The Holiday Season Wind Down.


Reading through my blog posts from Decembers past, I realise how busy I usually am at this time of the  year.  My December posts have previously been full of travel, shopping, food and the constant refrain of my so looking forward to winding down my life from Christmas until New Years.  It’s been a little different this year in that I’ve been in holiday mode since November – pottering with occasional bursts of nesting.  Thankfully, it seems that the rest of the neighbourhood has finally caught up with me and started their collective holiday season wind down.

The lead up to the Christmas break may be frantic at the shops but in the suburbs, it’s all about slowing down and easing into a week or so of good food and relaxing times with family and friends.  Ladders lean on front walls as the finishing touches are added to roof top Christmas light displays.  Cheeky Santas on rope ladders are draped from second floor balconies because accessing the house this way is much more efficient than taking a chance with the roof and finding it without a chimney to slide down. White wicker reindeer inhabit front lawns, nibbling the grass by day and illuminated by fairy lights at night.

Sadly, this Krispy Kreme vehicle was in the ‘hood for the holidays and not home delivery….

Relatives from interstate arrive to stay and cars with number plates from across the country line the streets.  The sounds from the street change to reflect this.  Lively chatter and laughter punctuated with the sounds of strollers and skate boards take over from the usual horn honking and groans of passing vehicles.  Barbecues seem to smell that much better when you’re safe in the knowledge that you don’t need to wind things up early in order to be ready for work the next day.

With school holidays starting, things at my local pool get a little more lively and festive.  I am greeted at the pool’s entrance by Santa and the swim school’s official duck mascot.  Swimming classes which are usually run with military precision (but filled with laughter anyway) have ended and it’s the bouncing water slide that the children now line up for.

At home, pretty much everything has been taken care of.  Gifts have been wrapped and distributed, there isn’t a spare surface that hasn’t already felt the benefit of a Christmas knick knack.  Evening drinks for me at the moment involve sparkling grape juice if I’m missing my champagne flutes of bubbles especially keenly.

Or good old Diet Coke and lemon when something with ice is required.

Does anyone remember when pre mixed Diet Coke With Lemon was available in Australia?  At the time, it did mess with my mind but I’m actually keen for its return.  Ditto that experiment with vanilla that the Coca Cola Company inflicted upon us.

As I end this post, I’d like to take the opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a Very Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year.  Eat, drink and be merry.  Oh, and don’t forget the post Christmas sales.

Take care and stay safe!


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