As Christmas approached, Melissa & Colin attempted to somehow get into the Christmas spirit. This was proving quite difficult as they found themselves in the heart of an Australian summer -- How can you chow down on a scrumptious turkey dinner, when you are wearing shorts in 30 degree heat?
In the week leading up to Christmas, the two of them decided to go out to Chermside Mall, which had extended shopping hours, right through the night. Neither of them needed to do any shopping, but there was something, somehow 'Christmassy' about lurking around a shopping centre at 3 AM. Surely no one but a couple of odd ball, 'temporarily retired' tourists would be up at THAT hour? As it turned out there were a LOT of people, in fact it was packed, chiefly with the younger generation, who were there with the intention of socialising. We did end up buying a few things, but by this stage we had pretty much finished our Christmas shopping.
In our continuing quest for Christmas cheer, we went into the city at night time, to look for it there. This turned out to be a really fun time with loads of people shopping, a giant Christmas tree, a band playing and even some Christmas fireworks. After having a great time in the city, we drove around and enjoyed the Christmas lights of suburbia.
After this, Melissa & Colin were beginning to get into the spirit and so they decided to rent a couple of movies to watch -- One with Bill Murray called 'Scrooged' and another a classic movie directed by Frank Capra, called 'Meet John Doe'.
It was now two days before Christmas and we went to see The Red Paintings perform 'The Grinch Who Stole Christmas'. This was a 'play' down in Fortitude Valley, but it somehow wasn't what we were expecting at all. There WAS a character dressed like a Grinch, but he had a guitar and there was a drummer and well they didn't actually mention Christmas. Instead it turned out to be a punk rock concert which was more like Dr. Seuss on an Acid trip. We were both on shaky ground when it came to Christmas spirit after that -- we needed something to push us over the edge.
The big event of Christmas finally arrived and we opened our presents to Bing Crosby ironically singing "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" (and to the smell of our neighbour's freshly mowed lawn). Somehow from somewhere, we both found that elusive Christmas spirit after all. Perhaps it was just that we were amongst Colin's family for Christmas, or maybe it was the smell of turkey cooking in the oven. Perhaps because this particular Christmas was the coolest in over a decade with temperatures STRUGGLING to reach 28 degrees centigrade in Brisbane. Or maybe it was due to our walk around South Bank, next to the re-opened snow white sandy beach, amidst all the revelers.
Somehow it isn't quite like you'd expect a Christmas to feel in the heat of Summer, but everyone celebrates it just the same. Whether with a BBQ and a swimming pool, or with snow and a cosy fireplace
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to one and all!!
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