A belated Merry Christmas to all my faithful readers (and the unfaithful ones). We’ve had a busy time. On the 19th it was our turn to host the neighbours’ Christmas party which was fun, but a fair bit of work – tidying up the garden and putting tables and chairs outside on the patio.
We had more than 20 people to feed – they brought starters and desserts and we supplied barbecued snags, steaks, spuds and salads.
All went well and nobody starved! It was a multicultural affair as usual. We have a couple originally from Serbia who have been in the street for ages, another couple from South Korea, lots of dinky-di Aussies and some new neighbours from Guangzhou in China. They were a brother and a sister studying here at Macquarie University and another sister visiting with their Mum and Dad.
Selfie at Train Works
They don’t speak much English so I dusted off my Cantonese and (with the help of Google translate) we got on quite well.
On Christmas Day, we went out for lunch (for a change) to the Novotel Hotel in the Olympic precinct. There was lovely food there and a great atmosphere with loads of families having fun. Santa came along, but we didn’t sit on his lap.
I got some new fishing gear for Christmas which will help in my quiet contemplation of the beach and sea, and possibly enable me to catch a fish. (But remember, it’s called fishing, it’s not called catching!) Jan got a ukulele which will not help with quiet contemplation. She also got a micromotor tool to use for grinding and polishing jewellery. At full speed it sounds just like a dentist drill!
The Tin Hare
We’ve spent a couple of lazy days watching test cricket.
Today we ventured out with a trip to a railway museum at Thirlmere south of Camden, an hour and a quarter away. It calls itself Train Works – Australia’s newest and biggest rail experience. It has lots of old NSW Railways engines and rolling stock in amazingly good condition. A few of the steam engines are in working order and are used to pull trains on special outings.
We went on a little trip on a Railmotor – a 1926 two-car diesel-engined train used on branch lines. It was a fun rattly journey in the beautifully restored quirky vehicle. Railmotor CPH18 is known as the Tin Hare.
Jan was able to make use of another quirky Xmas gift – a selfie stick. When in New York we saw loads of tourists taking selfies with sticks, so of course she had to give it a try!
Hotel for Christmas lunch was the Novotel ( much posher than the Mercure).