Good Presents

I scored big points with the gifts for both Trin and Finn. Both loved the face paints. This is Finn with his tiger face in progress. 

It was also fun to help build small houses, train engines, desks and rubbish bins with the set of massive Lego that Santa brought for Finn.

Merry Christmas 2011

I spent a few days over Christmas in Mt Martha with my friends  Sheila and Sue, their son Finn and their foster daughter, Trinity.  We had some good laughs, good food and good drinks. The weather was pretty good too.
Having said that, while we sat on the deck sweating in warm temperatures on Christmas Day, we watched the thunder and lightning and dark, dark clouds move over the bay towards the city. Some parts of Melbourne got hit with snow, golf ball sized hail, and deluges of rain!!

Christmas Presence

I've been thinking that maybe it's just the summer season and warm weather that makes Christmas in Australia surreal.  Maybe it's being without the familiar family and friend rituals (Mom's tree decorating, Dad's boozy Xmas cake, coffees out with Lori and Darcy).... not to mention just being without the Canadian family and friends.  Maybe it's just feeling adrift because I haven't created my very own holiday rituals down here yet. And maybe it's time for that to change.

So, I'll begin by counting my blessings. In addition to some lovely time spent with friends this week, I have had some really nice Christmas presents already:

• Lots of cards and little gifts from Canada and the States arriving in the mail. I don't wait to open them. I open them as soon as I get 'em!
• A package that Mom sent with an incomplete mailing address made it to the Thornbury Post Office and was there when I went in to inquire about it. 
• My mobile phone company waived a $500 charge on my account because of a clerical error. 
• I've got another paid Directing gig lined up for next year. 
• With a little help from my friends, I've got a fabulous FREE rehearsal venue in a great location organized for  January when rehearsals start back up for my play The Drowning Girls.
• I've had a heap of grief with back pain in the last two weeks,  and it all seems to be settling down as I settle down. 

Here's some new vocabulary for you.
I'm taking to heart the Aussie phrase "Settle, Petal."
Definition: Chill out, Dude.;  Cool it, Sister.;  Relax, Precious.

I'm pretty sure I can do that.

Almost Christmas

It's been a bit of an effort for me to get into the holiday spirit down here. And while I've been off work for a while, it has taken me up to now to slow down and begin to relax. I spent the better part of yesterday at the pool in the sun with a good book, and that seemed to help!

 The other day, Sapidah, Che and Nadia came over to mine for a Christmas lunch.

Here's the view of the city from the rooftop bbq/garden. 

I got even more of the Christmas spirit when  I went down to Lorne to visit Jas, Matt, Ava and Alex.

 Jas loves to play her Elvis and Jackson 5 Christmas albums, and in the evening, we listened to all their greatest hits as we sipped champagne and I helped her make Christmas hula hoops.

We hung out in the park the next day with Ava and her best mate Rafferty, as the sun burned through the clouds and it got warmer and warmer.

Ava. 

Who needs hands to hold a sandwich?

No more teaching, no more books...

I'm finished the school year at Aquinas. It feels a bit funny breaking for summer holidays in December, but I'm not going to complain! The weather has been lovely and in the high 20's the last couple of days. I've been able to sleep in and it feels a little less surreal now.

We had our Christmas Party at the Carlton Brewhouse in Abbotsford. It was a really fun evening, with a sit down dinner, drinks provided and a dance floor. Some staff members burned holes in that floor.... it was awesome!!
The Carlton Brewery is a very large and important fixture in that suburb. It's where all of the Carlton Draught, Victoria Bitters,  Melbourne Bitters and Fosters Beer are brewed in this part of Australia.

Giant Beer on Entry

My beer

Bottle Opener for Giant Beer Bottles

The venue was pretty cool, with all kinds of historic displays and vintage beer posters decorating the walls and other spaces.

Models of the famous Carlton Clydesdales. 

This breed of horse played a big part in building parts of Australia in the 1800's: agriculture and building dams. In addition to working with milkmen and green grocers to bring locals their milk and fruit and veggies, Clydesdales delivered beer to public houses well into the 20th century. 

This poor horse had an accident with his eye. 

And these are the ladies of the Drama Department in basic black and white.

Fixed Address

I've just sent out my Christmas Cards, and for those who wish to send me lovely, old-fashioned snail mail, my address is as follows:

9/6 Francis Grove

Thornbury, VIC

Australia 3071

Here are two views of my flat. The lounge room and one view of the kitchen. (Brand new kitchen and gas appliances.) More views to come. 

Sunlight over EKTORP

I think it's funny that I'm so proud of my IKEA couch. Sunlight looks amazing on it. 

The Rundown on November

I went underground and really didn't blog at all in November. It was a pretty hectic month. I'll give you a quick rundown on things that happened:

• I found a home and moved in. It is bright and light and quirky and I love it. 
• I bought a fridge. Everyone who rents has their own fridge here. Fridges just don't come with rental properties. 
• The siren calls of IKEA, local opshops and garage sales ring in my ears once more. 
• The One Act Play Project I directed for Verve Studios went into production week and then opened, ran its season and closed. I think all my actors found it a positive learning experience. 
• I lost my iPhone in a taxi on closing night and had to scramble to get a new phone. I lost many phone numbers... some of which I needed to lose.
• I went to a fantastic Birthday party for my lovely friend, Jasmina. (If you want the truth.... I got very loose and blew off HEAPS of steam.)
• I started rehearsals for my upcoming project, The Drowning Girls. My actors are wonderful and I am SO excited for this production. 
• I coordinated and ran semester end assessments for my Drama and French students. I've almost finished reporting on 120 students. 
• I have formed a close bond with my Chinese Medicine Doctor as I went for weekly acupuncture and cupping treatments. I am still drinking spewy tasting herbal concoctions daily.