2004-2005 Australia Trip, part 8
It's Christmas and we await our ride to lunch. It is rather strange not doing anything with family for Christmas and we didn't even buy presents for each other. Jill arrives at the hotel around 10, and takes us off to her flat where we pick up Carol, and more food. Then we are off to lunch. We finally figure out whose house we were at, but it took work. The owner introduced himself as a neighbor, just to confuse matters. BTW, his name is Paul Newman! (no, not the Paul Newman) Paul introduces us to his parents, neighbors and coworkers and makes sure we have something to drink. Barb gets drafted for her knife skills, and is put to work slicing up the Thai style gravlax that Jill made. I am in the living room talking with everyone. Since I am the newbie, the conversation is directed my way and eventually the subject of boomerangs comes up. I now find myself sitting in Australia, explaining boomerangs and competitions to the locals, again! It was a major disappointment when they discovered I left my boomerang bag at the hotel, and was not giving lessons. Gee, had I known, I could have gladly brought some along.
Finally I got called into the kitchen to carve the roast "chooks" or chickens. Jill stuffed them with couscous and they were great. Everyone brought something to the party including Barb and I. We had brought some Alaska smoked salmon with us and made a spread with it and cream cheese. Others brought food and wine. It was a great party.
We moved it across the street to a neighbor's house for special drinks and chocolates, then back to Paul's for more food and conversation. Paul found out I was a Hitchhikers Guide fan and brought out a script for the original BBS TV series.
Paul was sure to have gifts for everyone and Barb and I received our very own jar of Vegemite! Paul explained the people attending were from several countries (Oz, Germany, New Zealand and the US) and from several ways of life. He then announced that we were at our very first Australian International Gay Lesbian Straight Jewish Christian Christmas party. We may never, ever top that one. We really had a great time with everyone that day; and never returned to the hotel until 10:30 that night! Our plans to have prawns for supper were moved to the next day.
Photo: Our home for Christmas, the Medina
Finally I got called into the kitchen to carve the roast "chooks" or chickens. Jill stuffed them with couscous and they were great. Everyone brought something to the party including Barb and I. We had brought some Alaska smoked salmon with us and made a spread with it and cream cheese. Others brought food and wine. It was a great party.
We moved it across the street to a neighbor's house for special drinks and chocolates, then back to Paul's for more food and conversation. Paul found out I was a Hitchhikers Guide fan and brought out a script for the original BBS TV series.
Paul was sure to have gifts for everyone and Barb and I received our very own jar of Vegemite! Paul explained the people attending were from several countries (Oz, Germany, New Zealand and the US) and from several ways of life. He then announced that we were at our very first Australian International Gay Lesbian Straight Jewish Christian Christmas party. We may never, ever top that one. We really had a great time with everyone that day; and never returned to the hotel until 10:30 that night! Our plans to have prawns for supper were moved to the next day.
Photo: Our home for Christmas, the Medina
Added on August 21, 2006 by bvdrangs
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