XMAS in London

Eating, drinking, more eating, gifts and games...
Here are a few photos of my first Christmas in London...

Tree and gifts:


Xmas meal:


CRANIUM!!!!!:



Thank you Garratty's for hosting a wonderful Christmas and Boxing Day!

FAMILY ARE AWESOME

What is better than Mom? Only an awesome combination of an awesome Mom, Dad and sister (brothers and sister-in-laws too!) oh .. well i guess dogs should be included in this one as well. I'm not getting to the point... the point is that my awesome Mom (and Sister) sent me two boxes from home. I received one today!! This might not seem all that exciting for anyone but me... but it's like Christmas - just items I already know, have worn and love!   So, golf shoes, hiking boots, back pack and a whoooole lotta ADEA are now unpacked and organized. Since the weather has turned cold I was getting worried that my already limited (current) closet wasn't going to be enough. I can't wait for box #2!!! Mom packed stuff I forgot I even had! She does have the best fashion sense, has the best packing abilities, and really is who I got my superb organizing skills from; no wait, that's just because I love it.

Come ooooooooooon box #2!!

CHRISTMAS 2008!

So much to report this Christmas season! With a (Tasmanian) lobster Christmas eve dinner to a televised sing a long along with 70,000 or so other people called the ‘Carols in the Domain’, I have to admit that that I’m enjoying the down under xmas over the snow and cold in Boston. Just a short tram ride over to the Sydney fish market, the day before Christmas eve, we purchased a live lobster some pre-cooked “prawns” (aka shrimp) and a few uncooked for the lobster sauce. The sauce was EXCELLENT, as it was my first time making it. Christmas Eve day was filled with eating, drinking and a whole lot more of eating. Christmas day Lee and I headed to Bondi Beach to see all there is too see; so many people out in there in a variety of festive costumes from Santa to elves to the gingerbread man. Boxing Day we headed to Coogee Beach and watched the professional sailboats racing from Sydney to Hobart in the distance. Lee and I also were invited to a BBQ with some friends of his from London later that night. They live on the wharf in Wooloomooloo overlooking the Naval base. What a sight to have breakfast to in the mornings! Due to the rainy weather, today, the 26th, we spent looking around the Australian Maritime Museum after an hour or so at the Paddington outdoor market. I have until the 5th of January before heading back to work, so between going to the beach, sleeping a ton and a few days of tourist attractions, I’ll hold off writing more until after the new year. HAPPY NEW YEARS!!

Christmas Spirit!

Last night I went to see a performance of Handel's Messiah at the City Recital Hall Angel Place in downtown Sydney. During "Hallelujah" the entire audience stood to give respect. Renowned young conductor Philip Chu lead the performance and was a joy to watch - very vibrant guy! Now i'm ready for Christmas!