to one and all!
both pauline and i would love to wish u all a verry merry christmas and a guid new year.

as for the people who are having their first christmas over here in Oz.
its all a bit strange. u dont have the family about you so u will feel a bit out of it, but use it as a learning curve. it will help you next year!
its all a bit strange the first year, but dont get down about it, go with the flow.
if u can, try and cling onto someone whos having a christmas dinner lol

dont sit and complain that its not the same, u know that already. get into it early, get the tree up (my trees up) and start thinking christmas. get in the car at night and go find the mad houses with all the lights. look in the local paper and find where the local singers are putting a show on.
we are lucky enough to be invited to friends for a big xmas dinner. our two oldest will be up from sydney and we will make the most of this christmas.

so i dont wanna see threads like............oh it doesnt feel like christmas blah blah blah.

two things to remember
its only sunnier
and
at least if u buy your kid a bike for christmas, they will get to play with it before march

You really are a big safty at heart! We're looking forward to NOT going anywhere on christmas day. Sitting vegging and piggin out! Boxing day we've invited a few expats around for the usual BBQ and piss up (kids thank god amuse themselves!). After that who knows??

Cheers to you and yours

Ginny

Excellent Soapy

Excellent post!

I couldn't agree more. We are lucky enough to live opposite a highly festive house' and they came and knocked on our door on Friday evening inviting us to their light switching on. Bring a bottle. It was AWESOME

Stayed for over 2 hours and met lots of the neighbours (felt so good - as the only people I have met has been through work).

Hubby always get the tree up early but didn't feel in the mood with the kids gone (back in UK he would have the tree up in November!) - I persuaded him to put the tree up yesterday and I am going to pick up a CD of cheap Christmas jingles - it is starting to feel like Christmas - just a different Christmas

dont forget the irn bru for the hangover

and u lay aff the sheep this year

Hurrah! I am now justified in putting up my tree. As it's a fake one, it should last until the new year

Im going for a bird this year....lol

fantastic, thats more like it. they four words could have saved ne writing that whole post lol


i spent that much time moaning that it just didnt feel like christmas the first year that i missed the point.
its funny how u can talk yourself into something lol

this year i will be sitting waiting on santa arriving and while hes in my house delivering the pressies i will be at his pumping mrs clause

Suppose you have a point there Soapy. Happy Crimbo to you too

Nice post Soapy,

It will be our first xmas here, & i must admit im one of those people that keep saying its not the same as in the UK. Was going to put the tree up yesterday but it was so hot here that no one could be bothered.
Will make an effort from today & go & buy some christmas cards & drag the old tree out.

Merry crimbo !

Nicky

trust me, its not worth the hassle of sitting moaning. last year we changed it all around and had a fab day. im sure theres a thread on here about "how did u spend your christmas day".might do a search and see how people will change it this year

ah see !
tell yourself its christmas and get right into it. make more of an effort, u will be rewarded for all the work or u could sit on boxing day saying "pish christmas eh"
good luck on your first xmas

Aye she will be about same age as you too.

This will be our 8th Christmas in Aus. Will be a quiet one for me as Mrs B has to work both Xmas & New Year on nightshift.
I'm sure me & my bottle of bacardi will have a brilliant Xmas though.

and if it's a crap one i can kick hubby in the balls