Dreaming of a white Chrissy

I can't believe that Christmas is a week away! The past few months have flown by - it doesn't seem real that we've been living in Australia for three months!

It's also hard to believe it's Christmas because it doesn't feel like Christmas here. At all! The weather has been absolutely amazing except for a few extremely hot or cold days. But nothing about a breezy day in the low 80's says Christmas to me!

My un-Christmas spirit is not for lack of Australia trying, though. There are signs of the holidays all over! Lots of Christmas trees...

Christmas tree in Martin Place - right across from the office

Christmas tree in the Strand Arcade

Outdoor tree in Pyrmont Bay (plus a dangling Santa!)

Tree outside St Mary's Cathedral

The bottom of the Swarovski Christmas tree in the Queen Victoria Building

One huge nativity scene outside St. Mary's Cathedral...

Lots of Santa decorations...

A Santa light post?

Santa on a boat in Pyrmont Bay

And on a lighthouse....

And of course, a Santa crab at the aquarium

All of the shops have beautiful decorations up too.

The Strand Arcade

Lights in the Queen Victoria Buiilding

One of my favorite signs of the season here is the random musicians and bands that pop up everywhere playing Christmas music! It just puts a smile on my face to hear a carol in a place where I least expect it.

This band squished into a corner in the train station - typically the saddest place around, but people were smiling and dancing to the music

These kids were playing in a park near the office, so I could hear them all morning while I worked

And even though it seems really strange to have snow-themed decorations up in the middle of summer, it doesn't seem to stop anyone!

Snowflake decorations in the Met Centre

Samsung is OK with snow too...

Not exactly sure what's going on here...

This is a snowman made out of Legos at the David Jones department store

Maybe the most extreme of all...

Of course, the surest indication of the holiday season is the length of the line at the post office.

We tried to bring some Christmas cheer to our apartment too. A Saturday trip to Ikea netted us some good decorations.

Crackers are big here, so I bought us a pack. I've never done them before, so I'm excited to give them a go on Christmas Day!

I also did some Christmas cookie baking, just to get us in the spirit!

So we have many ingredients for a happy Christmas next week. All we'll need is some Skyping with family & friends, and we'll be set!

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