another australian christmas

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas... actually, it's not. not at all. not for a canadian and, i daresay, not even for the aussies this year. where we would normally expect cold and snowy in canada, australians are used to hot and beachy. alas, the weather around the country has been incredibly unusual and in many places, there is no such heat, sun or beachy weather. queensland is awash with rain at the moment and south australia- well, i'm told that it feels like winter right now. as i write this, the wind is blowing against the windows, the fire is crackling in the corner of the room and i could just as well be in a cabin by the mountains as i am in a holiday house overlooking the ocean.

christmas here just feels odd to me. in fact, i can't actually get into the christmas spirit at all. it's a bit of a shame really. i would like to. it's just that with hot weather (generally) and a lack of christmas lights in the surrounding neighbourhood, or christmas carols on my favourite non-commercial radio station (also the lack of snow...) i just can't get into it. i don't decorate my house - not that i ever did much in canada-, i don't play christmas carols in the house, i don't do any christmas baking. i'm not even inspired to go gift shopping. when people tell me how many days til christmas, i always say "what? no. you must be wrong". i suppose it doesn't help that i'm driving across the country in a van, pleasantly unaware of the day/date.

but then the big day comes. this year, christmas was spent with my friend (and her family). we had seafood for lunch (they did. i didn't really. not a fan of seafood as such), champagne and plum pudding for dessert (again, not me. not a fan). we popped christmas crakers and party poppers (my favourite!). then we curled up on the couches and read books, had naps and just relaxed. it was a thoroughly enjoyable day.

and then as quickly as it came, it left. christmas. done and dusted for another year.  i sit here listening to the wind outside and the fire inside and i think, well, maybe it's not that different after all.

family, friends, food. that's all it comes down to in the end.
xo