Christmas in Sydney

Ok, it has been a long time now since I posted. Mainly because I've been lazy and partially because I've been working a lot lately. So what has been happening I hear you scream? Well, I met my aunt Beda when she was over. That was great to see family again. We went out to dinner and a few drinks. Just a bit of craic in general. Me and the lads started our new jobs with Ericsson. Its going well. It is fairly interesting and we are getting exposure to lots of the mobile network which we might not have gotten otherwise. Our contract finishes in January but at the moment it looks like we will have it extended. They seem to be pretty impressed with us in here.

The house is now full. Jonny's brother Ray, along with the other DubsDownUnder.net people, Dec and Fitz, have joined us. Ian's friend Paddy is also staying with us for a while sothe house is good and busy and good craic. We have the house all pimped out now, along with the tackiest Christmas tree. Bling ***. Looks like someone vomited tinsel on it. The lads met the "Three C's" in Thailand so they have been around a couple of times too and been out with us a couple of times. Its good to have a bit of a group now. 2 more of their friends then spent a couple of nights with us. We tried to do a 12 Pubs of Christmas but we got lazy and just stayed in one pub.

As for Christmas, unfortunately I was working Christmas day. I missed out on the savage dinner the lads cooked. They kept me some though which was savage. Christmas day itself didn't seem like too bad of a one to miss. There is no hype here like home. The Aussies are not a festive bunch. We did go out to PJ O'Briens for Christmas Eve and St. Stephen's night. 2 very good nights out.

In the lead up to Christmas the weather has been shocking. I've been told its the wettest December they have had, in Sydney anyway, for about 30 years. Because one wet summer a year isn't good enough for me. Thankfully in the last week the weather has gotten really good. Its crazy hot here. So 2 days ago, we went to Bondi beach. It was mental. I've never seen so many people on a beach before. It was mobbed. Was nice though to get to the beach. It was actually the first time I've been on Bondi beach since I've gotten here, unusual for an Irish person.

So the New Years Eve Celebrations are starting soon which should be great. The fireworks this year are set to be the biggest yet. Should be good. If I can get somewhere to see it from. I'm in work until 9. Also, just heard that there is a massive storm heading this way too. Frazer Island is being evacuated but hopefully it wont hit us before New Years.

Until next time...

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(ASCII translation :- Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Just because I haven't made a nerdy joke in a while)

The tree is in Queen Victoria Building. Its 3 stories high. This was taken from the second floor. Monster of a thing

One of hundreds maybe thousands of Swvorsky Crystals... or howver you spell it

We spent one of the days after Christmas on Bondi Beach. It was mental busy and really hot

Jonny's brother Ray has joined us with 2 of his friends. He was also at Bondi.

Paddy is a friend of Ian's from home who is with us now. He's relaxing on the beach after surfing

Dec travelled with Ray. He's the senior gentleman of the house

The lads met the "Three C's" in Thailand, who are also in Sydney. This is Claire.

Clionadh makes it 2 of the C's. Catherine is the third but the only nice pic I took of her, she deleted... spoil sport

Jill and John stayed with us for 2 days after Christmas. I love the reflection in this but the focus is a bit off. Would have been great otherwise

John doing his Johnny Bravo impression!