Holidays

How do you holiday?

Apparently it's an Art. With a capital 'A'.

The art of balancing fun time, down time, time with the various people you can't see when you're not on holidays. I did some thinking about 'true re-creation' last summer and managed to find a nice balance (after several false starts!) The key: getting the needed rest from work and engaging in true re-creation, that which would refresh and re-energise. Travel, as I've discovered of late, is optional.

So far this summer has been filled with - Christmas!

Spending time with a cherished family from whom I borrow my Christmas traditions. So much love :) 

Christmas shopping with a dear old friend. Laughing over 'bad photos' is the best!

The Choir singing at our Christmas Eve midnight service.

Hearing from a favourite steadfast preacher.

It was lovely having mum and my Aunty (who lives down the road) stay for Christmas and join in on the festivities. Mum especially enjoyed the 2012 ET-esque 'glowstick' for our annual rendition of 'Silent Night'. 

 

It's also been fun being a tourist in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, where I'm living for the summer. A change is as good as a holiday, they say. Why not take a change as a holiday? 

Smooth Moves - said no one ever!

So I moved house lately. When I told a neighbour in the lift, he shared a common thought:

"Oh moving's the worst"

Yea, it was pretty manic. It felt that way especially whenever I chanced upon the thought in my mind in the lead up. But boy was I thankful for good help from a friend (a self-titled 'underdog') who guessed (accurately) that I didn't have much idea what I was doing, let alone manpower. So he, very kindly, turned up with my brother, a ute and shared a few tips. Boy, was I thankful.

Did you know you can ask your local supermarket for their used boxes? This was his tip and a revelation to me. And meant I didn't have to spend anything on packing boxes and could keep going back when I needed more. Sure, I ended up with a bit of a reputation at the local Woolies, but what's that for convenience?

(thankful also for my former life as a box packer) 

Now I'm living with a Chinese-Egyptian family I met through their take-away shop. When I was working on campus, their chicken naan was the cheapest option when I forgot to bring food from home. I was quite the regular - now I live with them. Well, I guess some might call that usual... :p