So it's Christmas Eve and i'm in Narara, Australia. As we spent last year with my family it only seemed appropriate that we spent this Christmas with Matt's relatives. Combined with his Aunt's 50th birthday it only seemed right that we take a 2.5 week holiday. But let me start at the beginning just over a week ago.

Thursday night (the 13th) i decided to take the holidays in to my own hands and have a Christmas party. We had about 10 people around (maintaining the max for our apartment) and had Christmas Carols, drank (i even made eggnog!), ate nibbles and drank more. It was really lovely. Something i think i feel really blessed for is having a great group of friends in my life. The other bit that i tried to touch upon in my last entry is that i feel as though i've been lacking the Christmas spirit in my life. I guess i never realised how much of Christmas came from my parents and now that they aren't with me this Christmas i'm forced to make the magic happen for myself. I suppose it's just really growing up. In any event i decided to go to work for a half a day on Friday morning on sheer principle. Didn't accomplish much but i did manage to get my Christmas gift (nice plates, dips, crackers and table cloth), confirm that i was getting a Christmas bonus (a huge deal for someone who isn't a permanent employee) and find out that i am shortlisted with one other candidate for an internal position i've applied for at work. That afternoon we headed out to Sydney and were met by Matt's cousin Jo (and her mates). Saturday was a big party for Matt's aunt Karen who turned 50. Everyone has come to town (relatives from the UK and Ireland even!) so with 14 people around the house it's a bit crazy. It was a lovely party and i had a great time (i will post pictures shortly). Sunday was spent recovering and Monday we went to the Reptile park (snakes, koala's, kangaroo's, etc). Tuesday we headed off to Adelaide to stay with Matt's other relatives-his aunt Jenny and Rod and cousin's Alex and Ali. As we did Adelaide last year this year was really about seeing the family and between Tuesday and Sunday we also saw Matt's dad Peter and his brother Sean.

On a side note i love that there is a blurred line between the zoo and reality in Australia. Things like kangaroos, koala's and cockatoo's that you see in the zoo we saw in the wild in the backyards of various people's houses.

Sunday (yesterday) we flew back to Sydney and took the train home. Some really nice scenery around here. We spent the rest of the day soaking up the sun, riding the waves and playing some beach cricket (i know - me play cricket, who would have thought?)

Which brings us back to today, Christmas Eve. I spent the day shopping with Matt's cousins Andrew and Lisa. I've never left shopping so late and i can see why not! A bloody nightmare! Matt and i had our turn at cooking dinner tonight (veggie lasagna and salads and garlic bread and strawberry cheesecake). Now it's just the waiting until tomorrow.

I think i'm struggling a bit. I want it to be a bit more festive but and i'm not sure if it is just that it's not my family (although they are so welcoming it's practically like it's my family (with just a bit more craziness)) or if it's being where it's warm and having spent the day at the beach and not freezing my bum off and eating mashed potatoes and opening presents on Christmas Eve.

In any event i wish all of you out there reading this a very, very Merry Christmas. I think one of the reasons i really am into Christmas is that i think it's about hope, and i feel like i have a lot of that for the world.

So Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. :-)