Looking Back: Sydney Christmas 2010

Food and Gift-giving

It was so good to have so many of us together in one place, including the Senior Swans, John and Marg.

Cooking and eating in Sydney was like meeting up with lots of old, dear friends--all those ingredients and tastes I hadn't seen for a while.

Nic bought a gigantic fish for Christmas lunch, and there was some quick, last-minute internet research on how to cook the thing! The result was delicious.
Nic and Ben working on how to change the world.

Gift-giving was another focus point of the day; a way to celebrate together.









The ill-fated slinky.

Looking Back: Sydney Christmas 2010

Cousin Fun I know I'm showing very little restraint with the number of family Christmas pictures, but we don't get to see these people very often! Here Imogen looks like she's busy reciting Shakespeare amidst all the activity. Soren and Otto well and truly reconnected after a long separation. Down time. From left: Soren, Otto, Esther, Imogen, Reuben. Beautiful nieces and nephew: Imogen.. ..Paddy.. ..and Marlena with Aunty Sol. Arabella relished her chance to play big sister to cousin Esther.

Looking Back: Sydney Christmas 2010

Christmas night, McCallum Pool

Phil and I didn't actually join the others here on Christmas night, but this harbourside pool at Cremorne Point is one of my favourite spots in Sydney.

The view! Ahh, Sydney, how I miss you...

Three cute little cousins enjoying the evening picnic.

Looking Back: Sydney Christmas 2010

Portraits of a Family

Guin with her mum Kate and four siblings: Benjamin, Yvette, Thomasin and Solveig. The hippo is you Yvette (sorry, it was all I could find). We missed you and Bruce!

Litchfield/Andersons.

Litchfield-Clydes.

The Indooroopillys.

Craig and Bella.

Four Swans (plus one in hiding).

Gramma Kate with Bella and MacKinlay.

Birthday Party

Our friendly lion, looking a bit startled.

Was a bit sad to see him so quickly demolished.

We had good old traditional party games like pass-the-parcel.

Pin the tail on the dragon.

Afternoon Tea. I managed to make mum's fabulous jelly boats that I remember from my own childhood birthday parties. And of course, lots of yummy fresh fruit.

A really simple and fun game--Don't eat Pete!



The excitement reaches fever pitch.

Poor Reuben, usually in the thick of things, was sick with amoeba, and lay feverish on the couch or in his cot all day.

Lots of cuddles from Daddy were in order.

After the party one of Soren's neighbourhood buddies, Abdil, came over and they had fun with his new Bubble Sword.

Soren is 5!

Sweet, sweet boy. Contemplating very cool present from Gramma Kate.

Go Diego Go! DVD in Indonesian from Reuben. For some strange, blessed reason, he prefers his television/DVDs in 'a language I don't understand'. Since the switch to the bi-lingual Kindergarten Kidsland, his language ability and interest has picked up.

Having fun with mask-making kit from Senior Swans.

Proud five year old.




We'll keep working on his maths.

Piano (and Reuben)

We had Philip's electric piano shipped here from Australia, which has made him a very, very happy man, and means we can start Soren on piano lessons soon. It remains to be seen whether Reuben has been endowed with any significant musical talent, but he does enjoy bashing around on it every now and then.

Reaching for the grand heights...

Slightly deranged-looking Reuben. Perhaps he's already been exposed to too much jazz.

His favourite disguise (thanks Aunty Yvette!)

One thing both boys have been endowed with is good hand-eye coordination. Here Reuben expertly negotiates all the tight corners of the house on Soren's bike.