Xmas Fun

Things that make Christmas fun when you are far away from family:

1. Friends who invite you to join their family celebrations.

A Christmas Whirlygig at Matt and Jasmina's farm.

2. Egg Nog

I tried making some eggnog from scratch on Xmas Eve. It didn't work out well at all!!

Thank goodness I could rush to the supermarket and buy up all of the cartons of ready made nog as well as some rum and brandy!

3. Watching Cows and Alpacas frolic in the paddocks.

Charlie the Alpaca may have a shocking set of teeth, but he herds the cattle in the paddocks just as well as a farm dog.  The farm animals were happy on Christmas too, and they provided lots of entertainment.

The EggNog was talking when 5 of us joined hands to make a human chain, and Matt grabbed onto the electric fence. Our findings?  The human body DOES conduct electricity!!


5. Christmas Cheer and Yummy Food

 The Tree after all of the presents were opened and we waited for the turkey to be ready. (It's really a bough that had fallen from a tree in the forest behind the farm!)

The bird was roasted in the BBQ, as were the side veggies and potatoes. With the turkey, we had ham, wild rice stuffing, fatoush, coleslaw. Not to mention Xmas pudding and Gingerbread people for dessert! It was a feast!!

I hope everyone was blessed with a wonderful day with family and/or friends!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

It's really odd being in a warm climate during a holiday which,  for me, is synonymous with cold weather, dark afternoons and cozy interiors. It doesn't feel Christmas-y when it's really warm. The decorations look out of place, and the traditional food is cold plates, bbq and beers. It makes me feel a bit displaced.

However, there are the odd little touches that make me feel in the holiday spirit. For example, here are the lights on reception at the cottages.  Christmas-y. Very. It's either a Christmas tree or a Christmas arrow.

Media Hype

The postal strike here in Australia is mostly media fear mongering. Don't worry, if I sent you a Christmas card... it will arrive in January! :)

Xmas Post

Santa's Mailbox is back up on Swanston Street in the city this year. However, Santa's little helpers at Australia Post are NOT very helpful this holiday season. They're on strike! I've sent off my cards, and if you don't receive them until February... I apologize in advance.

Bah humbug, posties!

Speaking in a Spa Voice

Modulate your tone.
Find a tone that is not too low and not too high; somewhere between zen master and perky cheerleader.

Celebrate the world of pampering. 
It's not about the treatment so much as it is about the "experience".

Practice the art of "gracious stalling".
Maintain a constant stream of helpful and purposeful chat whilst making a phone booking (especially when  learning a new computer system!).

Check out the ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS company I am now working for! Endota Spa has two locations in Lorne. How lovely to work in the spa industry for a bit of a sea change!

Breakfast Guest

I have now officially moved to Lorne for 3 months! There's no teaching work during summer holidays, so I may as well work somewhere beautiful!
 I'm blessed to have a lovely new flatmate, Sarah,  who is holding down the Northcote fort in the city this summer. I'll make sure to introduce you the next time we hang out. So far, since she moved in at the beginning of the month, we have only had enough time to have a couple cups of tea together!

This morning, I had company at breakfast at the picnic table outside at Waverley 13 (the same  rickety beach shack I lived in last summer!).

This is Ken, the King Parrot.

Demon Weed

Agapanthus grows rampant in big clumps of massive blooms here. People call it "Demon Weed" because it self seeds like mad.

Adults vs. Teenagers

That old chestnut!?
This spring, I've taught acting to a class of 10 adults: one 3 hour evening class, once a week for the last 10 weeks. It's been an interesting change from teaching teenagers.

The CONS of working with teenagers: their extreme emotional unpredictability; how easily distracted they are by each other; their nebulous sense of self.  
The PROS of working with teenagers: their physical and creative energy, their potential for intense commitment  and their infectious excitement.

The CONS of working with adults:  they are highly conditioned to be socially appropriate; they are easily distracted by life/work concerns; they have a more fully formed sense of self.                              
The PROS of working with adults: their desire to learn and build skills; their well-developed lines of questioning; their more fully formed sense of self.  

My most repeated comments in an adult class? "Be Brave."  "Don't think!"  "Listen to each other."
In a high school drama class? "Attention over here, please." "Go for it!" "Listen to each other."  

Same same but different.

This is my class at Verve Studios. On Thursday night, they had an in-class showing of selected scenes from Neil Labute's play, Reasons to be Pretty. Family and friends attended. As you can see,  they are basking in the after-glow of a successful presentation!

Can it get busier?

I'm a shocker! I've let the blogging slide over these last two weeks....and, tell you what, it continues to be a bit hectic as I boomerang between Melbourne and Lorne for yet another week!
At this point in time, all I can do is provide a sneak peak into blog posts to come in the next week.

• Meet my new Melbourne housemate, Sarah!
• Meet my new Lorne housemate, Jimmy!
• Teaching adults and why teenagers win my vote. 
• Nose to the Grindstone or "How I can manage to work three jobs and stay sane."
• The new wetsuit.
• Beach, beach and more beach. 

I hope you continue to check in on me! Stay tuned!

Just a little half-assed post to keep you looking forward to better posts later this week....



This is Papa Skink. He lives under the steps with his family here at the cottages in Lorne. He comes out with the family to bask in the sunny weather.
While the weather continues to be a bit inconsistent, we have enjoyed some lovely balmy temperatures in the mid to high 20's on the coast... warmer still in the city.
Bring on the Australian summer!