Tuesday, December 6, 2011

It's beginning to look alot like...


I admit I really do love this time of year.

Growing up in Australia in the heat I really cherish the Northern Hemisphere Christmas. After spending the first 24 years of my life lazing in the pool on Christmas day (okay, okay, that is pretty great too) it is lovely to be having Christmas Day the way I had always envisioned, snuggled up in the house from the cold, sometimes snowing outside, having a hot Christmas dinner and warm mulled wine.

I love seeing the Christmas lights adorning the High Street, neighbours decorating their houses and, I'll confess, Christmas carols playing in the stores. To me, it is the quintessential holiday season experience.

I have been enjoying my share of Christmas foodie treats as I figure I cannot indulge in too much of that delicious mulled wine so fruit mince pies with lashings of cream it is!

One hard part to this time of year (and being an ex-pat) is missing my family. We were lucky to be back in Australia last year for December and it was my first with my parents, brothers, Grandmother and Aunts in 6 years. I am so happy that Avalon had her first Christmas in sunny Australia.
This year, will be a bit more harried as we will have moved into our new house only 12 days before so our tree and decorations will be going up late. My best friend of 22 years arrives (I cannot wait!) with her baby boy and partner just after our move and they'll be with us on and off for the following 3 weeks... it is going to be a lovely (although not restful) couple of weeks.