Getting ready for Christmas

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It was fun to be back in Melbourne for Christmas. The previous three in Hong Kong had been wonderful, but this year was a chance to release Georgia and Byron on an unsuspecting wider family. Georgia and Byron helped Simone set up the tree. It was modest in size, but not in importance. It was a magnet for gifts that started to accumulate for friends and family, adding to the anticipation of a happy Christmas morning. Byron took to singing Christmas carols in his sweet little voice. Simone responded by shelving any restraint she may have had in relation to the number of gifts he and Georgia deserved.

Georgia loved Myer's Christmas windows, which were usually surrounded by happy families. We resorted to early morning raids to beat the crowds and trips to DJ’s where reindeers sang and a magic tree held delightful conversations with children. But pre-Christmas can be a tiring business, and so it was off to Pelegrini's for coffee and ice-cream. Santa was also busy, and dropped in the library and a shopping centre to take orders and give hugs.

Among the many treats of being in Melbourne, on Christmas Eve we had a picnic with Fiona and her chaps, and Jenn, Jamie, Zoe and Billie in the Fitzroy Gardens. There was a happy division of labour - the kids focused on presents and games, and the adults focused on wine and seafood - win, win.

G & B had a great time, and went to bed exhausted. With heavy eyes they told us Santa was coming that night. They couldn't wait for morning, and as they fell asleep, it was clear they could imagine the big guy in red adding to their gifts around the Christmas tree.

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