Boxing Day

Hey... it follows on from a previous metaphor... who knew?

Bondi Beach... initially, I wasnt 100% as to what all the fuss was about... it was just another beach. Then i noticed the sand was pretty much pure white, the coastline beautiful and the ocean completely clear.

It aint a bad place to be.

Also, a surreal way to spend the festive period... but you already knew that.

I'm almost starting to maybe miss home a little... another week and a half here... but as well as the home-pangs, only slight pangs i must say.. i'm also getting flashbacks (not the creepy losing your mind kind... but just... flashbacks) of when I landed here... memories which are just as valid (I have no short term memory, as many of you know... I remember your birthdays really, its just, I don't appear too)....

I'm going to be gutted when I leave here... I'm almost missing it already....

All in all, i really don't sound content... but I couldn't be more content...

apparently I'm a study in contradictions!

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Christmas Morning

Kids and adults, all loved it.

So many presents I couldn't count were opened by the little ones, all, almost without fail to choruses of "wow!"... more from the little one, but again, some from the elders too...

The bears are well loved =)

Anyway,

Christmas continues, we're wathing Dora!.... wow!

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Tharsh's Aussie Xmas Gift List

I bring word from Santa (its true, he exists, he even let me have his oreos and milk)... he isn't visiting anyone in Russel Sq this year... apparently they're all terrible people. Fleet street aren't much better, apparently, lazy asses who don't deserve gifts... I tried reasoning with the fat man, but these religious types, so stubborn! =p

Right, to business. Firstly, I'm going to cover my back.... the list that follows doesn't include everyone... or even try to. Its 00:22 xmas morning, I'm very much bored, and the names that gifts that follow are more a stream of consciousness than anything else.

As such, any bitching about 'gifts' received or tragically not-received will be met with a short jab followed by a vicious uppercut Mayweather style... or an apology, one or the other.

Sathyai... you probably get the only sincere gift.. so sincere i'm not entirely sure what i'd get you. (it isnt something that comes naturally... the whole 'sincerity' thing...) Regardless of which, i'd get you an air-ticket out here if i could... this place, you've just got to see!

Daryl... I'll bring you over some fresh concealer

Gurj... A dominoes foccacia based pizza

Vishal... I'll bring you over a bag of sweets (never accept 'em from strangers kids!)

Nikhil... I'll buy you a box to present the lady to keep your cohones in =)

Az... I'll buy you a microscope =p

Anam... I'll introduce a little Australian twang to your already cosmopolitan accent

Abi... That rabbit you've always wanted... cut up, steamed and served with mashed potatoes

Lara... A pair of socks

Sonia... Prince's greatest hits

Khiloni... A blackberry (its always online!)

Ro... A key to Vish's flat

Riz... Some high heels

Zak... A sense of humour and some ff talent =)

That's all for my festivities this year... hope y'all and all that i've neglected... have a MERRY/HAPPY Christmas

Have a glass of rum with a drop of egg-nog for me!

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Countdown to Christmas

I ask you.... what is the most cliched way a British tourist in Oz could spend his Christmas eve...

That's right... we went to a BBQ =).

Incidentally, the first BBQ of my trip, probably the last.... strangely, I've been filling up on rice and curry... sleeping in a room which acts as a shrine to Sai-Baba must be having an effect.... no, wait, thats clearly not true, I'd eat a steak in here nightly if steak was readily on the menu... but even so, rice and curry... thats cultural progress.

It goes without saying we spent the day basked in sunshine and late 20degree heat... its not a bad life.

Christmas morning as i type... I've done my Santa bit... written a note for the kiddies... eaten their oreos (as any good 'mama' (uncle) must!) ... even delivered a couple of presents for the oldies amongst the family. The kiddies are getting Hamleys teddy bears *thank u Abi.... that sheep is on my shopping list...* and the oldies gifts range from t-shirts to perfume.

Anyway, I'm bored, and high on oreo sugar so I'm gonna write out some xmas gifts for you all.... i'm saving some cash this year! (bar the 2k or so i've spent when i consider this trip... but i'm not one to worry about mere technicalities)

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Last Few Days

Superficially, lounging around Sydney, gardening, babysitting, shoppnig and generally chilling may appear boring and a waste of time when you're half way around the world.

It isn't =)

Went to Sydney market the other day, went into town with my cousin at a horrible time in the morning (he was going to work) and i explored half of the city by myself. Sydney is an incredible place. The fact they've managed to build a major city (not that major yet, but its growing) on a harbour baffles me. The fact the place remains so clean (again, not a major consideration for most, but for those of you who know and sympathise with my compulsions will know why this is important!) is also incredible. The 30degree heat was also quite nice.

The following few days up until this morning (Xmas eve) have been spent spending time with my cousin (the one im staying with) and her kids. They're in a few of the pics online, not many, I dont put photos up of family. Kids are so cute, and my cousin is extremely easy to talk to. I'll leave it at that...

I've just explained to my elder niece that Santa is in fact real (she asked). Apparently nobody can hear him because he is very quiet at night and only one person gets to see him if they are lucky. He is quiet because he doesn't want to talk to too many people, so he doesn't waste time... he's got a lot of work to do tonight after all! (not bad off the top of my head i thought =p)

Anyway, Merry Christmas to all, hope Santa *ha!* brings you all that you desire

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