Christmas is coming....

Unbelievably..I was just finishing off this post and have somehow lost the whole thing...so here goes again. Apologies if it seems a bit muddled...its been another big week (I hope I'm be able to capture again the mood of excitement that built during the week)

Sunday..was Christmas Market day and it was a sparkling one... I went for my usual walk and pottered around a bit...We all went for a walk up to Red Velvet for John's morning coffee (Hannah joined him too)
Hannah and I called in to Cobweb Gallery across the road to visit Susan Full Moon Rising...(yes that's her name...she has been initiated into a Native American tribe) She's about 60ish, is Aussie and a very kind,welcoming ,but quite unusual lady..

The Market was setting up so Tom did the rounds. We decided to open for a few hours and sold an amazing number of toys and books. We had our local musicians busking out front on out garden seat.

By about 1ish we decided to close up and take a picnic lunch to Egg and Bacon Bay so we could try out the kayaks.

Hannah and Tom took to the water and had a great paddle...I had a turn next. The kayaks are so lovely to be in ..on the clear water and the warm sun shining.

But tragedy struck...I dropped my camera on the beach...Oh no!!...and the lens was open...

Oh well back to my old camera until repairs can be done.

We headed home and had some afternoon tea before Tom and I took Hannah to the airport. We gave ourselves plenty of time so we could enjoy a relaxed dinner at the airport..(watching a Shrek Christmas show as it turned out..which was fun...) Sad to see Hannah go....Thanks for coming Narns

Monday and we had plenty of orders to keep us busy..the day was grey and rain came and went.

By evening.. I could have snuggled down for the night..but instead went for a walk in search of Christmas Lights...found some up near the Public School !!

Tuesday was a stunning day...the boys enjoyed a morning read...with a friend looking on..

Lots of orders again and the town was buzzing today.. There was much activity in the Town Hall as preparations were made for the Public School concert...which took place early afternoon...such lovely sounds of excited laughing children drifted into the shop.
Dave the builder arrived with plumber to replace the stove and sink in the lab (John found the sove originally put in was not big enough for his needs and the sink being ceramic has caused some breakages of glassware)
Tom enjoyed watching the goings on even though it was noisy..

Dave brought his mum along as she is visiting for Christmas...she was delighted to see the place so I gave her the grand tour...
We had a number of customers spening quite a bit of time choosing the right book for someone for Christmas...really lovely
Ryan arrived with Arlo to give us the approved house plans and basically have a social visit.. Tom and Arlo had a wonderful time playing together for a couple of hours.

Tuesday after work we headed to Hobart for early dinner at "Blue Skies" restuarant...(we saw a yacht the Hannah might like to buy...only kidding!!)

..before going to St David's Cathedral to a Messiah performance.... Amazing !! The Hobart Baroque players and 4 soloists...and we were 2nd row...

Wednesday was an incredible sunny day...so warm...
John and Thomas decided to have their usual morning coffee and hot chocolate (Tom really enjoys his!!)

I enjoyed a lunch break out the back in the sunshine.

The Hypericum Oil was looking lusciously red after sitting in the sunlight.

Tom noticed some mysterious Christmas toys appearing around town...so we went looking for them all to take photos.

Our Coffee machine present arrived...thanks girls and boys!! Now all we have to do is work out how to use it!!

A new shop opened today... Devour.... Takeaway food..we had dinner there...Chicken Schnitzel, Thai Fish cakes and chips...yummy.

I went walking out the other side of town looking for more Light displays...no luck...but enjoyed the scenery and the lovely plants in the Community Garden as I walked past...

Thursday and on my early walk I took photos of the curious graffitti that is appearing around town...
The little bird is on our down pipe...quite attractive.
Don't much like the strange face and hand over the butcher shop though....

The orders were slowing down but we still had customers coming through...some just to look (tourists) and others buying up.

Then they got stuck into making more shelves for shop cupboard...Tom did well with the saw..and the sawdust!!

Tom went up to Balfour house for Art with Judy at 3.30pm til 5...John and I spent some time trying to order the bookshelves a bit as people want to know where the "poetry" section is etc....
John spent some time in the garden digging in some better soil etc in an attempt to get our plants growing..Tom enjoyed playing with lego and watching Zumba in the Hall.

Friday was a quiet day with one oredre and a trickle of customers coming in. There was a sense of excitement in the street as local businesses had treats on their counters for customers and many shopholders dressed festively...
We closed early (about 2ish) to go into Hobart to pick up some things that we can't get in town..and to drop my camera off for repairs...took a photo of the decorated tree next to the road on  thje way out of town..

We enjoyed Christmas Eve Eve dinner at The Beach restaurant at Kingston Beach..then come home via Mountain River and Huonville to see where the Christmas lights were (not on though as not dark yet)

The Advent journey is almost over!!

Had a quick dress rehearsal before bedtime....for parade on Christmas Eve...

Christmas Eve and we opened for a few hours...had a few last minute shoppers buying books...lovely. Closed up at 11.30am and drove to Woodbridge to have lunch at Ryan and Minky's place..(lovely of Ryan to invite us over as he knew I was feeling the loss of family gatherings this time of year)  Arlo and Thomas had a great time playing in the garden..We all enjoyed the afternoon very much..

Back home again and Tom and I went over to 6pm Christmas Vigil Mass... the sky was looking very threatening as we went into the church...

After Mass the street parade began at the footy grounds...but Oh dear...the rain began to fall...
It didn't dampen the spirits of all attending...lots of fun and laughter as the procession and floats moved up the mainstreet finishing in the carpark in front of the church. Tom was part of the St James contingent who led the parade...there were all sorts of floats etc and Santa was giving out lollies to the children from a Fire Engine..

I had a wonderful feeling of belonging here as I walked up the street and was greeted by Steve from Red Velvet, Graeme the butcher, George and Mira from IGA..Tim the signwriter called out to us from the parade...and Tom laughed and played with school friends.

We caught up with the Irelands(who sold us the land at Wattle Grove) Sharon was all dressed up as an angel for the parade...she has such energy and enthusiasm...a lovely person.

A great day...as we finished off by honoring the European tradition (for Susi) of opening a couple of pressies on Christmas Eve.. Tom seemed to have sussed out a couple of good ones..choosing Sandra's lego gift and Dewayne's Star Wars puzzle...a concentrated lego build...big smiles..then off to bed...

Christmas tomorrow..