Christmas Greetings from Downunder.

(This was filmed on Burleigh Beach in the iconic Burleigh Barrel waves off Burleigh Heads, my part of the world)

Fun, sun and lots of happiness sent to all my friends and blogging buddies.

May this season be filled with peace and harmony where ever you are in this big world of ours.

Cheers mates, and best wishes for 2015…

The day before Christmas…

And the shops are crowded. Is it all merry and bright? Or is the stress of last-minute shopping fraying nerves and stretching budgets.

We are now home and it is 2 weeks since we were in Sydney. I can only imagine how that grand old lady of Australian shopping emporiums “The Queen Victoria Building” is today resounding to the hustle and bustle. It was relatively calm when we walked around, the frantic build up had not started. Do most people leave the shopping to the last-minute? But the tree towered 4 stories in glistening, bauble bedecked splendour. Santa listened to whispered requests in his throne room and 2 weeks ago people still had smiles on their faces.

I wonder if she is amused, as she presides over the building with her name.

 

 

Since first opening in 1898, the QVB has had a mercurial history. Designed by George McRae, it replaced the original Sydney Markets and was named to honour the monarch’s Diamond Jubilee. Elaborate Romanesque architecture was chosen for the grand building, which housed a concert hall, coffee shops, showrooms, warehouses and a wide variety of tradespeople. Over many decades, the concert hall became the city library, offices proliferated and many tenants moved in.

Drastic Art Deco ‘remodelling’ occurred during the 1930s to accommodate the main occupant – Sydney City Council. From 1959 to 1971, the QVB faced near-demolition. A massive restoration project was given the green light and, in 1982, Ipoh Garden was awarded the restoration project and a 99-year lease. The fully restored Queen Victoria Building reopened her doors to Sydneysiders and visitors alike in 1986. A major refurbishment in 2009 restored her even further. Today the QVB stands in all her glory, testimony to the original vision for the building and the superb craftsmanship of the artisans who put it all back together again.

 With 4 levels of boutique style shops, cafes and coffee shops situated around the open centre atrium with the Christmas tree dominating every floor, it is a very different shopping experience from the large modern style shopping centres.

Beautiful stained glass windows illuminate the stairwell between floors

I don’t think this baby really knows what Christmas is all about yet…

Just a minute is that Santa I see making his get-away with one of his helpers????

Christmas is almost over and I hope all my friends in the blogging community have a wonderful time, however it is celebrated. I will raise a glass to you all and wish you interesting and happy times in 2014 and I look forward to another year of following your posts.

 

 

Christmas in Sydney : Lingering Look at Windows

David Jones is an institution in Sydney.  It is not only Australia’s oldest department store, but also the oldest department store in the world still trading under its original name. It is fondly known as DJ’s by the locals.

It has traded for 175 years and a very special tradition is the decorating of the Christmas windows each year. Of course we had to see them, so I would like to share with you the wonder and joy of the children, and the adults, as they crowd around to gaze at this beautiful display.

All ages enjoy the display

But it is especially the children that love it most

It is difficult to capture photos because of the reflections. They are also animated and in this window they are busily preparing Christmas dinner.

A choir sings Christmas carols

This boy captures his own special moment

 

This is a street scene from the 1920’s all the figures busily moving around

It had to have Santa busily preparing parcels

Finally a beautiful ballroom scene with the dancers twirling around

I would like to wish all my friends and followers in this marvellous WordPress community a very happy Christmas.

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A special thank you and best wishes to Dawn of “The day after” for giving us this weekly challenge. Take a look at her blog and maybe you would like to join in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adelaide couch surfing

Adelaide couch surfing, originally uploaded by gypsy woman1.

10 years ago before Marion bought this house it was a plumbers supply shop. Now the shop area has been stripped of all the fittings and one end of the large area changed into a work area and the other end is a buddhist shrine.

The living area behind the shop is large and comfortable, so Marion has plenty of places for couch surfers to stay. Jack is sleeping on a very comfortable mattress on the floor in Buddhas room. I am sleeping in Matilda.

Jacks sleeping quarters with buddha

Matilda with the christmas cards up and flowers from Marion

Seasons Greetings…

I found this very attractive heading by following a link from <timetheif> a blog I like to follow as she gives such a lot of interesting and helpful hints. This one was a blog called “blog head guy”

Being born in England this scene reminds me of Christmas as a child. It is how I think of Christmas.  As I now live in Australia, Christmas is a whole world away from snow and log fires and hot roast turkey and Christmas puddings. We will be having prawns and salad followed by fruit and ice cream, but it is still the same in spirit as we all gather together with our families and friends and count our blessings for the health and happiness we share.

House for rent…

Our house surrounded by tropical garden.

We now move on to the last major job on      “the list”. Finding tenants…

We had an ad in the local paper on Saturday and had a few people come round to look, but for various reasons no one decided it was for them. Maybe too close to Christmas and a quiet time for house moving so we will try again in January. Still plenty of time…

Of course there are still a lot of smaller jobs on the “to do list”. They will all be put on hold till after the Christmas season.

We wish all our friends that read this “blog” and also anyone that drops in for a visit and a read a very happy and peaceful Christmas.

Now it is off to the shops for all that last minute buying…

Christmas Lunch…

This is the beginning of the Christmas season. The weather is hot and steamy and I always find it very difficult to get into the spirit of Christmas having been born in England and my childhood memories are of snow and cold and roaring fires and always wondering how Santa was going to get down the chimney without getting burnt…

But suddenly when you are among friends that brings on the spirit of Christmas and good cheer. Today it was the “retired on line” computer club’s Christmas lunch and 101 members enjoyed a social time together. Here in Australia Christmas is sun and fun and lazy days at the beach and sharing BBQ’s with friends.

The lunch was at Danny’s restaurant at the Tweed Heads Golf Club. It is amazing value at $14.00 per person and a huge selection from roasts to salads, chinese and seafood followed by deserts. Take a look at the link I have put in.

Thank you Jack for all the happy photos you have taken to remind us of this occasion.

Tomorrow I must start writing and sending Christmas cards….