Watching The Boats on Boxing Day

We've lived in Sydney for four years and, in my opinion, the very best time of year is the period between Christmas and New Year. After Christmas we Aussies have another holiday, Boxing Day. In Melbourne it means watching the Boxing Day Test (Cricket), in most States it means the start of the New Year sales but in Sydney it means the start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Growing up in Western Australia I used to watch the start of this race on TV but now we get to watch it live and in person. It's an amazing spectacle.

Usually we watch it from Middle Head in Mosman which gives a high vantage point from which to see the boats leave the Sydney Harbour "Heads" but this year we met friends at Chowder Bay and got a close up view of the start. With such a close view we could see the crews decked out in their yacht's colours - including the white dinner jackets worn by the members of the yacht sponsored by Boss menswear!

We suspect that somewhere just off Bondi Beach there may be about 12 white dinner jackets floating to the bottom of the ocean; turfed as soon as the publicity stunt was over.

' Twas the night before Christmas (again, this time with photos I hope)

... the advent calendar was full

... the ham was glazed

.... the carrots were put out for the Reindeer

... and the first window of the Cricket season was broken

Merry Christmas!

PS. Ooops, sorry I don't know where your comments went. But, thank you to those who did comment on this post previously - a Merry Christmas to you too!

School's Out

At 3pm this afternoon 550 children from Years K-5 formed an arch snaking through our playground to bid our 100 year 6 children farewell as they finished their primary schooling. And so ended the 2007 school year for those of us who "pay less, and get more" (school days that is). I found the leaving arch very emotional, I can only guess what sort of teary mess I'll be when KelpieBlossom runs through the same arch in 3 years time.

It's been an action packed last week of school starting with ArmyWife's farewell dinner at our local watering-hole.* We surprised her with this Pandora bracelet with four charms:

A suitcase... because she's leaving

A four-leafed clover ... for luck

A Snowman ... for Christmas (and because the place she's going has cold winters)

An Elephant ... so she doesn't forget us

ArmyWife has written an account of this on her own blog here.

Yesterday, we held our final P&C function for the year - the teacher's lunch. Each year the school P&C pays for an end-of-year lunch for the teachers held during lunch hour in the staff room. We clear out the room, set it up in a festive way and serve a smorgasbord of cold meats, quiches, prawns, smoked salmon, sushi and salads. This year we provided a sideboard of sweet treats and large platters of cheese and fruit as well. The teachers seem to really love this event and we get a kick out of putting it on for them. They deserve every bit.

Now that school's out the festive season begins in earnest. My parents arrive from The Far West tomorrow and we have Christmas functions coming out of our ears. I've also committed myself to hosting what seems like half the suburb for a family BBQ on NYE. Better get down to planning that. Should be fun.

*AuE translation from my trusty Macquarie: noun. 1. a waterhole where animals drink 2. colloquial a hotel or bar, especially one used frequently for drinking with friends

KelpieBlossom made this...

... scarf for her class mascot (the mascot is a stuffed toy owl called Grandpa Hooty).

It's all wrapped up in tissue and Christmas paper ready for her to give to him tomorrow.

Virtual Christmas Card

This year I sent out Christmas cards designed by the kids and included an A4 sheet showing "Our year in Pictures".

Here is yours. It was a little tricky to select pictures that qualified but you'll get the general gist.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Merry Christmas from the EasternMax family and may you have a happy, safe and healthy New Year.

The Northern Lights

Loved it. This is Book I of the His Dark Materials trilogy. I'll delve straight into the second book - The Subtle Knife.

It's billed as teen fiction but my guess is that many a 9-12 year old will be getting this book for Christmas with the movie version, The Golden Compass, opening in cinemas very soon.

My advice to kids is leave it until you are 11, the same age as the strong independent female protagonist in the story. I do think it is a shame to read some stories too young.

Warning to Fairlie: this book may contain Fantasy elements.

Seasonally Inappropriate Radical

Today I was meandering through the David Jones Food Hall in the city, following, with amusement, behind my friend who was striding with purpose, Christmas menu in hand, asking pointed questions about the availability of Yamba prawns, the origin of the displayed scallop meat and where she could obtain loose Vienna Almonds.

At this point I scuttle closer, peer over her shoulder and enquire about her planned Christmas day feast. 'Oh', she says, 'I'm trying allsorts of new things. It's just us and the kids this year so I can experiment with impunity.' The list detailed scallop wontons, a crispy prawn salad, and hazelnut semi-freddo.

I've been seeing this a lot lately. Experimenters.

