Our First Christmas in Sydney

Well, this is weird. Its 20C outside and overcast. We both woke up at just after six, our usual time, and decided to see if Santa had been. He hadn't - he must never have got our change of address card. Boo.

Breakfast was the usual smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, this year with sourdough toast and a banana, mango and raspberry smoothie. Yum.

Present opening didn't take all that long - Keith got me the Banksy book, a box of Lush goodies and some magnetic office poetry. Our main pressie to each other had been a camping gear extravaganza - and that wasn't really wrappable.

We weren't sure what to do next so we took a run down to Bradley's Head to have a look at the harbour. It was absolutely deserted. After a short period of observation we managed to see the Manly Ferry - but that was about it. Would have been a great day to attempt a swim across the harbour - if it hadn't been so cold, or full of sharks.

We head back up the road to check out the Christmas TV. You know, re runs of A Christmas Carol, Wizard of Oz, Snow filled Disney movies and the like - and what do we have - nothing, zip, nada. Not a single piece of Christmas programming apart from midnight mass from Gdansk or some such place - I mean what the heck? Thankfully we recorded plenty of films to last us plus we got some new DVDs to watch from Keith's mum and my friend Martin. Otherwise it would have been a but grim. Never mind I am sure a bit later we will get the 1994 Vicar of Dibley Christmas special.

More later.......

Keith's Birthday - in pictures

Order of Events.

Cake, presents and champagne on the balcony.

The Maritime Museum then Squires Brewery.

Dinner a Doyle's at Watsons Bay.

Water taxi home to Mosman

Cocktails at the library

We took a walk up to Mosman Library this evening. I had a somewhat overdue book, oops, got a fine, $3.20 and I hadn't even finished it. Keith spotted the Larousse Cocktail book whilst we were there and is now sitting pouring (ha ha) over it seeing what he can create. I think that will mean another trip to Dan Murphys (Booze supermarket) to stock up on goodies.
After the library we walked around to Fourth Corner Providores - which is a lovely Italian deli which is actually huge like a supermarket. It sells flowers, lovely fruit and veg and has a walk in cheese fridge. There is also a huge counter with hams, cheeses, salads and what not as well as fresh breads and a cafe through the back. Its not cheap but it is very good :-).
Just round the corner at Spit Junction is a nice selection of places to eat so we decided to forget cooking and grab dinner out. We settled for the Thai kitchen (there was also Japanese and Vietnamese) and it was a great choice. Crying tiger beef for starters was good rare with a great spicy, sweet, limey dipping sauce. For mains I had fish salad which had crisp snapper, mango, apple, basil, mint, kafir lime leaves, chili and tomato - totally yummy. Keith had a curry of beef and potato in a lovely sweet and creamy sauce. All very tasty and no room for pudding! Another one for our "menu" book - in which we are collecting all our faves to make a foody guide book.
We trudged down the road to home, laden with books and food and have just been sitting out on the balcony for a while with the fairy lights on (solar powered too). I got a new ipod thingy today that lets you connect it wirelessly to the stereo so we have that on. Pretty nifty we can take it in the NEW car too - ha ha, yes I caved and bought one - after all I said about not. We pick it up on Saturday. Its a little silver Yaris. Pretty good deal on it and a nice feeling to buy it cash down. Now we just need a road map and some swag and we'll be off!!