All these photos were taken on the morning of the 24th after we had been to Port Kembla for a swim in the pool there.

Diary of Christmas 2013

On the morning of Christmas Eve we went first for a swim at Port Kembla Pool. Then we stopped at a park near the Lake. Caroline tries to decipher what it says on this stone. — On the morning of Christmas Eve we went first for a swim at Port Kembla Pool. After our swim we went to a park near the Lake Illawarra. Caroline tries to decipher what it says on this stone.

Here it says what these two islands are called.

The fourth Sunday of Advent this year was on the 22nd of December. As I mentioned before, Martin and S were with us on that day as well as on the 21st of December, our Wedding Anniversary. On Monday, the 23rd, Martin and Peter took S to the airport in Sydney in our rental car because S had booked a return flight to Melbourne for that day.

Then it was Caroline’s and Matthew’s turn to be picked up in Waverly, an Eastern Sydney suburb of Sydney, where they live.
Soon Martin and Peter arrived with Caroline and Matthew at our place in Dapto where we spent the next few days together. The busiest day for us was of course the 24th. A lot of preparations were made for Christmas Eve. We were in the end fifteen people (including little Lucas, who was asleep on his mum’s lap by the time a group picture was made).

Here now is a picture of all fifteen of us.

This is one of the pictures that Caroline took. So she is not in this one.

4th Sunday of Advent 2013

In my Church four candles were lit for the fourth Sunday of Advent.

This is a window in the Catholic Church of Dapto.

After the Sunday Mass I took these pictures of the nativity.

Martin drove me to the 7.30 morning Mass. After Mass I was picked up by Martin, S and Peter and we did go straight away to Wollongong Beach.

We stayed for about an hour on the beach. Then we drove on to the swimming pool a bit further North. We all went for a swim. I love to have a swim in this salt water pool. All in all we had an excellent Sunday morning.

Diary, 21st of December 2013

A Thai Restaurant in Dapto, NSW, Australia

We were early for lunch in this Thai restaurant on Saturday, 21st of December. We invited Martin and S to celebrate with us our 57th Wedding Anniversary. The food was excellent. I had rice and plenty vegetables with a hot coconut sauce. I just loved this sauce. We had some red wine with the meal and plenty of cool water. The temperature outside had soared to over Thirty Degrees Celsius!

We also had some vegetarian rolls for entree.

In the evening we had a look at this festively decorated place in a neighbouring street.

I took these pictures recently on one of my morning walks.

This is what the place looks like at night-time. It was actually not completely dark yet, but the lights were already on.

When we came back home, Peter took this picture of our Christmas Tree.

The Eve of an Anniversary

St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney — St. Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney

On the eve of our anniversary we were staying with Caroline and Matthew. It was the 20th of December and turned out to be a balmy summer’s night. It was the perfect evening to go by bus into the city and watch some Pre-Christmas celebrations near St. Mary’s Cathedral.

The bus dropped us off near Hyde Park. From there it was only a short walk through the park towards the cathedral. On the way through the park I could already hear some carol singing. Once we were in the vicinity of the cathedral we noticed a choir had been placed right in front of the cathedral. With great joy we listened to the choir singing Christmas carols. A great many lights all around us gave a festive atmosphere. I was amazed how many people had gathered already to enjoy the singing.

After a while we discussed where we could have our supper. We soon agreed to go to a Pizza Restaurant in Darlinghurst Road. A short taxi trip took us there. We very much enjoyed our pizzas with a glass of red wine. After our meal we went across the road to the Messina Icecream Shop where we had our fill of delicious ice-cream. Very happy with the proceedings of our evening we caught a bus back to Waverly. By the time we could settle down to sleep it was already midnight. We had to get up early the following morning to pick up Martin and S from the airport.

Diary, Wednesday, 18th December, 2013

We are ready for our early morning walk.

It’s always good when we can make time for an early morning walk. I was happy that I could go walking with my finger shoes. They really feel like walking barefoot.

Diary before Christmas 2013

The job is done: We managed putting up the Christmas Tree.

This was yesterday when we put up the tree. Today is Tuesday, the 17th of December 2013. I went for an early morning walk past Brooks Creek and then along Cambridge Road. Bear with me, I took some more flower pictures! And then I discovered a house decorated with lights and a lot of Christmas themes. I hope we can take a little walk tonight and have a look at this house when they put the Christmas lights on!

Friday, the 13th of December (continued)

I said I took a lot of pictures on that Friday. Here now are a few more of them.

I went through Lakelands Park early in the morning.

On the way back, looking at neighbours gardens, I took pictures of anything colourful in their gardens and last but not least also again a few pictures near the entrance to our home.