Good morning everyone. It is morning here - technically. Marg's Man and I are still up after midnight. I just wanted to share with you, a taste of an Aussie Christmas.
It's hot here at the moment. Even after sunset tonight, we were lucky to have a slight breeze off the ocean but it was still very warm. Singlet tops and shorts.
We had our community carols tonight. Rehearsed our item after church this morning. I had about half an hour to grab some lunch (we eat lunch on the church veranda overlooking the ocean) and then have a quick swim. A couple of us were in swimsuits as we sang but I think I was the only one dripping on the carpet.
The water in the sea is so warm you can walk right in. I think the sea temp at the moment is about 22C. I didn't have long to swim, I don't get much time these days. I grab five minutes here or there about every second week. Crazy, when we live so close to the beach.
It's going to be a hot night - it's 26 C now at 12.30 am and will warm up over the next couple of hours. Tomorrow will reach 32 C here by the sea. Inner west of Sydney will hit the 40s.
Food - Sydney summer means boxes of mangoes, fresh passionfruit, fresh pineapple (fried in brown sugar with coconut cream and a splash of rum), strawberries the size of apples and exotic fruits such as papaya, lychees and rambutan. Oh, and star fruit. Then we go and spoil it all by cooking a classic European-style multiple roast dinner with all the trimmings. Bring on the cold seafood buffet!
Tomorrow we take mother in law for her monthly hospital day treatment. It's forecast to be a scorcher of a day, with hopefully a summer thunderstorm breaking the heat briefly by mid-afternoon. I remember those storms from when I was a kid - I would walk home from school and let myself get drenched by the rain, it was the only way to cool off.
Carols tonight went off well. A fun, relaxed night but with a lovely community feel. Some great music too. They asked difficult child 3 to be official photographer and he was busy all evening. In his element.
After we finished tonight husband took mother in law and difficult child 3 home while I drove my mobility scooter at my own pace. easy child 2/difficult child 2 gave me some tiny Christmas lights which I've strung on the handlebars. Looks very festive and they can really see me on the road! Didn't see any deer on the way home - very unusual. Usually we have a herd or two in the village streets every evening.
One day I'd like to experience a winter Christmas, but it will always seem strange to me, I think.