At just before midnight on Christmas Eve, Alison, Ed, Eleanor, Sam W and I brought in Christmas Day on the beach with a paddle in the ocean and a beer in hand. In the morning I was rudely moved out of one of my favourite positions in life (which is sleeping in my bed) for the opening of our Secret Santa presents. The present I received is far too rude to put upon this public forum. After the opening of presents ended I hid in my room whilst the girls organised a roast turkey lunch. After lunch it was time for something a little different, the beach. I was determined to go swimming in the ocean no matter what the weather, for no other reason than to boast to all that "I've been in the ocean on Christmas day in Australia." Luckily for me the weather improved from Christmas Eve, and from a miserable Christmas Morning to a glorious afternoon and so at around 4pm it was time to put on the Santa Hat and go for a swim. In the evening I couldn't be bothered to cook so went out in search of a takeaway, unsurprisingly the only places that were open were the Indian and Turkish owned takeaways - I ended up going to the Turkish for Garlic Pida, which is Turkish garlic bread.
Never wanting to go unnoticed, I'm the silly bugger wearing the Santa hat, and I wasn't even drunk. and below who is that handsome bloke that you may have forgotten about?
And so Christmas Day ended, there was very little excitement, but it was different, just didn't feel a whole lot like Christmas. I've not been a fan of Christmas for a long time, there are all these expectations attached to it that make me plain uncomfortable and so I don't think that I'll miss not having a real Christmas. On the other hand I do wonder what will happen next year, I don't even know where I'm going to be yet.
I worked Boxing Day from 9am until 9.30pm, and so after a shorter day on Wednesday 29th myself and Sam K went to the cinema to watch Happy Feet (excellent go see it) and then as we left I managed to convince her to go into another film pretty much straight away, so we saw The Holiday (very good, made me almost homesick for dry stone walls, cobbled roads and the British countryside even if i do live in the suburbs, go see it if you like Working Title films). Whilst in Australia I want to do things I wouldn't normally do, and so when I saw an opportunity to go see two films in a row, something i thought i hadn't done before, I took it. Afterwards though I started to think and when I went to France with Aunty Catherine, Uncle Don and Andrew and think Andrew and I went to see two films in a row in the Ferry's cinema (The Matrix and Entrapment I think) - although I don't remember having to pay and I'm not sure it was straight after each other, so it was still different.
The Following Day I wasn't working until 3.30 so I spent the morning visiting Paddy's market, where I bought dad's Christmas Present (a boomerang, as he lost the one I bought in Scotland when I was younger) and my brother-in-law's present (a couple of T-shirts) Paddy's market is a cross between a tourist venue and a market for locals, its pretty odd but everything is cheap, and if i had the money I could have bought something from there for everyone i know.
After Paddy's market I headed to the Maritime Museum through Darling Harbour, an area that screams class and expense, the walk just between the two attractions made the day out worth something. I hadn't been to a maritime museum since Paris in 2004. From what I recall, that one was a trifle stuffy, however the Sydney Maritime Museum was excellent. I only had time for the free section, and i had to rush around that, but what I saw was really interesting, not only did it have information on the Navy but there were also displays on Aboriginal ocean history, surfing and swimming. I will have to go back at some point to look at the paid attractions.
Before I go I am a bit behind with my blogging but that is because I am having fun, I will update New Years Eve and other stuff soon. To compensate I have however updated some photos on My bebo of my birthday, some views of Sydney at night and my trip to Toronga Zoo - so go visit http://rhino-rob.bebo.com/
2 comments:
Hi Rob,
I don't know about the handsome chap we MAY have forgotten - it's the handsome??? chap we ARE trying to forget!
You don't have to wear a red hat to show you're a silly buggar, that goes without saying.
Your Christmas was certainly different and so it should've been, new experiences and all that.
I thought all the work you've been doing you had enough money to buy everyone you know a present!
The museum certainly sounds interesting just the thing your dad would love - you must try and go back for another visit.
By the way hope you don't mind all the teasing we keep doing to you, we love you really
Keep having fun
Mum and Dad xxx
Hi Rob honey, sounds like you've been doing a lot of reminising (hope thats spelt right) over the xmas hols, you big softy, but nice. I was at your olds on Monday night n a young Donald Southerland was in one of the films and he looked just like you, no kidding, n your dad agreed. Glad you enjoyed your alternative xmas a dip in the sea on xmas day would be cool. Catch u later sweetie, Auntie June xxx
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