Carols by Candlelight.

The weekend started well on Friday evening when Brian's cousin, her partner and their son came over to babysit and let us have a night off. It was the best Christmas present they could have given us. We headed for Fremantle to the Little Creatures brewery for some food and delicious beer. How good it felt to be out walking through town on a Friday evening, specially as the World Sailing Championships have been on down in Freo for the last couple of weeks so there was a bit of a buzz. We decided that we haven't done enough as a couple recently (read "nothing at all") and determined to get a babysitter and go out at least once a month for our new years resolution.

For the rest of this weekend we've been keeping busy getting organised for our big camping trip. I say getting organised when I really mean doing random bits such as fitting the roof-rack to the car and figuring out how best to fix all the bikes to the bike rack. I don't feel very much more organised at all but I'm sure it will all come together on Thursday night in a panic as usual.

Then last night we went back to Freo for the second time this week for a wonderful carol concert. Probably the strangest carol concert I've ever seen, coming from the northern hemisphere where we expect to be indoors trying to keep warm. Friends from the school were coming too and had warned us to get there early so we could all find a spot. We queued with our picnic rugs, esky's(cool boxes), and bottles of wine, and then streamed into the gardens of Fremantle Arts Centre, picking up the programme/ word sheet as we went. After an hour or so wholly devoted to eating, drinking and chatting to friends in the warm evening, the sun started to go down and the carols began.

Pic of the stage (taken with my phone so no such features as zoom).

 With traditional carols such as "Silent Night" and "Deck the Halls" mixed with childrens favourites like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer we all had a good sing along, even if we couldn't see the words as it got darker! I was also introduced to an Aussie favourite called "Six White Boomers" which was great fun and was astonished when Alfie sang his heart out in the chorus as he'd learnt it at school!

Children by (battery operated) candlelight!

The evening ended around 8pm and we were just packing up our belongings when "Boom" a firework went off. Clearly the sailing championships were also at an end, and we got full advantage of their tremendous fireworks display for the best part of another half hour.
What a beautiful end to a wonderful evening. And I think I'm starting to feel rather more Christmassy at last.

Christmas time is coming.

I can't believe another year is nearly done, and that this time last year we had barely made the decision to come to Australia. Then we travelled in thick snow to do our shopping and see our families, whereas this year it's been 30 degrees C and we're planning a camping trip for Christmas. The time has flown by (and what a busy year it's been) and we are settling in really quite well, making friends and starting to feel a bit more established. But I have to admit it feels strange to be so far away, and in such sunny climes at Christmas.

The past week or two has been filled with Christmas parties, nativity plays and Santa Claus. First was a couple of weeks ago when Alfie had to dress as an ancient Egyptian for a party at school celebrating the topic they have been looking at this term- ancient times. With a pillowcase, tasseled curtain tieback, a decorated paper plate and lots of kohl eyeliner, I think he made a reasonably convincing figure. He flatly refused a black wig, but did give in on the eye make-up after a bit of work!

Did ancient Egyptians do cheesy grins?

Then last week Brian had to go off to Singapore again, but was due back Wednesday afternoon just in time for Alfie's nativity play and carol service. On the Tuesday we had major storms all day, which threatened to go on on Wednesday too. To my amazement (as one for whom Christmas and bad weather are inseperable and normal) this resulted in the carols being cancelled because it was to have been an outdoor affair. They moved the nativity indoors and ploughed on with it as they felt it would be too disappointing for the children to cancel. In the end there was only one person who was really disappointed- poor Brian whose flight was so delayed after the previous day's disruptions that he was still on the runway in Singapore while his little boys class sang their hearts out on stage. He eventually came in the door around 11.15pm.

Waiting to go on stage..

Next day was Ruairi's turn. He was a shepherd in his 3yr old kindy nativity, and at least B was able to be at this one. We walked in the door and asked each other where he was. I was just starting to think he must have refused to wear the costume and been asked to sit out, when I spied him in full garb. The headdress obscuring his blonde head was amazingly disguising and I really had failed to recognise my own child on first glance! It was lovely to see them all do their bit and sing songs with shy delight- I had wondered if Ru would cope with the pressure!

Proud mummy with her little shepherd boy.

Friday came and first of all Ru had to go to see the optician. Of course Alfie has worn glasses since the age of 2, but Ru never seemed to squint so nobody really worried. Then amongst the other goings on last week, he had his 4 year old jabs and health check (before he starts kindy in the new year), and he seemed to struggle with some of the picture tests. So off we went, only to come out an hour later with a referral to the paediatric opthalmologist and the news that his sight appears to be even worse than his brothers!! Poor old Ru, I always knew he was a bit clumsy (like mother, like son etc.) but he must have been struggling quite a bit. He won't get seen now and get the glasses till the new year,but at least we're onto it and I can give him a hand where needed.
Then Friday afternoon was Alfie's Christmas party. No dressing up this time, just lots of food and a visit from Father Christmas! All the children were given a gift. Alfie got an archaeology set from ancient Egypt (lucky Santa had been watching what they were doing!), and Ru a lovely Christmas book.

Such digging and brushing was done on Saturday morning. Eventually two figurines were revealed- a cat and a bird-god type thing. Alfie was thrilled to bits and went to bed with them under his pillow!
Ru's Christmas gathering was a playdate this morning. Also incorporating a Santa visit [from a different one of Santa's helpers you understand ;o) ] Ru got another book, a really special one about a big green tractor.

 We've already read it several times over and he's pointed out from the back cover that there are 3 more in the same series so I may have to hunt for those too!
Tomorrow is Alfie's last day of pre-primary- basically reception class if he was back home. In 7 weeks time he'll be starting out in uniform as a year 1 and I'll have a tear in my eye I'm sure. Ru will be going into kindy class for 2 and a half days each week, which will suit him very nicely I suspect and I may just find myself feeling more at a loose end than I'm used to. Mind you, by the end of a 7 week school holiday, I may just be delighted with the break!