auld lang syng? no worrries.

as with all good parties, the atrocious pics outweight the decent so in the interests of retaining a social life, i am only posting a select snapshot. we start with zara posing with the champers and the hit of the party season..the coaster shaped like a thong.


and for the poms reading this, a coaster shaped like a flip flop.




the till girls plus interloper (l-r: me, renae, michelle, zara, alicia and baby mia).






dale standing up for dads everywhere and customises his thong (flip flop) for a handy beer coaster.








need i say more...c'mon, lets get this party started?

Let it blow?

having had such fun at christmas we returned for round two at new year. this time however, we didn't manage to be so close to our adopted christmas family..we had to camp up by the lagoon. as you can see, the views sucked.



we went up to the lookout over back beach and it was very blustery. you can see the surf behind me is very whipped up. i, of course, am enhancing your viewing experience with a comedy 'gosh i'm getting blown away' moment.


check out caitlin's mad hair. the wind was very high and some poeple did abandon the camping grounds as their tents were getting blown away. we hung around though, never ones to miss a party!

let it snow?

finally, santa was here, having worked caitlin into a frenzy over the preceding weeks. i should really have got a 'before' picture to compare with this one after caitlin had ripped through the pile like a hyperactive locust.



just to really welcome in the aussie christmas, we decided to cook our bacon on the barbie!






and later on we joined the extended Till Family for a full on christmas lunch of varying roast meats and veggies. crackers were pulled, hats worn, jokes told and presents were given. it went a long way to easing some of the strangeness of the day.



and then, just for you guys back home, here we are with christmas drinks on the beach! it may comfort all of you to know that since about 20mins after this pic was taken, it has poured with rain till the date of writing this blog (18th jan). but hey, we are on the beach and it's sunny and it's christmas and i'm drinking champagne!

clouds rolling in, sun setting behind them. i've taken this pic from the verandah of the beach house, looking over the road to the camp site where we have pitched our own tent. just beyond the line of trees is the sea. it's all a bit different from Easter Road.

So Here It Is...

i know, i know, a bit late...but better late than never right?






here, i'm memorialising our first xmas decs going up and marvelling at still how odd it feels to pin up fairy lights, set out the nativity scene and decorate the tree while the sun and heat flood around you. caitlin helped with the tree which may go some way to explaining why it's covred with every single decoration we brought with us from the UK. ok, i am exaggerating, we did manage to leave some baubles in the box but only after a protracted negotiation/explanation process with our artistic director.

caitlin models the santa hat/beach dress look whilst regaling us with her strange cry of ashaggala which she always makes when she pulls this face. it's been going on for about 2 years now and we are no closer to solving the mystery.




caitlin was very happy to see the nativity scene again (thanks, jean, a hit again). strict rules were needed to stop all the various characters migrating round the house and inevitably out to the garden. i didn't feel that the three shepherds would benefit much from a night in the tomato patch!

Santa Claus Is Coming to Pre-School

on a sunny warm afternoon, it was time for the pre-school christmas party. Please note the suitably bedecked emu garden statues...

We had the obligatory raffles - dear lord, these aussies so do love their raffles...can't really knock though as james and i have done well to date from them, winning toiletries, chocolates, t-shirts and yesterday, james scooped a goody bag from the local petrol station! and a $10 book voucher. after that, the kids all lined up to sing us a selection of party and christmas songs, Caitlin getting right into it as you can see. for those of you thus inclined, you can see a selection of little vids chronicling the songs, the folder presentation and the main event of santa's arrival here




there is an old family story of my impatience one year, believing i had been overlooked by santa during a primary school party..i stood up and loudly reminded santa of my existence. well, watching my daughter's anxiety(and the petted lip protrude) grow as the presents were handed out and none came her way made me reflect upon that and the miracle of hereditary traits. however, santa discovered her present before Caitlin fulfilled her destiny.










there is always next year.