What happened to the traditional Aussie Christmas? Forty-five degrees Celsius with Roast Turkey, Glazed Ham and Christmas Pud with Custard and Icecream.

Am I the only traditionalist left? Come to my house and you will suffer in the heat like a good Aussie family should.

It's not that I'm completely stuck in stone. As the years have gone on new traditions have crept in. Firegazer introduced the glazed ham; my SIL introduced an entree of prawns AND an icecream version of the Christmas Pud (which is, admittedly, pretty good). These all seemed to fit with the general gist of the sweaty Australian celebration. BUT I stop at those other new-fangled ideas - the seafood Christmas, the picnic at the beach or anything else that is vaguely seasonally appropriate.

But, it seems that I'm not the traditionalist after all. My traditions now belong to the perspiring minority. No, now I'm a seasonally inappropriate rebel. A REVOLUTIONARY.

Forward the Revolution!

:-)

Happy Birthday ArmyWife (she's not even close to 40)

While it was a shame that ArmyHusband couldn't be here to celebrate her birthday he did well and truly make up for it with beautiful Tahitian Pearl and Diamond earrings.

And so started ArmyWife's last birthday in Sydney before the new posting next year.

After breakfast with her SIL(the Divine Ms M) and the kids ArmyWife had lunch with the EasternMax family, got her gift from us (see scarf above, do you remember an earlier post about this?) and then all the girls went off to the Diana Exhibition at the Powerhouse.

Fabulous. Oh the dresses, the WEDDING DRESS up close, the diamonds, the condolence books EN MASSE from around the world. Plus all the LITTLE DETAILS that speak of her life like her diaries, her school reports, the dining records from Althorp House. Some of it you've seen. Much of it you haven't. I could go on.

We had a lovely time then we went back to the EasternMax residence for a chicken roast dinner and Fairlie's blueberry cheesecake Tart.

Happy Birthday ArmyWife!

We can't believe you are leaving - at least you will be living at a convenient half-way point to our trips to the Snowy. Sniff.

Precious Boy

I have one child who has always been very conscientious (takes after her dad) and one child who has always been, well, a bit more of a free spirit, perhaps a little less conscientious, never does his homework.

So this morning when this child - completely of his own volition - made his own bed (even stacked his teddies neatly), tidied his room ("so it's clean for Grandma and Grandpa to see") and wrote out 25 Christmas cards for his class-mates (again, I stress voluntarily, actually asked me if he could do it) my little heart went awwwwwww....

Trifecta

First we heard about Queenie's excellent effort in getting a Class Prize for General Excellence at her recent Speech Night. Then Domestic Goddess' daughter Fashionista got a Class Prize at her Speech Night. I can now report that we have a Trifecta with KelpieBlossom taking out the Special Award for Citizenship and General Proficiency at her Presentation Day today.

You go girls!

Not to be outdone, Padawan Learner's Year 1 class shone in their final assembly item yesterday. Their fabulous teacher Mr B plays guitar and accompanied the class as they sang Aussie Jingle Bells loud and proud. Rumour has it that they were going to finish their class item with a rendition of Smoke on the Water but Mr B thought he might be in trouble with the school Principal if he played Deep Purple at a school assembly.

We parents would've supported you Mr B! *

* in breaking news it seems the new Russian president would also have supported the playing of Deep Purple at the school assembly!

Maker's Mark

I'm branching out. I'm being daring. I'm trying a new stitch.

It's an eyelet stitch and, despite the errors which may be obvious to the good knitters out there (the bulge at the top is the window latch it's hanging on), I'm quite proud of myself. I think the errors add character and prove that it's home-made.

My only problem is that the pattern now calls for me to decrease stitches in pattern. Eek. Help. If I don't work out how to decrease a pattern that actually adds a stitch every stitch then this will end up being a knitted square rather than a hotwater bottle cover*.

When I finish my knitted creations I give them to someone accompanied by this tag pinned on with silver ribbon. Inside the tag I put the details of the garment, sometimes I give it a name. I own up to my creations, mistakes and all with my Maker's Mark.

*Yes, you read right. A hotwater bottle cover. I love hotwater bottles. My kids use them all through winter and we take them away with us in the winter as our ski club doesn't have electric blankets. Cosy. When I asked for a pattern for said hotwater bottle at a knitting shop the assistant (who was at least 50) didn't know such a thing existed. Surely, surely she grew up with them? Apparently not.

The Secret Life of an Old House

Do you like peeling back old wallpaper to discover the previous lives of your house? Are you a house detective? I know some of you are from a current discussion at Sheep's Clothing.

