liverpool girl

This will be our first christmas in Oz, having been here for 6 months. All the decorations and Christmas stuff in the shop is making me feel a bit homesick. I really miss my family at this time of year - I just want to get it over and done with. We have decided to go down to the beach with some friends on Christmas Day - there's no point in trying to make it like a UK christmas. Is it true that the first Christmas is the hardest time? What have other people found. Maybe it won't be as bad as I imagine it might be.

Wendy

I've been here about the same amount of time. I'm not even comparing this year to what it was like in the UK, whats the point? It will make me wish I was there and not here.

You need to take a step back I think, and enjoy it for what it is. Your first xmas in OZ, it won't be the same, but it doesn't mean it has to be an awful experience. Take it one step at a time, phone the UK and speak to people then get out there and do something fun with your kids.

hedgehog-girl

Although we've been here for nearly 2 years it will be our first xmas here and I am not going to try and think of it being the same as the UK so I am just going to try and enjoy it. We are taking a tree to the beach and then going back to our flat for a proper lunch and then chilling with friends.

Dorothy

Instead of thinking of it as a bad thing, make it a celebration. Your first Christmas in Australia!!! Yes it will be different, but that can be a good thing if you make it so. A few years ago we lived in another city in Canada away from our family and had what we called the orphans Christmas. Since a lot of us were from different cultures, we decided to do a pot luck thing where everyone had to bring a dish from the country of their heritage. We had a couple from China, another from India, a french Canadian couple, an Irish fellow and his Polish wife, my heritage is English and my husband is Russian, so dinner was a real mixed bag. We had so much fun getting to know a little about each other's traditions that we didn't have hardly any time to feel homesick. Why not try something like that with your new friends/co-workers?
This year we've invited another newcomer family as well as a girl from my office who will be alone at Christmas. Her parents are going away and she doesn't have any other family, so I told her I would be her surrogate mother for the day. Wendy, if you and yours are looking for something to do you are welcome as well. Our philosophy is the more the merrier. Maybe we can try something similar? I'll do traditional Canuck stuff if you bring a steak and kidney pie. We'll tell Janni to bring something Danish, so long as it isn't herring.

rab

You're right Christmas is crap here. Just go to the beach and have a barbecue and try to enjoy it in a different way, nejoying time off work etc etc. It's still crap though.

liverpool girl

Sounds like fun! We are planning on going down to Balmoral Beach to join some british friends that we have made since coming out here. Apparently, a group of ex-pat friends meet up every year on the beach and we have been invited to join them. It should be fun and our daughter will have lots of kids to play with so I think she will enjoy that. It's quite possible that we will enjoy the day itself - I think the lead up is the worst. It's just when I go to the shops that I feel a homesick and start missing my sister and nephew. We will call them on the day but obviously it's not the same as being there in person.

squeezzii

one thing I would say,LG, is to get used to the idea that when you get up xmas morning you wont be able to ring anyone at home! you cant ring till tea time unless you get up v.early and they stay up v.late for a xmas eve call from you!

sj oldfield

Christmas is VERY different here. Not so much hype and less commercialised.
Try and enjoy..............go with the flow. Go to the carols by candlelight with some friends, and even spend the evening at the christmas pageant!!!
We are spending christmas with friends........pompey will...........perthforme............and we will make it magical............for the kids.
There will be a few sad moments. Missing family and loved ones but try not to dwell on it as it will make you unhappy.

On christmas morning I always go to the beach, first thin, on my own, and throw 1 dozen yellow roses into the sea. Thats from me to dad.
I dont make a big thing of it, or drag the kids down there. Then we get on with our christmas.

Go to the beach.......have a BBQ...........invite all your mates round and have a party in the garden..................just try and enjoy it.xxxxxxxxxxx

Debs64

[On christmas morning I always go to the beach, first thin, on my own, and throw 1 dozen yellow roses into the sea. Thats from me to dad.
I dont make a big thing of it, or drag the kids down there. Then we get on with our christmas.]

Hi SJ
Just wanted to say what a lovely idea throwing roses into the sea for your dad. that's very touching. I'd like to adopt that idea myself if I may.

We are thinking this could be our last Christmas in the UK, will try to make the most of having some family around us.

best wishes
Deb

Pollyana

Christmas is the MIL, who thinks I'm weird cos I go to Midnight Mass, and lunch with The Bloke's family who are very good at looking surprised when they open each others pressies, even though they have told each other what they are at least 4 months ago (they can't deal with me and my love of Surprises!), and they also frown when I turn up with wine instead of weak beer

I am still searching for the Aussie Christmas that I saw in a book when I was 5........

Pollyana

Thats lovely, wonder if I can persuade The Bloke to detour via the beach on Christmas Day. Something similar would be ideal.

esperanza

I'm not dreading xmas but equally am not especially looking forward to it - it is our last in the UK for a few years, it is already cold and wet outside, already the spectre of family politics is rearing its ugly head... roll on a warm sunny Christmas next year with no family within several thousand miles! Bliss!

Watt Dabney

Yeah!!!!! Teddy Bear Annual!!!!!

I had that book, and I loved that picture it had me totally spell bound as a child. The memories are flooding back of stories and pictures.

Thanks for sharing you really brightened my day.

Paula

jad n rich

Weve done the hot christmas most of the last 5 years, couldnt stand another round of trying to create a chrissy atmosphere with pool bananas and cold ham so were spending it on a plane the theory is nobody else will want to spend it on a plane so the flight might be empty. Only fighting relatives will be us lot fighting over the spare seats

Marcopolo

My visa is due, so all I can think of at the moment is when is it going to get here. I'll either have a good Christmas celebrating or an anxious one waiting

Marc.