 

 

Another awesome night- I love hanging out with these two!  We didn't sing, but we did listen to Christmas tunes and bust out the youtube (Talking to Americans anyone?).

Detail Christmas Party

After my touring I went home and had a nap, then it was off to work to get ready for our Christmas party!  Most of the girls work till six on Saturday, so I went to work to get ready with everyone.  Everyone helps do each others hair and make-up, we turn up the music, dance, and drink the salon's beer and wine (which is meant for the clients).

There are quite a few stations.  No one has their own, we just rotate between whichever is available.

Full House moment 

 

 

Here are a few pictures of the salon.  It's split level, with the salon on top, reception and spa below.

Fully reclining chairs with footrests

Reception area from above

 Once we were all glamed up we managed to hail a few cabs and head over to dinner which was at Hugo's in the Cross.

Koren, Christina and I 

Considering it was Kings Cross, Hugo's was pretty fancy.  We were greeted by our boss, Andy, who told us to go to the bar and order whatever we liked.  Cue the $18 cocktails for me and Petron XO for Christina.  (Our bosses apparently like us to drink, as our bar tab at the end of the night was well over $2000!)  Hugo's is a fancy pizza place, so we had a few different pizzas as well as different appetizers (mostly stuff I couldn't eat- oysters and calamari etc).

Elaine (Ireland), Rowan (Scotland) and I

Alisha, Elaine and I

Sydney BFF

Laura and I

It was a nice party, but not as festive as the Applauz parties (no Kevin to cue holiday themed games).  We ate and drank, then the girls convinced me to show off some Highland moves.  I taught Rowan the fling and she thought it was so crazy that she didn't even know her own countries dance and was learning it from a Canadian in Australia.  We stayed till 11:45 then went upstairs to the lounge part.  I didn't stay too much later (just long enough to photobomb some unsuspecting Aussies) then headed back to the city with Christina.  We had to do a mad dash for the train and had a Barbie moment running down George Street in our heels.

Convict Museum and Darling Harbor

Got myself up at a timely hour today to cross a few more sights off my list.  First stop, Hyde Park Barracks Museum.  This is a museum dedicated to Australia's convict history.  It was built in 1818 as  lodging for male criminals shipped over from England (who basically built Sydney), then later as an immigration depot for female immigrants seeking work in Oz (mostly Irish), then as a female asylum.  There are displays and artifacts depicting what life was like for the convicts who lived here.  Funniest fact- for punishment bad convicts were made to walk around in funny looking costumes for a day.  Needless to say, you wouldn't want to end up living here...

 

There were recorded voices here of what a typical night at the barracks would sound like- crazy men crying out strange things in their sleep.

Bunks where the convicts would sleep

My favorite part- dress up clothes!  Unlike other historic places (ahem Fort Ed) you are welcome to try on the clothes.  This outfit belonged to Phoebe.

Next I wandered over to Darling Harbor.  Here are a few sights on the way.

Sydney Sky Tower

St Mary's Cathedral, where the Christmas light projections take place

Hyde Park (yes, everything in Sydney is named after something in London)

ANZAC War Memorial

You can't tell in the picture, but the roof is covered in gold stars to represent all fallen soldier in WWI

Town Hall

Queen Victoria Building (QVB)

Darling Harbor is Sydney's second most famous harbor.  It's basically an entertainment complex filled with shopping, museums (Madame Tussards etc), nightclubs, and of course a casino.  They even have a Margaritaville!  (Which I don't think most of Sydney knows).  It gives some different city scapes of the city and also has it's own sort of famous pedestrian bridge, Pyrmont Bridge.  Currently there is a Santa Claus Festival going on.

Christmas Light Projections

This week it finally is feeling like Christmas for me.   It's weird without the snow and not having all the usual family events to go to, but Sydney does Christmas well.  There are decorations up EVERYWHERE (train stations, buses etc) and tons of lights.  

This is the big (artificial) tree at Martin Place, two blocks from work.

 Last night was my late night at work.  I decided to take advantage of being in the city at night and walked over to Town Hall to see their Christmas Light Projections.  Basically there is a big light projector that shines lights onto the building, making it look like a gingerbread house.  Pretty cool.  There were about five different colored projections that would rotate.  (Town Hall is currently under some exterior refurbishment so mind the scaffolding).

A client had told me that St Mary's Cathedral did something similar, but much more impressive.  I walked over and was not disappointed!  They have a whole show that plays across the front of the church.  Absolutely amazing!  They had music playing to match the lights and it was so magical.  Check it out here.  I watched for half an hour just entranced.  One of the best Christmas displays I've seen.