When we re-painted our early Arts and Crafts (1919) home earlier this year we were able to do our fair share of detective work.

We found apple green paint under the wallpaper in our bedroom.

This original (C. 1920) hand-cut wallpaper border was under two other layers of wallpaper in our upstairs hall.

The only thing holding up the plaster on this wall was the wallpaper... (the wall literally peeled off!)

The downstairs walls were painted a delicious brown colour. This paint was wallpapered over in 1959 according to the notes left behind on the wall.

Not so secret now. What secrets has your house revealed?

Fairlie the White Rabbit Circa 1987

Gosh, it's not even Flashback Friday.

This is the photo I had intended for Fairlie's birthday blog post but hadn't sought permission. Given that a girl should be allowed to try and forget some aspects of her wild university days I thought it prudent to at least ASK.

Anyway, Fairlie has relented and has allowed the publication of this photo of her ready for the 1987 Opening of the Croquet Season at our university college in Perth.

Yes, we had such a thing. We also had regular "pondings" and other very Oxbridge-type rituals at our residential college. All fun and no study as far as I can remember. It was the time when a university education was free and we could repeat a year if need be. Aaaah, the olden days...

Edited: BTW this is my 150th post.

Good Grief, A Wreath

Our 9yo, KelpieBlossom is very keen on Tara Dennis and the Better Homes and Gardens team. There has been many a project that Tara has "instructed" KB to do THIS WEEKEND or even RIGHT NOW. And this festive season we have hit fever pitch.

A couple of weeks ago KB, as instructed by Tara, started making christmas decorations from the wrapping paper to be found in the current issue of BH&G magazine (she buys this in preference to tween magazines). This weekend she felt the extreme need to make a wreath for the front door. We have a Holly bush in our garden so I said "go for it", thinking that would be something to keep her occupied for a while.

So here how the project went:

KB: All I need is a coathanger made into a circle. Could you just do that bit.

Mum: that sounds like a dad job to me

KB: Daaaad, can you make a circle thingy from this coathanger?

Dad rustled around outside with pliers and wire until he produced a perfect wire circle.

KB: Actually, dad I think we might need TWO circles.

Dad rustles around outside with pliers and wire until a second perfect circle is produced.

KB: Actually, dad, I think the two circles need to be wrapped in winding wire.

Dad: I don't think we have any.

KB: Let's go to Bunnings

Dad: It's after 5pm on a Sunday.

KB: Why don't you ring them?

So KB and Dad whip off to bunnings. They come back with winding wire, and a Crunchie Bar each.

KB: Mum can you help me get the Holly?

at the Holly bush:

KB: It looks a bit prickly, can you cut it for me?

later:

KB: It looks a bit prickly, can you attach it for me?

later, after Mum has wiped all the blood off her fingers from attaching Holly:

KB: It looks a bit prickly, can you tie the ribbons on?

Once it is finished KB's brother Padawan Learner comes over and says:
"Wow, KB, that looks really good, you're really clever"

Definitely CEO material.

Fairlie is Fabulous but not Forty (yet)

I have a photo of Fairlie dressed as the White Rabbit on her way to our university college’s Opening of the Croquet Season in 1987. It’s fabulous, but I feel I need to have permission to publish it here and I didn’t seek it. Perhaps I could publish it by popular demand (sign the petition via the Comments form).

To me the photo symbolises the spirit of fun with which Fairlie approaches everything. She will not only go to the party, she will dress the part. Fairlie can equally work a room at a gallery opening as wrap herself in a doona and watch trashy TV. She’d make a killing as a consultant in popular culture and is easily one of the smartest people I know. And she has a library in her powder-room (how cool is that?!)

You know by now that Fairlie and I have known each other for over 20 years. We lived in the same uni college, then we lived next door to each other, she moved to Melbourne, then I did and now we live in different States. Sorry.

I miss the person who drove around to look after one child at 2am while I whipped the other one to hospital.

And I miss the person who came over late one night to just fold my washing when I was stressed out with a small baby and guests about to land on my doorstep.

At least we are living in the Age of Cyberspace and we can ‘chat’ by phone, email, SMS, Instant Messaging, and Blogs – sometimes all at the same time.

Happy Birthday Fairlie!

Why don’t you head over to her blog and wish her a happy birthday. The Festive Season can start from tomorrow.

Riflemind

Has this been your way yet? Fabulous, just fabulous. Grab a ticket if you can.

