Not a Very White Christmas

It sounds like everyone back home in Northern Ireland has enjoyed a wonderful white Christmas. I have to say, we are just a little bit jealous. Although when my dad who has lived there for 70 years is complaining of the cold, then things are definitely pretty bad. He never complains about anything.

Here in Melbourne it feels like we were one of the few places in Australia to have a rain-free couple of weeks and a pleasant 20 - 30 degree temperature throughout the holidays - except for a sticky 38 degrees on New Years Eve.

Our fun-filled fortnight started with my very successfull turkey-on-the-barbeque christmas dinner. Dinner for 2 plus 2 babies took a full day to prepare & tidy up and with a 5kg turkey and a 2kg ham we are still enjoying Christmas dinners right into January. I'm now seriously appreciative of the effort it takes my mother and all my aunties to cater for Christmas Dinner for 20+ people - no mean feat.

On the present front, Celia was very impressed with her trampoline from Santa and Max was just pleased she left him alone for a while.

Between Christmas and New Year we headed south to the Mornington Penninsula for some serious beach time. However with a cooling sea breeze and a family full of colds we ended up spending more time inland sampling the fayre at some beautiful vineyards, strawberry farms and scenic walks. I even managed a game of golf with some work colleagues at a stunning course called Thirteenth Beach - a bargain at $70 dollars.

Celia and I did manage a few dips in the sea and she is already perfecting her surf-girl look. That combined with a new found obsession with sitting on her own listening to CDs - she is definitely growing up fast.

From Rye, in Mornington it was off to wonderful Tasmania following a brief NYE stop back in Melbourne. Tassie is just idyllic, so much so that our 1970's throwback chalet didn't bother us in the slightest. Our New Years week was a delightful mix of beaches, bush walks (complete with first Australian snake sighting), kangaroos, gastronomic delights in stunning vineyard settings and some of the freshest, tastiest produce we've ever had. If you want some serious wilderness, no mobile phone coverage, deserted beaches and  great food and wine, head for Tasmania, now.

The greatest complement we can give came from Lydia - "It is just like Donegal, but with sun!"

Max hasn't been to Donegal yet, but Tasmania definitely meets with his approval.

So there we have it. Christmas was very different and to be honest not quite the same as good old Ulster with the family. We're thinking Thailand next year, minus the BBQ turkey.

As you can see in the photos and throughout this blog 2010 has been so good to us in so many ways. We can't wait for the excitement of what 2011 will offer. But first, time for a diet and some serious exercise! Now, where's that expensive new bike again...Celia, stop listening to your CDs and grab your helmet!