Hello Readers,
In the spirit of Christmas I thought I would do a quick post around the festive season here in Brisbane, Australia.
As a child, I was raised in England, UK, where Christmas is cold and wintry, everyone rugs up in a coat with a hat and scarf, and there is a traditional roast dinner spent with family. The Christmas cards have pictures of snowmen, vendors on street corners sell roasted chestnuts from wood-fired, oil-drums under the Christmas lights of Oxford Street, and if you are really lucky… it snows.
As an adult, I moved to Brisbane, Australia, where Christmas no longer felt like Christmas. December falls in the peak of summer here and it is hot! Along side the traditional snow pictured Christmas cards, there are those with Santa in sun-glasses and board-shorts, riding a surfboard. Christmas dinner is a barbecue with king prawns, steak, salad and a cold beer. And much of my family are still in the UK.
Well it has taken many years, but I must say that this year feels more like Christmas than any other year I have spent in Australia. I now live in an inner city suburb, and yesterday I went to the theatre to see ‘A Christmas Carol’. It was a great production and I thoroughly enjoyed it (here is a photo of the set before the show started).
A five minute bus ride took me to the Arts Centre in the heart of Brisbane where the festivities are everywhere. Just look at these photos of the decorated bus I caught (apologies in advance for the poor picture quality).
When the sun goes down the Christmas spirit continues with things to do and see – like the stories projected onto the Town Hall and the Solar Christmas Tree at King George Square (incidentally, a short story by an author friend of mine was turned into a light show for this years Town Hall projection – Well done Mel).
Then there is the street parade among the decorations and Christmas lights along Queen Street Mall, that unfortunately I do not have photos of… yet! And I mustn’t forget the Enchanted Garden at Roma street that is on my list of things to see this year.
So for those of you whose lives have changed this Yule, those experiencing a different world this silly season, those who are missing family and friends, or struggling at this time when everyone is meant to be having fun. Hang in there. It may take a little time, but things will change. The things we appreciate… the things you do today… they will shape the things to be.
And for those who have it all and are loving life right now, don’t be a scrooge – why not do something nice for someone less fortunate and spread the Christmas cheer.
Merry Christmas to all.