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What is Christmas all about?

In the northern hemisphere (well at least in London) Christmas seems a conveniently timed festival……. Just as we’re all just getting cold and miserable and then we have an excuse to take some time away from work, spend time with family, indulge in some festive food, get drunk, buy/receive presents and do many other things which on the whole will make us feel better.

Totally Different Christmas

Stucros
2007-03-08 17:09:11

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party' had been a little 'wiped out' by our exhausting day but a few jugs of beer some good tunes and even some mismatch live music things started to pick up before a big game of 'flip cup'. I'm not really into drinking games but the art of 'flip cup' lies in the flipping of the cup and not the drinking so girls and guys can compete alike! With 15 on each side of the table the atmosphere was electric. On to the dance floor for a few dances before a mysterious voice over
the PA system declares 'This is a Pool party........ CANON BALL' off with the jeans off with the shirt underwear left on and everyone was bombing into the pool!!! Those that were shy were simply thrown into the pool fully dressed!!! Ending a night with basically everyone in their under/swimwear

It seems the only thing worse than being repeatedly hit by a wave is being hungover and being repeatedly hit by a wave! So another day spent dealing with the oceans power. I had to retract, if not swallow, my pre-weekend claims that 'I am at one with the Ocean'

Returning back to Sydney at 8pm on Christmas Eve I couldn't help but think what I would be doing in London. Down the Vic seeing all the old friends before heading back legless to my parents - A familiar pattern drowned history. An Orphan in my new home, a few of us from the bus left at a loose end decided to go to the nearest 5 buck steak place have a meal and few beers. It was a very fitting way to see in Christmas Eve.

Christmas Day

Awaking to find no presents under the tree (in fact no tree at all), no stocking full Satsumas and no parents asking what time I'd got in the previous night....... It could have been any other day. With Katharine, new flatmate, adding to our numbers we patched together a Christmas brunch consisting of bacon, eggs, champers and peach muffins. It was very enjoyable sitting out in the garden dressed in Christmas themed hats chatting away and generally trying to make each other feel like it was Christmas!!! With the alcohol levels heading towards critical mass we decided to head to Bondi Beach for boots boots at 'GateCrasher' - It almost seems as mandatory for a brit in oz to spend at least one Christmas on Bondi beach but with alcohol restricted it didn't really seem very british or australian!!! Gatecrasher being the only licensed option seemed a no brainer but the music was really hard, the atmosphere no more existent than on the moon and fellow patrons providing endless examples of how chavey some of the brits are out here.
It was a good day but that was because the four of us made it such and I won't be heading back to a Christmas Bondi any
Balcony with a view
Balcony with a view
Bondi beach
time soon.

NYE

There are countless options for NYE's out in Sydney. Being the second major city in the world to welcome in the new year Sydneysiders take as much pride as do the Scottish. Missing the fireworks last year seeing them this year was the priority. With a mixed weather forecast and media hype about the time you needed to arrive at the designated viewing spots. We decided to head down Rushcutters Bay at the end of my street. We Still had a good view of the harbour bridge a fraction of the opera house and most of the other sites that they use to fire their kaleidoscopic rockets although being so far away we missed the acoustical thud that makes everyone go OOOO AAAH.
Going home at 2ish midly drunk I think it was probably my most tame NYE in 15+ years and a good prelude to my 30's........ I think?