It's Christmas in Sydney

Just spent $750 at the liquor store, decorated a ridiculously overpriced twig they have the nerve to call a Christmas tree, and topped off the day at the beach. Merry Christmas Sydney style!

Some items from the "Only in Australia" files

Having just passed the one year mark here in Australia, we've pretty much settled into daily life and things seem pretty normal now after a year of firsts and surprising differences.  However, there are still things that strike me almost daily as being things I would not be likely to ever see at home in Boston.  Here's a sample:

Driving home from the gym at 7:00am and seeing this

Walking to the bus in the morning next to this scene

Hannah catching a wave

Corporate offsite meeting at a beachside campground

Swimming lessons at an actual beach instead of in a pool filled with pee

Weather that looks like the world is about to end (sorry for the poor photo quality, I took this through the window in my office)

Bats, bats, everywhere bats

If you thought Americans like to start Christmas early, consider that this picture was taken on Nov 20th.  At least we wait until after Thanksgiving.  Decorations have been up in Sydney for at least a month already.

Directions for how to get ready for your next Pap.  I don't even know what to say about this.  Surely this is not necessarily an Australian thing, but the degree to which you have to be open-minded, totally non-PC, and willing to say things that might embarrass others in order to display something like this truly is part of the national character here.

A commitment to environmental awareness like I have never seen anywhere else.

Road signs that speak for themselves

Breathtaking view, after breathtaking view

Just scrolling through the camera roll on my phone

- Electrocuted bat in the power lines outside our house (time to avoid walking home from the bus at dusk which I found out the hard way the other night)
- Best night club vending machine ever. Your move high heels.
- "Our" Jacaranda tree (actually just the one that leans into our yard from the mansion next door)
- Abbey's new environmentally-friendly, non-Dora lunchbox (because Dora is evil now that preschool friends have shunned her). Abbey told me it was "the best day of her life" after I bought this for her. That's a low bar, Abbey, low low bar.
- Christmas and birthday lists. Illegible? Check. Full of things they either don't need (purple licorice) or will not be getting (a pet)? Check. Too adorable for words? Check, especially the fact that Hannah's includes a legend.
- Australians do love to joke about the Irish. But really? They are going after them for drinking? If that's not the pot calling the kettle black I don't know what is
- My shopping buddy, fashionista Abbey.
- Hannah protecting her eyes as she accompanies me to laser hair torture.

And a couple to non-photo tidbits:
- possum was seen stalking me again the other night with his nose pressed up against the patio doors watching me while I read in bed.
- Abbey's dinner request tonight: Curry Chicken. Living Asia-adjacent is already paying off. Hannah is still on plain pasta and carrots, she is lost to me as a dinner companion.

Another great running route

The only downside is being constantly startled by huge lizards while running along the path. You can't beat the scenery though!

A hodge-podge of random stuff

Handstands!

Yes, I know I've posted pictures of the not-so-friendly peacock at the Toronga Zoo before, but I just can't help myself, he looks so amazing.  Beautiful, but truly mean spirited.

Saturday morning, 7:00am, Bootcamp madness at the gym.  And the other half of the class was lined up against the wall doing burpies or something crazy like that.  Who knew there were even that many people in one town willing to get up pre-7:00am on a Saturday to workout so hard they (or, er, possibly just me) felt like they were going to puke half way through.

The one good side effect of the devastating fires outside of Sydney, beautiful sunsets.  That doesn't even look real, does it?

More gymnastics impressiveness.  When did she get so old and big?

Ponies in the pre-school play area?  But of course!

Dolphins! Yes, I know this is a terrible picture and you can't tell the difference between the dolphins and the people swimming with them, but I was running to the bus while I took this so didn't have time to get any closer.

Date day at Palm Beach

Whaaaaaaaaat?  Does that actually say what I think it does?

Jacaranda trees are back.  Too bad they don't last long.  They are Sydney's version of the cherry blossom tree.  The look amazing while they last, and then make a massive mess all over your deck, car, yard, etc about a week later.

Hooray! Crazy Uncle Scott is in the 'hood.

The birds here really are just rude.  Not only do they wake me up around 5am every morning (forget about going back to sleep with that cacophony going out right outside the window) but they try to steal my running gear too.

The Big Dig, Balmoral Beach Style

With Uncle Scott!

Aussie version of Little League

Complete with crowd of coffee-drinking cricket-moms and dads shouting at the coach from the sidelines.

Note to self: Do not leave doors open in Australia

4:00 am: What was that?? I swear I heard a loud clanging noise at the end of the bed. Must have just been dreaming.

4:03 am: Water glass has just inexplicably fallen off my bedside table. I guess my pillow must have knocked it off since it was right next to my head (keep that fact in mind).

4:05 am: Scamper, scamper, scamper. What the ... ??? Upon turning light on I discover that my extra pillow that is on the floor (again, pretty much right next to my head give platform nature of bed which is low to the ground) now has pellets on it and a big wet spot. Something has pooped and peed on my pillow. Of course, Pete is still completely asleep through all of this and now has to get up and start searching for creature. I am gone.

4:15 am: I am now sleeping (yeah right) on the couch downstairs having listened to the ensuing scuffle above my head as Pete ushered a possum onto the patio with a broom. Pillow is now in garbage and screen doors are on order.

Members of the Zarutsky family will know that this story has ensured that my sister Sandie is unlikely to visit us in Australia.

Pics here include photographic proof of pillow defilement and a gift from Abbey (yes, that says "Possum House")

Burgers, Beers and Bondi Beach

Another successful date night. Time for a short stroll on one of my favorite tourist attractions, the Bondi to Coogee walk. http://bonditocoogeewalk.com.au/

Sunrise at Balmoral

Bootcampers, paddle boarders, kayakers, runners and cyclists all enjoying the beautiful morning at the beach. I wish I was out there with them instead of standing at the bus stop waiting to go to work at the crack of dawn. At least I'm standing here in a tank top watching the sun come up over the beach rather than trudging through the sideways freezing rain on the way to the stinky T station :)

Summer's back in Sydney!

Seems crazy to have gone all the way to Bali for a beach vacation with this in our backyard. It's an absolutely perfect 79 and sunny today, great start to the Labour Day long weekend here in Australia.