A Photo Every Day from the Sunshine Coast - Australia

Wednesday 31 December 2008

The year that was


It's nearly gone,

another year,

just a blur.
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Tuesday 30 December 2008

Camping



The holidays are on in force, but it's too late for most, the best spots are already taken!

Beachfront Mooloolaba is not a bad place to watch the last of 2008 disappear over the horizon.

Mooloolaba
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Monday 29 December 2008

Heaven!


While many were no doubt at the beach having a barbecue, we were at a fairly typical Australian Christmas dinner.

Find a cool corner of the backyard, (next to the shed and compost bin), erect some temporary shade, don't forget the net covers to keep the flies off the food!

It's amazing how none of that incidental detail is visible, let alone important when one is immersed in having a good time surrounded by friends and family!

Springwood
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Sunday 28 December 2008

Christmas Dinner


Christmas Dinner in Queensland.

A range of roasted meats, and a litre of sunblock!
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Saturday 27 December 2008

Christmas Present




The crowds are descending on the beaches as the holiday begins, so today we'll just sit at home, read a bit and think about the year that was!
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Friday 26 December 2008

It's over!


Another photo taken far from the Sunshine Coast, but symbolic none the less of the deflated feeling one gets when a time of festivity is over.

From today, tourists will start to arrive at the Coast in droves. The place will become crowded, and for residents the tranquility to which we are accustomed will depart for a few weeks!

It's a great time to sit quietly at home and sort my favourite pictures of last year for a day or two! I must say that finding a suitable festive shot a day was made surprisingly difficult by the distinct lack of public decoration in our immediate area. I was expecting to come across acres of windows clad in "Santa Snow", butchers wearing antlers, and children terrified at the thought of meeting Santa. Perhaps I just need to get out more!

I hope you all had a great day!

Lawson
Blue Mountains
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Thursday 25 December 2008

A word from the sponsor!



On Christmas Day last year, these balloons were decorating part of the beach picnic area, a lovely gesture which saved me getting out and about early to find a photo this year!

Have a happy and Holy Christmas!

Mooloolaba
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Wednesday 24 December 2008

'twas the night before Christmas



"and all through the house,
not a creature was stirring,
not even a mouse....


Mooloolaba
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Tuesday 23 December 2008

The Real Christmas Story


For years the people of the Kawana Uniting Church have done a great job in getting the real Christmas message into the community, with a grand display telling the story of the first Christmas.

This year was no different, with thousands of local residents visiting in the weeks leading up to the 25th December.

You still have two nights left to get there!

Kawana Uniting Church
Thunderbird Drive
Bokarina
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Monday 22 December 2008

Santa Hat



Yesterday we went to Underwater World with Mr Two and his parents. (More pics next month!) Here he is, admiring a family of sea horses.

Before we left home he was rummaging through our box of decorations, and he decided that "The Hat" would suit him perfectly for a day on the town. After all, it almost matched his board shorts and tank top.

It was cute though!

Underwater World
Mooloolaba
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Sunday 21 December 2008

Seasonal Confusion



Confusion is when an excessively pale Fred Flintstone dons a red velvet coat, together with a matching red jesters cap complete with three "snowball" pom poms, and sits in the back of a truck wishing all a Merry Christmas under a blazing sun!

There's something weird going on inside my head!

Maroochydore
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Saturday 20 December 2008

The Esplanade



For Ann. To prove that our Council is really in the swing of this Christmas thing.

There are actually TWO Merry Christmas banners!

Actually there may be one or two others as well, and to be fair the Esplanade has a bountiful supply of attraction without any tacky tinsel, but it's been rather harder than I expected carrying through the theme for the whole month!

The Esplanade
Mooloolaba
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Friday 19 December 2008

Merry Skywatch Christmas


On the last Skywatch Friday before Christmas, I thought I'd take a leaf out of our Council's book and wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and of course clear blue skies!

More Skywatch images can be found the Skywatch Site
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Thursday 18 December 2008

Gum Trees and Reindeer



The setting sun and gum trees blowing in a 36°C breeze is probably not the view these rooftop reindeer are accustomed to!

Santa Goes Solar
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Wednesday 17 December 2008

More Santa Goes Solar



A tiny corner of Helen and Ray's Solar Powered garden! The red box hides the battery bank, and the little sloping roof over it is made entirely of solar panels.


Santa Goes Solar


Peregian Beach
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Tuesday 16 December 2008

Santa Goes Solar


Last night we visited our friends Ray and Helen to watch Santa's lights arrive by the power of the Sun. The "roof" in the foreground is in fact an array of solar panels which power an amazing variety of Christmas lights.

More pics over the coming days, but for more technical type information, please visit Santa Goes Solar.

Peregian Beach
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Monday 15 December 2008

Life Saver


With the arrival of the summer holidays, the volunteer Surf Life Savers are out in force, seven days a week.

