Down in the dumps!

[Guest magsnmark]

Hello to all my fellow poms.

We moved to Adelaide in 2005, from Welling, Kent, myself, hubby and two daughters.

This time of year, has always been the hardest, it just doesn't feel like christmas.

Anyone got any ideas?

 

Maggie

[xzibit]

Put up a Xmas tree!! Sing some carols, wrap some presents and make some mince pies.

[Guest Barney Rubble]

Fulham ! My favourite team

Do Xmas at home (with friends if you can) then head to the beach on Xmas day

[Guest zamunda]

Hi

 

We are not in Adeaide yet. Hoping to move towards the end of 2012.

 

I am just curious....why does not fee like Xmas? Because you miss your family or because there is no festive mood/spirit there?

[catherine.c]

Christmas is different here - not so commercialised, not every one stressed to make it a 'perfect' day, Christmas carols in the park with picnics and candles, Christmas pageants in bright sunshine (well, Glenelg's was!), turkey (or shrimp!) on the barbie, sitting outside in the warm with party hats and reading motto's whilst consuming champagne cocktails (or insert drink of choice) - yes different but I LOVE IT!!!

[Guest magsnmark]

Think I will get my Xmas CDs playing, put my Xmas tree up, and start wrapping some presents.That should do the trick!

I still struggle when I hear BIng Crosby singing White Xmas on a 40 degree day though.

Thanx for your support.

[Guest zamunda]

Do people decorate their houses (on the outside) with lights and stuff over in SA?

 

We have tonnes of lights and wondering if we should bring them over.

[Guest Barney Rubble]

Think I will get my Xmas CDs playing, put my Xmas tree up, and start wrapping some presents.That should do the trick!

I still struggle when I hear BIng Crosby singing White Xmas on a 40 degree day though.

Thanx for your support.

 

Well Bing Crosby will never be the same here but we had the same dilemma originally then met up with some other pomms and for the last 10 years we have taken it in turns at each others houses, even when any of us have rellies over too, they can join in.

 

Families ? Well it doesn't cost a quid per minute to call 'home' anymore and with Skype ect or an iPad you can bring the miles down drastically.

 

Catherine.c has it right too, not so stressful (unless webber does not light and the turkeys not cooking fast enough)

[Guest Barney Rubble]

Do people decorate their houses (on the outside) with lights and stuff over in SA?

 

We have tonnes of lights and wondering if we should bring them over.

 

We used to, some still do and some get really carried away, they'll work on our electrical system but if you have a 3-pin power pack/transformer then i personnally would not bother (i'm a qualified sparky:wink:) If they are 240-volt with no power pack you'll just need to change the plugs over, they are pretty cheap.

[Guest magsnmark]

Do people decorate their houses (on the outside) with lights and stuff over in SA?

 

We have tonnes of lights and wondering if we should bring them over.

 

Yes, bring all your decorations.Make sure you bring long extension leads!

[Guest zamunda]

We used to, some still do and some get really carried away, they'll work on our electrical system but if you have a 3-pin power pack/transformer then i personnally would not bother (i'm a qualified sparky:wink:) If they are 240-volt with no power pack you'll just need to change the plugs over, they are pretty cheap.

 

Thanks Barney.

 

Mine are 240V with no power pack. For what its worth I will bring them along.

 

Now I know who to contact when I need a "sparky" once I get to SA.

[Guest Rachael Reeve]

We are still in the UK and it do not feel like christmas is only 4 weeks away. just not feeling up to it this year!

[trevorpayne]

Go on holiday somewhere cold.

[Guest ladyarkles]

Hi Maggie,

I did a little bit of looking around (needing a bit of inspiration myself) and found some stuff you may find interesting.

Depending on how old your kids are and how much time you have to spare, here are a couple of things in your neighbourhood:

 

Santa telling Christmas stories in the Children's Garden, West Torrens Mem. Park. 15th December 10.15 am

http://www.wtcc.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?c=16921

 

Heaps of Carol services throughout December in your area and there is going to be a Night Market + Movie (Miracle on 34th Street) in the park on 10th December

More details here: http://www.wtcc.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?c=16917

 

For something a little more chilling and thrilling, how about Adelaide Gaol? They are having Spirit of Christmas Tours throughout December:

http://www.adelaidegaol.org.au/

 

If you want to help out a little, the Sally Army are always grateful for volunteers:

http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/contactus/south-australia-division/soup-run.html

 

For a bit of online fun we always "Track Santa with NORAD" Site goes live on Dec 1st (US time) and you can follow him all around the world. It's fun and a lovely thing to check each day! : http://www.noradsanta.org/

 

Hope some of this stuff and nonsense will spark up your Christmas spirit!

