Entry 12: Christmas 2007

Christmas morning was the first morning Jake and Mia (the 2 year-old twins) had actually made their own way out of their bedroom alone without the guidance of either Jason or Lisa. The fun started at around 7:30 a.m. with the kids opening their presents. It would be a day of toys everywhere and non stop eating. We won't go in to the minor details of the day as everybody's Christmas is special to them in its own way, but the highlights included: Jake and Mia excited with all the goings on. A stocking from Santa for me and Sam (thanks Lisa and Jas!). Jason's lovely and welcoming family (and extended family) whose roots are in Sicily and Greece (and with those connections you can imagine the food). An amazing Christmas pudding (made by Lisa's mum Dotty - I can always make room for one more spoonful). Lisa's delicious Oysters Kilpatrick. Jason allowing me to have my moment of "Throwin' another shrimp on the barbie" whilst in Oz at Christmas. Sitting in the garden with shorts and t-shirt on.
I ate so much, that the next day the button on my shorts gave out from the extra poundage.
We'd like to take this opportunity to thank all involved for making us poms feel so welcome and giving us a Christmas that made us feel at home away from home!

Boxing Day, we (Jason, Lisa, us and the twins) jumped in their car and ute (Jason's boatin tow) and drove 3 hours north-east to a place called Yarrawonga. Here, there's a man made lake fed from the Murray River. The lake looks really bizarre, kinda like a landscape from Lord of the Rings, because where they've flooded a low lying area all the gum trees have subsequently died, leaving their main trunk and a few large bare branches and some are just reduced to stumps. I've attached a picture, but I don't think it captures the depth or size of the lake which I would imagine early morning with a bit of mist would look really spooky.
We stayed here in Jason's friends' holiday home (thanks Joe) where we continued to eat and drink. I had an attempt at kneeboarding, as well as riding on a biscuit (an inflatable disc with handles) with Sam whilst being towed at speed over the waves created by the speedboat. I didn't realise that someone could laugh for 15 minutes non stop whilst being (what felt like) jetwashed, but Sam seemed to manage it. Dave, who was towing us, said he could hear her over the engine of the boat and wasn't quite sure if it was laughter or screaming, but he continued anyway......thanks Dave and Mario!
It was also Lisa's birthday on the 27th while we were in Yarrawonga, so plenty of alcohol and cake were on the menu that day, along with dips in the pool.

We made our way back to Melbourne after a couple of nights' stay. On the way back we rented a film called 'Wolf Creek', a movie about 3 backpackers who are captured by a psychopath whilst travelling in Oz. Two of the backpackers were English and have never been found, and neither has the psychopath. If we'd watched it on our arrival in Australia we may never have left Perth. It's based on a true story and is worth a watch.....................if you're not squeamish!

We went to St. Kilda whilst back in Melbourne, which is a well known and laid-back beach suburb, which has a main street known for it's cake shops. These places have window displays of cakes of every kind from top to bottom.......Taryn, your eyes would have popped out of your head!!

We went out in Melbourne for our final night and had something to eat and drink with Lisa and Jason in Southbank on the river. We were also joined by two of Jason's brothers Matty and Rob, and his sister-in-law Penny, all lovely people. Melbourne city centre is fantastic and like most great cities is built on the banks of a river, and there's always something happening with regards to street entertainment. At night there are some gas-fed towers about 5 metres high that line the promenade that belch flames on the hour in a display that lasts a few minutes. You'll hopefully see by some of the pictures that it's a very grand and beautiful city.

So, the time came to say our goodbyes to Lisa, Jason, Jake and Mia. Thanks for everything guys....you're now part of the Blog!!

48 days after flying into Sydney and then leaving for Perth without a glimpse of what she has to offer, we found ourselves on a plane heading back for a two week stay, and one thing was for sure - with our first day being New Years Eve, if nothing else...................there was gonna be FIREWORKS!!!!!!

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