Christmas Down Under!

Christmas is always a busy event often overshadowing the reason for the holiday - Jesus' birth. Being in Australia, we did not know if it would be lonely, stressful, busy, slow, enjoyable, hectic... Turns out it was pretty darn cool.

Sunday, December 21st - The evening service at church turned into "Carols by Glowstick" and was a lot of fun. it is already warm (it being summer here) and the fire marshals don't like that many lit candles in one place anyway, so glowsticks it was! Clarice invited Amber and Paul who came mostly to see Clarice play the piano, but enjoyed it none the less. Afterward a bunch of us walked over to the Berry Reserve alongside the Narrabeen Lagoon (just across the street from our apartment). Another church was putting on a carol sing followed by fireworks! We gathered on a couple of blankets, played with the kids and really enjoyed the fireworks - though it felt more like the 4th of July on Tippe Lake.

Tuesday, December 23rd - The men's and women's studies that we go to on Tuesday nights gathered at the Thompson's for one big dinner. Lots of people, talking, gag gifts, good food and an enjoyable evening. Even the expected rain stayed away until most everyone had left.

Christmas Eve - Clarice had to work until 2:00, but after that we were invited over to the Pittwater to watch the annual Dog Races. Not what you are thinking! I thought, like you did, that this would be dogs racing around a track. Not so fast my friends! The dogs (and owners) are taken across the channel between the mainland and Scotland Island, and the dogs swim back. First dog back gets a pile of dog food (enough to last a while, anyway) and the winning owner gets a nice cold beer. Rumor has it the event started when two guys, probably intoxicated, bet who's dog could swim the distance faster. It has now grown, over 30 years) into a pretty big Christmas Eve event/tradition. We went with some of the families from church and parked at their place just up the road. Definitely a first for us - but another something "distinctively Aussie"!

Santa Dog

Jon and Summer Simmons (ain't she a doll!!!)

Threw in a pretty Lorikeet shot for ya'

After the Dog Race, we hightailed it over to the McLoughlin's for a wonderful dinner out on their patio. This is the same family who hosted our small group dinner when Jay and Karen visited. They had a few other couples over including two Americans who were visiting their friends who go to NBC. They were from Chicago (small world) and get this - Natalie even went to summer basketball camp at GRACE COLLEGE!!! How strange is that?!?! Great dinner cooked by Neil and then home to bed because...

Christmas Day - ...Clarice has to open her Christmas presents in the dark. Since it is summer here (I love reminding you) sunrise is very early in the morning. We got up at 6:00 and left all the blinds closed. She even made me turn the lights back off so it stayed dark. Forty-five minutes later we had everything opened and got ready to go.

We had lunch at the Thompson's with two of their daughters and one of their sons. The rest live elsewhere (mostly in England). It was a very nice lunch and a good time to share with friends. Steve's younger brother, Stuart, was even able to join us. We taught them how to play double-deck bid Euchre, but only got to play a couple of games. We plan on getting back over there some evening to play some more. Then it was off to the airport, but first we had another quick stop to make...

... at Paul's parent's house. The live very close and were on the way so we stopped by to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and to meet Paul's aunt and uncle who we will be visiting in January. We only had about thirty minutes, but it was nice to stop and visit.

Then we finally got to the airport where we caught our 6:00 flight to Hobart, Tasmania!! More on that in coming posts.

We had a great Christmas Down Under, but both got a touch homesick at times. We hope everyone had a great holiday and make sure you set a place for us next Christmas!!!

Jon