Christmas

The Timmins' Christmas tree

Christmas today felt just like the movies. I woke up to Rose's brother, Ed, wishing everyone a merry Christmas, and within the hour we were all sitting around the tree still in our PJs exchanging gifts. Santa was very good to me this year! I got some clothing, a Sydney calendar, books, an Australian beach towel, which will come in handy over the next few weeks, and lots of chocolate.

And then we changed into our bathing suits and went for a swim, and that's when Christmas stopped feeling like the movies! The weather here is gorgeous, another cloudless sunny day, and after Rose's family arrived, including Grandma Rose who couldn't get enough of my accent, we had Christmas lunch out on the patio. I must say dessert was the highlight: Pavlova, an Australian delicacy created for the ballet dancer Ánna Pávlova when she visited Australia, made with meringue, whipped cream, and fruit.

In addition to family, Rose's good friend Mich and her sister, Julie, came for the day. Mich and I worked at Modin together in 2005, and she recently got engaged! It was so great to see her and catch up on her life and, of course, wedding details.