 

~ Rachel

 

PS Just think what you are missing back in the UK...... Bluewater with a million other rude and aggressive shoppers, never ending queues for car parks, the utter hell that is Argos, drizzle, politically correct celebrations for "Winterfest", usual old nonsense on TV and bloody Noel Edmonds........great

[howard]

Oh Rachel thanks for this - its excellent! I think I'm going full Xmas mode this weekend - CD's out, decorations, the lot x

[Guest theclarkes]

We only arrived in feb from Essex, I agree that it doesnt feel like Xmas at all, it doesnt worry me and hubbie too much, its the kids I feel sorry for as they feel they're missing out but as I pointed out all we did at home was sit indoors and more often than not its pouring and foggy and dreary weather rather than snowing!! Personally I feel the pressure is off to spend hundreds and hundreds on presents now we are here as there doesnt seem to be that same hype which maybe is a good thing?!

[howard]

I've decided that on 25th Dec we'll have a holiday bbq with a few pressies etc and then have another Xmas day on/near 25th July with Turkey and pressies - mainly because I love Xmas dinner but there is no way I'll be cooking that in these temperatures!! Yippee - 2 Christmas Days!

 

[Guest Peachie]

In the Uk I used to feel the xmas mad dash start about mid nov and always felt behing if not started shopping by then here its so relaxed I had forgotton it was nearly Dec but our xmas is in the bag this year as importing our very own very mad xmas fairy who loves xmas and goes at it like a bull in a china shop!!! I plan to give her free rein and get the hell out of the way and retreat to a safe zone!!!! she is on route and is having a stop over in hong kong and will arrive on friday with my poor Dad in toe!!!!! she has already condemmed me lovely xmas tree as its purple as not good enough!!! the kids are very excited as they know they will be getting xmas and some!!!! will be hilarious to watch her go nuts in the sun!!

[Guest magsnmark]

Hi Rachel

Thank you so much for all the inspirational ideas for xmas. It was really good of you to research all the local events in my area.

My children are 19 & 14, both girls, and at the moment, are good friends! I'm sure , once I get my tree all set up, and my music playing, it will start to feel like Xmas.

[The Monaghans]

Howard's got the right idea. We do xmas day on the beach, the kids open their presents in the morning, then we head off for the day and take an esky full of food and drink, beach games, inflatibles (sp?) etc. Then some of us get together in winter for Christmas in July, roast dinner, silly hats and fake snow. Great fun!

[Ju'n'Rob]

Hi Maggie, I'm originally from Welling and o/h from Sidcup. Spent 15yrs living on Faraday Ave. Moved here here May 2009 and love it. Yes its different dont think we will ever get used to 40 degrees X

[Guest magsnmark]

That sounds like a good idea. Bring on the beach for Xmas!

[Guest magsnmark]

Hello! wow, can't believe you are from Sidcup! I have only just started using this site recently, and it has really lifted my mood.

How are you all settling in? How many of you?

[Ju'n'Rob]

We brought all our Xmas decs with us and still had to buy some more as we now have three lounges and two dining rooms we have to have 3 large trees! Alot of people have solar lights here which is ideal and keeps the cost of the electricity bill down, as utilities aren't cheap. Do bring your lights but remember to bring lots of adaptors as you can't change the plugs on some crimble lights!! Don't panic you will love Xmas here, we always have friends to us, proper Xmas dinner with cocktails, kids all swim in the pool after then we party hard! A big crowd of us all hit the races on boxing day, has become a bit of a tradition (this will be our third Christmas here) there is a fair for the kids and we all drink and gamble and its a good excuse to dress up, and only $20 to get in for a whole family and you are allowed to take your own soft drinks and food. I used to always be so depressed in January after Xmas was over, cold dark and gloomy with summer still 6 months away, if you even got one, but here I can't wait for Jan as its the summer holidays, we have so much going on, with a wine trip booked on a London red bus, taking time off work with the kids and may do a road trip to Melbourne and have a weekend away at a hotel to play some golf........can't bloody wait! Also its nice buying summer frocks for all the xmas do's! Please ignore any of the negative things you read on here, it is only what you make of it and if you make the most of it you will love Adelaide......best decision we ever made!! Good luck with the move, hope its doesn't get too stressful!

[catherine.c]

I have never thought of the races on boxing day - are they at morphett race course? Is there enough for kids to do?

Sounds fun, might have to give that a try this year!