Monday's Pacific sun

Yesterday, the sun came out, and after our early walk, we decided we would drive to the Pacific Fair Mall at Broadbeach to catch up on a few things This is one of the oldest Malls up here, but in our books it has quite a bit of "Mall" personality.

We happily stopped and listened to these Buskers for awhile.

The tree looked magnificent reaching up to the domed ceiling

and Santa was in action under the sun

but he did have a "fan" to assist him with the heat!

Last night's colour

The sky changed colour so quickly last night - the Brig brought my attention (along with my camera) to the sunset - while he was having a quiet "red" on the deck!

It was truly delightful

And within 5 minutes or so

the sun had set - and the sky changed to another outstanding array of colour

Well, the last week was mainly wet, so many floods down through the Eastern states - so sad for many - and more to come. Some farmers have lost all their crops, and others have seen good rain for the first time in years - very mixed feelings all around.

Last Tuesday we had planned to be at Pt. Danger at 7.45 am for the 69th Memorial for Pearl Harbour with the Australian American Association - but unfortunately the incredibly heavy rain put a stop to that.

Wednesday night was our Residents Christmas Party at the Golf Club - very pleasant as usual, ah and we won a couple of raffle prizes - they are under our tree - to be opened on Christmas Eve!!

Kumi, (our neighbour) was first to win a bottle of vino - the "colours" of Christmas.

Basically last week, we just fiddled around in between heavy downpours - did get about 4 walks in (with umbrellas), Saturday morning we drove to Currumbin for a walk around 6 a.m., then onto the Palm Beach Farmers markets, and stocked up on fresh pasta, vegies etc. got home at 9.00 am, and the skies really opened up for the rest of that day. Yesterday, when the sun sort've came out to shine, we cleaned up the deck, and cousin Ails joined us for lunch, before going to visit her Mum - great to catch up with her.

Just love this time of year

Kids, Santa has started work - first with a wonderful big smile!

Well, it is time to start setting up for that wonderful Festive Season, even for those little tots, it's the time of year that I absolutely love and always have, though I must say I do really miss spending it in New England with its wonderful winter charm.

ooooo

All that aside we, and the Kiwi grandkids are in the warm Southern Hemisphere, so it's time to get going - imagining snow or looking at photos of the Pommy relos homes right now can also help!!!!

Ethan and Immy all dressed up to decorate their tree!

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"I - Daniel Frank"- the new one, have my Christmas Stocking and my Santa hat

And I am ready to roll and lovin' whatever is happening! Promise Santa - I am the good one, check our Miss Immy, but she really loves me, and big Bro, Ethan, he is a protective one!! HE IS WATCHING THOUGH! ******** Miss Immy has some other important role - just a little bit of play as a special summer surf girl and Australian Lifesaver!

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AND IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

on this same day

Cousins Emms and Jack enjoy their pre-Christmas world in Sheffield

Nearly time for their Grandparents to set up their huge tree. In 2007 I had the pleasure of dressing the Faulkner's tree in the Barn - with Dan (Emm and Jack's father), lending a hand for the tall parts.

Emms with the tree, she was just a tiny tot in '07

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In short it is still raining here (7 inches in the last 5 days), - but I am happy with our Festive tree which has filled my time during this wet day, and the Brig has been reading. So all is okay.

Pretty colours around North Yorkshire

Well, we have just turned on the TV to watch "the Ashes" and Australia is the team being dessimated by the heat in Adelaide (32 degrees) and those English bowlers and fielders - 3 runs only, while losing 3 wickets. Of course we have already received 3 emails from a certain English relo - one email per wicket!! **** And it is still raining.! NOW I am going back to my photos and Frank is going back to painting a ceiling. To keep in the run of things I might stay with the Poms! I found some delightful photos of North Yorkshire taken at the end of November, before the big dump of snow arrived - Love some of the colours.

Stamford Bridge area

Knavesmire

The sky is so blue

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Lovely reflections above

and below

Below- Museum Gardens, York

So pretty dressed in white

And below is one from west of those above - in Lancashire!

Ball Grove Park in Colne, Lancs.

First day of Winter in South Yorkshire

And another 2 feet of snow

***** takes over in the Courtyard of the Faulkner's Barn and its furniture!!

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The following photos around Sheffield on this first day of Winter were taken by Trevor.

I pinched them off his Blog - Ta Trev!

Sheffield has over two million trees, more per person than any other city in Europe - 61% of the city is green space!

It is built on seven hills, and is near the confluence of five rivers.

Love these little walking lanes

Can you imagine how Christmas lights would look here?

And it's still raining downunder,

- but of course we hope the sun shines very bright and the air is really hot in Adelaide tomorrow for the start of "The Ashes" 2nd Cricket match - need some "heat" to fend off those English Batsmen - a couple of good bowlers for OZ could help!!

30th November in Sheffield

I have just received these photos from Frank's brother in law and sister (Kevin and Margaret) of their home yesterday in Norton, near Sheffield in England.

Front door and courtyard of their converted Barn

A resident Robin, there are also "plump" black pheasants a roamin'!!

Photos of the back of the property blanketed in snow

Entrance to the Church next door

Their car parking - Kevin has just replaced his 2 wheel drive Merc. with an all wheel drive VW Tiguan (first car on left) to cope with the icy roads - just in time - it has just been tested in these conditions and is excellent- what ice and snow!

Still think the snow looks wonderful, 'specially around Christmas - though last day of the Autumn is a bit early!!!

And inside the Barn, Emms and Jack make pancakes with their grandmother Margaret. ******** In the meantime the East Coast of Australia has had the wettest spring ever, and now on the first day of Summer, it's raining again - oh well.