This photograph was taken on Christmas Day last year. They never sleep!

Mooloolaba
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Sunday 14 December 2008

Christmas Where The Gumtrees Grow



Christmas in Australia isn't complete without a rendition from the local Pre-School kids!

CHRISTMAS WHERE THE GUM TREES GROW
(Val Donlon / Lesley Sabogal)
(poem)


Christmas where the gum trees grow
There is no frost and there is no snow
Christmas in Australia's hot
Cold and frosty is what its not
When the bloom of the Jackaranda tree is here
Christmas time is near

From England came our Christmas fare
They even said what Santa should wear
But here down under for summers cool
Santa should dip in a swimming pool

Christmas where the gum trees grow
There is no frost and there is no snow
Christmas in Australia's hot
Cold and frosty is what its not
When the bloom of the Jackaranda tree is here
Christmas time is near

Santa rides in a sleigh on snow
But down here where the gum trees grow
Santa should wear some water ski's
And glide around Australia with ease

Christmas where the gum trees grow
There is no frost and there is no snow
Christmas in Australia's hot
Cold and frosty is what its not
When the bloom of the Jackaranda tree is here
Christmas time is near

To ride around the bush where its dry
To cart all the presents piled so high
A red nosed reindeer would never do
Santa should jump on a kangaroo

Christmas where the gum trees grow
There is no frost and there is no snow
Christmas in Australia's hot
Cold and frosty is what its not
When the bloom of the Jackaranda tree is here
Christmas time is near

Picture kindly supplied by friend, commentator, mother of Matmoo and now Guest Blogger - Zet!
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Saturday 13 December 2008

Santa comes in a big black boots!



In my youth, one of the sure sign that summer had arrived was the abundance of panel vans which arrived at the beach laden with surfboards and fit young people. Fashions have changed, and there are more "Utes" (pickups) than vans, and this one looks all rather too beachy and summer for its own good!

This pic still reminds me of the words of the John Williamson song "Christmas in Australia" though:

Christmas Photo
John Williamson


Oh it's December in Australia
Time to remember all the family
Christmas tree, native pine
Lights and tinsel, all entwined
Put a fairy on the top
There's Gran and Pa and Joan and Pop
Ham and turkey's organised
Won't the grandkids be surprised?
When Santa comes in big black boots
In the back of Jacko's Ute


It's December in Australia
Time to remember all the family
Gather around for a photo
Hang on Les, where did Dad go?
I gotta get everyone in the picture
I don't know where he's gone
Oh look here he is, come on Dad, hurry up!
Say Cheese, Cheese
Oh nope, mum's missing now
That'd be right

Oh yum, yum pig's bum, Christmas pudding
All the ladies do the cooking
All the men are really slack
Slappin' each other on the back
How ya goin' Tangles, how was your year?
Might rain tomorrow, have a cold beer.
I hear young Greg is playin' fullback,
Guess he gets it all from you Jack,
Blah, blah, blah, blah.
Anyone up for a game of cricket?
Yeah

Oh it's December in Australia
Time to remember all the family
Gather around for a photo
Hang on Soph*, where did Garth go?
I've got to get everyone in the picture
Oh OK, hang on I'll just go find him.
Garth, hurry up!
Oh he's just here, Garthy quick, come here!
Oh no hang on, now Scotty's missing
Oh Less, it's too hard
Let's just go play cricket, Yeah

Oh me not out, oh yes you are Nick
It's your ball, Max don't bowl too quick
Oh Nick has run off with the bat
After him across the flat
C'mon Cub you've had a bowl
Give the ball to Christie
Oh Tom Tit, Pee-Wee, Brookie, Side Kick
You're on my side, grab the bat quick
Now he's run off with the stump
Better give that Nick a bump
Oh I think I'll just go have another Rum

Oh it's December in Australia
Time to remember all the family
Gather around for a photo
Oh hang on Les, where's Amy?
I gotta get everyone in the picture
I don't know where she is
I think she's already started eating
Nah, nah, here she comes, come on Amy
Hurry up, hurry up
Say cheese, Cheese
Oh no hang on, where's Brandy? Oh Adam!

Oh see the goanna up the gum tree
He's gonna get a feed today free
When the campers leave the lake
Bits of chook and choccy cake
It's Christmas time for him as well
See his big long belly swell

Oh it's December in Australia
Time to remember all the family
Gather around for a photo
Hang on Dad, where's Thomo?
I gotta get everyone in the picture
Well where is he?
Well I don't know!
Oh nah, here he is, come on Graham
Hurry up, come on, OK
OK everyone say cheese, Cheese
And.... ... ... got it!
Oh finally, woo hoo!
Oh it's December in Australia


Mooloolaba
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Friday 12 December 2008

Norfolk Pine Sky



Norfolk Island Pines are endemic strangely enough, to Norfolk Island, but many years ago someone decided quite correctly that they were a hardy beachfront plant, and so most of the beaches on the east coast of Australia feature them.