Yesterday was the last day of school for all the kids so the church yard and surrounding Hyde Park were full of families.  All the kids had light up reindeer hats and glow sticks.  Almost felt like walking around Disneyland (warm weather, kids, lights, and magical music may do that).

Giant manger- where's Kevin???

The church was open so I decided to take a look.  It was built in 1882 and is the longest length wise (but not the largest) church in Oz.  Sat here for a few minutes and enjoyed the peace.

This week has been very busy at work.  I've been pretty well booked out each day and I even had a three people long wait list on Thursday!  I have some really nice clients and I'm sad because lots of them unknowingly won't see me again.  I can't tell them goodbye yet as I haven't told work I'm leaving for good in January.  (I feel even worse when they tell me their last haircut was the best one they've ever had!)  I think my bosses are going to be pretty upset when I tell them.  Andy (the business manager boss) told me how proud he was of me the other day, and he doesn't give out compliments too often.  But I had great clients at home, so I know wherever we settle I will attract more nice people.

Clovelly Beach

It was a hot, sunny day here in Sydney, so after golf Joel and I hit up the beach.  Today we went to Clovelly, which is south of our favorite, Bronte.  Although we were impressed by free and easily available parking, this beach sucks.   Not very big, not the nicest water, and too many kids.  We ended up staying about twenty minutes before a freak rainstorm hit!  Got a couple nice beach shots at least (someone was co-operative for once!).

I'm starting to feel bittersweet about leaving Sydney.  It's a beautiful city, full of amazing old buildings and beautiful beaches.  I'm going to do my best to see as much as I can and enjoy all it has to offer in the next few weeks.

Saturday in The Cross

I only have five weekends left here in Sydney, so time to get cracking on my Sydney to see and do list!  I found a website with printable walking tours so thought I'd try some out.  Today's tour- Passion, Sydney's Wild Side.  This tour took me through King's Cross, Potts Point and Woolloomooloo (for real).  Kings Cross is a combination of beautiful old terrace houses, backpacker hostels, seedy strip clubs and adult stores.  Is pretty well Sydney's red light district.  I saw some special people as I first got out of the train station.  This area also does not smell too nice...

All things shady are open 24 hours.

Darlinghurst Road, the Cross' main strip

First stop- Fitzroy Gardens and El Alamein Fountain.  (Remind anyone of a certain fountain in Kelowna?)  It's a war memorial for soldiers who died in Egypt in WW2.  I took a photo for an Asian tourist here- who still had a film using camera! (Auntie Barb, you're not alone!).  She steerotyped herself by posing with fingers up, peace style.

 I walked around and checked out a few neat old buildings, art deco style, then followed the map up to the Kingsclere Apartments.  These were built in 1912 and were one of the first high rises in Sydney.

More walking around, then to Elizabeth Bay House.  It was built in 1839 and was known as the finest house in the colony.  It's one of the few old mansions still standing.  Boasts some fantastic views of the harbor.  Quite a few other neat old buildings through this area.

Then onto Potts Point.  This is a cool little area that reminds me of some of NYC's older hoods.  More terraced houses and a neat old college.

The Yellow House.  Some sort of art gallery now.

I walked through a park, up and down a set of old stairs, then back to the Cross via Victoria Street.  More cool old houses.  Kings Cross is named because it's main intersection is a cross of three main streets- Darlinghurst Road, Victoria Street and William Street.  It was originally to be named Queen's Cross for Victoria's diamond jubilee, but was changed to Kings Cross as she died and her son took over as king.  This is now the sight of the giant light up Coca Cola sign.

Note- I realize by my pictures that it always looks grey here in Sydney.  For some reason I don't have much luck when I do my sightseeing!  The sun does come out, and the weather is still pretty good, in the mid to high twenties.

When I got home I skyped with the fam and was able to join them singing Happy Birthday to my Mom as she blew out the candle on her cake.  Then I went to town cleaning and making a pile of stuff to sell.

This evening we headed out to the Christmas party at Joel's golf club, Eastlakes.  The food was good, but overall it was pretty lame.  Two older ladies were playing song nazis at the jukebox that was rented and were skipping over all the good stuff to their favored 80s beats.  To get even at them I requested a bunch of songs I knew they would hate when they weren't looking- such as Achy Breaky Heart, Hootie and the Blowfish, and Korn.  Also made up a few stories for some of the drunken Aussies, such as telling one guy (who looked like Bubbles from Trailer Park Boys) that I was a pro skier.