Pre- and Post-Christmas Fun

Date: 09 January 2006 08:19:09

As most know, the big event was my Chrismation into the Orthodox Church. Photos and descriptions are on my last few December entries.

You may remember also this post, where I described the trip to Berry and back through the Southern Highlands with my friend Nila, who came back from London to upgrade her Working Visa -- she'll be heading back in a few weeks. The photo on the right is us having at the café in Berry.

The photo on the left is us at Fitzroy Falls, a beautiful waterfall in the Morton National Park.

The Friday before my Chrismation I went, as I have each year for the past three years, to The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra's Noël Noël (PDF). Wondrous, as always: carols ranging from The Coventry Carol to See Amid the Winter's Snow to O Come All Ye Faithful to Stille Nacht; and various choral pieces, including Allegri's wonderful Misere and several works by Bach. All were wonderful, but the counter-tenor, Tobias Cole, I found particularly moving: a beautiful voice.

After the concert I went to meet some people from church for our annual Christmas dinner outing: they are a wonderful group of people to spend time with and a great time was had by all. The food at I-Thai is heartily recommended: as is the location: King Street Wharf, right next to Darling Harbour. As well, it turned out, it was the date of our parish's four year anniversary: thanks be to God, and many, many years to our parish!

On Boxing Day I went to my friend Alexis' place. She lives rather close to the Tasman Sea: it would be harder to live closer as her backyard is a cliff which backs on to it.

While we had a wonderful lunch, we watched the yachts in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race start their voyage to Tasmania and talked the afternoon away. A very pleasant day, especially as I was introduced to a Pineapple-Coconut juice drink...mmmmmm. The next day I was at the supermarket buying a carton!

New Year's Eve was spent at Frank's place: again eating, talking and watching the fireworks from Frank's apartment balcony. He lives about 25 kilometres south of the City: the fireworks were very clear from his place. We also played Rat Race, a board-game which was rather fun. Basically, you get a business and have to reach a certain amount of money. You start as Working Class and can only move up to Middle or Upper if you land on a marriage square! It was especially fun as it was a tad complicated and we couldn't find the rules. It wasn't until we'd gone around several times, that we realised there was a Monopoly-like "Collect $200" that we'd been missing. We were wondering how we'd get more money. A great night in with great friends.

I also caught a few movies. On New Year's Eve day I saw Mrs Henderson Presents; on New Year's Day (when it was 45 degrees C) I took refuge and saw The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; and on the 27th of December I went with Singing Semele and her sister and brother-in-law to see Russian Dolls.

All absolutely fantastic movies! It was, of course, wondrous to see Semele again and to meet her sister and brother-in-law. Russian Dolls was very amusing, and I even bought The Spanish Apartment, its predecessor, after seeing it. I loved it too. Mrs Henderson Presents was also very amusing and very enjoyable: with Dame Judi Dench how could it not be? It was also interesting to hear Judi use a few "choice" words that I'd never expected to pass her lips! But a great movie and a great, true, story. Narnia was fantastic: the children are perfectly cast, the special effects and cinematography were breathaking, and it was wonderful to escape to the land of Narnia.

All in all, a very enjoyable time.