Of course at Christmas time they are a sitter for a setting the scene for the season.

When I took this photograph yesterday, the temperature was once again 30°C(86°F) yet if you look ever so carefully in the centre left, you'll see a snowman! We do try ever so hard to get into that northern hemisphere season thing!

For the Skywatch Fans, our skies are devoid of cloud for much of the day in summer but the air is full of humidity (81% yesterday), after a few days of that sort of weather, clouds begin to build in the evening and a thunderstorm will roll through, and the whole cycle begins afresh!

More Skywatch images can be found the Skywatch Site
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Thursday 11 December 2008

Water Melon



There is no surer sign that Christmas is here, than finding a large plate of sliced watermelon at someone else's picnic!

Watermelon
Mooloolaba
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Wednesday 10 December 2008

Rudolph



There's a fair chance Rudolph won't be leading Santa's sleigh this year.

He has been decapitated and his head tied to a boat in Mooloolaba harbour, presumably as a warning to his mates.

Just what sort of warning, I am yet to work out!

Reindeer
Mooloolaba
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Tuesday 9 December 2008

Orange


December is when the last of the Poinciana blooms begin to fade. Through the early part of summer the Delonix regia (Poinciana's) provide a brilliant red orange foil to the mauve of the Jacarandas.

The Poinciana is native to Madagascar, but flourishes in our climate providing deep shade and a wild canopy of colour.

It's an illusion which makes the photo look like a faded relic, but in the last throes of the afternoon, the colour seems to infuse with the fading blue of the sky.

Maroochydore
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Monday 8 December 2008

Minding a spot



Holidays are a beach towel, a book and bare feet.

Mooloolaba
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Sunday 7 December 2008

Splash



Summer means clear water, and fine sand, and the smell of sunscreen.

Mooloolaba
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Saturday 6 December 2008

Pigface


Just how Carpobrotus glaucescens became known as Pigface is anybody's guess, but it is a succulent plant, often found in the sand dunes by our beaches, and it's pretty flowers are another of those reminders that Christmas is just around the corner.

When the Pigface is in flower, summer holidays have arrived!

Pigface
Dicky Beach
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Friday 5 December 2008

Smiley Skywatch



This is my first SKYWATCH post, and technically you can't see the sky!

Although I suspect that there will be few visitors inspired by the thumbnail view, the moon and stars were smiling on us this week, so I thought I could divert from the Christmas theme for a day, after all if the heaven's want to spread good cheer, well the least I can do is spread it!

Venus and Jupiter conspired with the moon to make a smiley face for some in the Southern Hemisphere, while I understand the folk in the US saw the opposite: a sad face.

More Skywatch images can be found the Skywatch Site

Photo taken on 1st December 2008.
Mooloolaba
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Thursday 4 December 2008

Gingerbread Houses!



Christmas is worth waiting for just for the goodies that appear in van Weegan's Bakery.

A village of ginger bread houses wait patiently for a "snow" dusting of icing sugar. It's all so deliciously out of context in our warm sunny climate, but nobody argues. We all know that Christmas time is snow time!


van Weegan's
Brisbane Road
Bundillla
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Wednesday 3 December 2008

Summer Frost


Visitors from a colder climate could be forgiven for thinking that this was a picture taken through a frosty window.

Alas December here brings us temperatures around 30°C (86°F) which makes frost rather unlikely. Sadly but beautifully no less, it's just the setting sun viewed through a dirty window.


Sunshine Plaza
Maroochydore
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Tuesday 2 December 2008

The first swallow



Just like seeing the first swallows of spring in some countries, the first lights of Christmas are a joy.

These have been illuminating my journey home at night since early November!

Mooloolaba
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Monday 1 December 2008

All my life's a circle!



Not quite a circle nor a perfect sphere, but an entirely unnecessary reminder that the Christmas Season is almost upon us.

This photo wasn't taken on the Sunshine Coast, but at Joan's place in the Blue Mountains, where two years ago we spent our first Christmas away from our (adult) children.

While in reality it's just a fancy glass light globe, it's special because of where it was and where we were when I took the photo, for us it's a very personal reminder of the true value of a long and lasting friendship, to say nothing of a fantastic couple of weeks!

Over the coming three weeks, I will attempt to convey some of the flavour of the Christmas Season in Australia. I'm not sure that will be an easy task, but time will tell.

In the meantime for the curious, here's the official Australian Government information page! (I didn't believe it needed an explanation either!)

This is one of 187 photoblogs participating in today's theme Circles/Spheres. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Christmas at Joan's
Blue Mountains Australia
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