UAE and Christmas

Kate all frocked up



It has been a long transition to the UAE.  Kate and the girls left Mumbai for Dubai on the 15th of November.  I drifted between Paris, Mumbai and Dubai for work reasons and we all went back to Australia for the Christmas/New Year period.













Great view, shame about the
Whitney Houston soundtrack




First of all was the most important event, Kate's Birthday, which we celebrated Dubai style with a new frock (Australian for dress) and her new SJP shoes (Sarah Jessica Parker for those in the know, or so Lucy tells me).  A nice Japanese dinner near the Burgh Khalifa followed by a view of the evening water show at the base of the tallest artificial structure in the world.













Linner with the harbour in the background




Next is was off to our first Christmas at Kate's sisters beuatiful house on Sydney Harbour. Some beach time, distance swims in the harbour, beautiful hilly runs and a wonderful Christmas with the Sydney clan plus Nanna who had travelled up from Sale.  Mass was attended, Santa arrived and we enjoyed Christmas "linner". This was Ann's idea and was basically lunch and dinner in the form of a large early dinner. This was great as it gave us the opportunity to get out during the day.










We caught up with our good friends Jen, Rick and Jessica in their spectacular, remodelled home in Bondi and I caught up with an old school friend Damien.  Ada and I had a surfing lesson at Manly on the morning before we began the trek for our second Christmas in Tamworth, the Country Music Capital of Australia, yiiiiha.




Ada and Ann surveying the spoils




 It had been several years since I had seen my sisters clan.  Dylan was on leave from Townsville and had travelled down with his girlfriend Kerryn. Ashley was preparing to move to Broken Hill with her finance, Luke.  Brroke's little ones, Charlie and Lachlan, were in full Christmas mode.






All action in the backyard Brooke, Charlie and Ada showing the Australian cricket team how it is done


We had a great Christmas dinner, purchased some "tack" for Ada at Horseland, I had some good runs with Dylan, a movie with the nephews and nieces, breakfast at Ashley's cafe and some backyard cricket.   A great Australian Christmas.

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