Written by Andrew Upton, starring Hugo Weaving with a stellar support cast and directed by Phillip Seymour Hoffman this was a gripping examination of self-destructing burnt out rock stars thinking about holding a comeback tour. Everything was spot on from the over-styled kitchen/living room set to the different demons facing each of the characters. What you expect, yet not what you expect.

However, not everyone agreed. The old guy in front of me yelled out "What a W*nk!" just as the last scene ended and walked out looking disgusted.

Is 1 December, Has Fake Tree, Is Done

Santa, we ready.

P*le P*arty

So, what did you do last night? Watch a bit of telly? Knit something? Clean out your pantry?

Ha, well those of us Over 18 in the EasternMax family travelled over The Bridge to the annual Bobbi's P*le Studio Christmas Party in The Cross. As you do.

My Pilates instructor, a former soloist with an international ballet company, P*le Dances as a hobby. She's really quite good at it. She auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance in this dance style to resounding success only to be knocked out in the Jazz section. Rumour is she'll try out for Miss P*ledance Australia next year.

I must admit to feeling a little apprehensive about going to this event, as were my other female friends who were going. Us little Doris Days in a world of, well, NOT Doris Days. Our husbands, however, felt no such apprehension.

BUT it was A*M*A*Z*I*N*G. The girls were extraordinarily athletic. P*le Dancing at this level is saucy but not sleazy - a gymnastic show which would compare to the skills in aerial silk dancing (just with towering stilettos and fewer clothes).

A really cool night out for us LNSMs**.

* trying to avoid odd Google searches...
** Lower North Shore Mums

Edited to say: Mid-way through the performance we stepped out to grab a drink at a nearby bar before going back for the finale. We stepped into a great little spot called Apperitif on Kellet St. Domestic Goddess - guess who we saw there? Your brother-in-law.

A reminder that I need to tidy my pantry

No, this is not my pantry. Nor is this a Tupperware catalogue shot.

This pantry belongs to Domestic Goddess. This is not a photo taken after it has been tidied; this is what it looks like ALL THE TIME. In fact this photo was probably taken just after her three kids had marauded through the kitchen looking for after school snacks.

Sigh.

So, DG when are you next coming to Sydney? My pantry misses you.

Playing with Shine

Stretchy, oh so light and soft scarf knitted with 10mm needles in alternating rows of Drifters Mohair and Lisa Harding Sari Ribbon.

More mohair and shiny threads to sew together. This time with 15mm needles for a wide, gaping look. I'm thinking wraps here - one in silvery grey, one in black.

Out of the mouths of babes

When I was a little girl I would delight in telling the old biddies* around my small country town that mum and dad were married three days after I was born. In those days this would cause a few raised eyebrows.

Except that Mum and Dad were married on November 27th, 1965. I was born on November 24th, 1967.

Happy Anniversary Mum and Dad!

*Biddy (noun) Colloquial an old woman [Irish English pet-form of the name Bridget] from Macquarie Dictionary

Fairlie did warn me...

... that once I knew about the Frangipani craze that I'd start seeing them everywhere.

Like, in a Leura car park

and on the M4.

Luckily, no more sightings on Volvos.

The Lovely Blue Mountains

Mary and Sharyn live in the most beautiful place. The only other time I've been to the Blue Mountains was a quick day trip to check out the main tourist spots. This trip we took a more leisurly pace.

I checked out the shops and did my bit for the local economy.

And we took in the scenery from a different vantage point this time.

There is still SO much to see and do so were are definitely planning more weekends up there to explore.

Fairlie, S, Domestic Goddess & others - I think we need to plan a girls weekend, hit the day spas, the shops and catch up with the Blue Mountains bloggers...

The Old Bag is 40

Well it's happened, I'm 40 (and one day). While you were all heading off to your local primary school to vote I was being totally spoilt.

Thank you to the fabulous blogging community for all your best wishes. And thanks Fairlie for your words. I'm not sure who you were writing about but it was lovely to read :-)

I have to tell you that I've had the most wonderful weekend in the Blue Mountains. I don't intend to roll out a full inventory of gifts & birthday activities but it must be mentioned that Firegazer did himself proud.

I got flowers. And a trip to the day spa. And dinner (fancy shmancy style).

It may have got out that I love bags.

And that I LOVE dictionaries. The bigger, the better.

Now that I've shown those gifts I feel remis in not showing the others. Just believe me when I say that I was totally spoilt and that thank yous are on their way using these notecards picked up at a gorgeous stationery store in Leura.

Finally, here is the only photo of me on my 40th birthday. There are very few photos of me because I am always the one holding the camera. The 24th November was no exception.

*the beautiful necklace is the one made for me by Domestic Goddess