Living Like a Small Green Hairy Fruit

Christmas is Coming

1st Week November 2007

So Christmas is coming, the shops have pulling the halloween stock off the shelves and started putting up the xmas decorations.  Helen and I went to The Palms shopping mall and The Hub this week in search of inspiration and presents to send back to folks in the UK.  Only trouble is, it doesn't 'feel' like Christmas.  Blue skies, warm weather, shorts, t-shirts and jandals just don't go with Christmas now, do they?

I did eventually manage to find some (hopefully) suitable presents.  Its bad enough trying to find something personal and age appropriate etc, without also having now to consider the size, weight and postage implications!  And the last cheap guaranteed xmas posting day is 10 November so that also didn't help having to shop so early, feeling decidedly unChristmassy.

I did actually get quite down about all this. I'm usually eager to put up the tree and get organised early with cards and presents and food and bits. But I just couldn't find the enthusiasm.  It isn't like we know too many people that well, and with no family here there's no need for excess food and drink and all the extras that add up.  You might think that's a bonus and would save us a few dollars, but its just weird making that adjustment from doing what used to come automatically and buying all the usual treats.

I was out shopping locally on my own and had completely lost the plot with all this.  I had been in Farmers department store where they had Christmas music playing and I just burst into tears.  I don't know why. It just all seemed so wrong. Maybe it just that I've hit the 6 months blues. But I don't feel homesick. Maybe it just reminded me of the lack of near and dear ones. I'm not sure. But I texted Mark and told him.  Immediately he texted back asking what was wrong.   So I told him basically I just feel like a fish out of water and what was the point in looking for mulled wine when its too bloody hot to drink it anyway!  I got a text back which simply said 'look for ice'.

Now you might think that's not very helpful. But it was. It made me realise I'd been looking at this all wrong.  Rather than getting frustrated and down and try to get things to fit my idea of Christmas, I should be looking at stuff appropriate to us now and grasp the opportunity to make some new family traditions.  And with that my mood lifted.  I went to The Warehouse and bought new decorations, little wooden ones of Santa in togs snorkling, some sparkly fish, some irridescent turquoise chains of starfish and seashells, and some new baubles in various shades of green and blue.  I took back the cranberry sauce, well turkey is very expensive at around $40 (half my weekly wage!) and texted Mark again suggesting a BBQ, salad, ice cold fruit punch, kiwi and strawberry pavlova and the beach or games at home or the park in the afternoon. He texted back to say it sounded good to him.  So that's it, Christmas sorted.  And no expensive seasonal food shopping required!

Its now the 10 December. We put the tree up in the rumpus room last Wednesday and decorated it Thursday, along with traditional gold and red downstairs in the lounge.  There's no point really switching on the tree lights as it doesn't get dark till around 10pm, and I doubt we'll bother with any outside lights for the same reason.

I was sat on one of the benches today on the townstreet. Blue sky, warm breeze, the town digital thermometer thingy showing 24deg, and Elvis belting out Pretty Christmas over the townstreet tannoy.  It was like Disney's Main Street. Sort of an unreal feeling like I was on holiday or something and it was just made up for tourists.  But its not. Its real. And its home.  And it made me glad that it was my home and I thought how lucky I am to be here.