Have a Howly Jowly Christmas

Wind....In elementary school I remember my Laura Ingalls Wilder books describing the incessant, howling winds across the prairies. Prairie wives would get "wind crazy" from it. My mother also used to describe the winds in Farmington, New Mexico and the constant sand that would accumulate on windowsills. I have come to see that it is not the intensity of the wind as much as the consistency of it that makes me a little...well... wind crazy. December has proven to be an adjustment for this northern hemisphere gal. With the children out of school, we took a trip downtown to check out the David Jones windows (much like a Saks Fifth Avenue) and see the 4-story Christmas tree decorated with over 2,500 Swarovski crystal ornaments at the QVB (the Queen Victoria Building). With the kids in their shorts and flipflops and I in my sundress, we traversed around the CBD (Central Business District) listening to the Christmas carols and enjoying all the decorations. I knew I was in the southern hemisphere when I heard Bing sing "White Christmas" as I applied another layer of suncream to the children's noses.

The "Northies" have arrived this week. These are the consistent, warm northerly winds (remember that north winds bring air from the equator...the southies bring wind from Antarctica) that last for days. The wind is so consistent and fierce, that our gate has been blown off its hinges for the second time since we moved here. You should hear the windows rattle in our 80 year old house. The winds and the moon's close proximity made for some amazing tides and surf at Manly Beach this Sunday. It was a surfer's heaven. The good thing about the wind is the pesky summer flies have been laying low...not weather for flying. The wind has also made the water so choppy that the ferries pitch and roll as they cross the harbor.

On a sad note, the owner of our coffee stand down at the ferry wharf passed away two weeks ago. Unbeknownst to us, she suffered from cancer. She went to work on Friday and passed away on the following Monday. She was a beautiful french lady. She had modeled and acted in Paris. She emigrated to Australia and settled in Cremorne, NSW. She started this very humble coffee stand. She would bring in homemade muffins and french breakfast breads and fire up her beautiful coffee machine every morning by 6:00AM. While the children were in school, I would take my walk down to the point and join the five or six ladies who would sit at the small tables. If it was a slow day, she would sit and visit with us. She loved Americans. "Zee Americans liberated France...we do not forget." Her grandfather worked for the underground and later for DeGaul. She was a lovely woman and her coffee was strong, black and served in small juice glasses. She also collected hundreds of signatures (mine included) to obtain permission from the council to open a restaurant at the wharf. Alas, Cremorne will have to do without her french cooking...pity. The young man who is now running the stand wants to name it "Sophie's Place". I can't think of a tribute she would love more. http://www.timeoutsydney.com.au/restaurants/6-of-the-best-sydney-coffee-carts.aspx

Merry Christmas (hopefully not as howly or jowly as ours) and a restful New Year.

Things I love this week:

1. "Merry Christmas" : this phrase is thrown about easily and without pc guilt. Good on them!
2. Aussie entertaining: We had dinner with a lovely Aussie family and it was such a relaxing and laid-back experience.... it helped that he was a wine connisuer.
3. Open-air markets: Such a lovely way to spend an afternoon. All the artistic talent without gallery snootiness. BigDogDaddy is the king of markets. He can find the wheat among the chaff.

Things I don't love this week:

1. Hot, howling winds that rattle your windows, fences and your nerves.
2. Parking: Affects decisions about how and where to travel
3. Fighting crowds in the CBD. I was holding Ponygirl's hand as we stepped onto the subway train. A woman ran between our hands, breaking my grip on Ponygirl, as we were stepping on. She did it to grab a seat. Ponygirl could have been left on the platform. Once the door closed, Mamabear just about started throwing elbows... I did ask the rude woman if she was comfortable in her seat. "After all, your comfort is more important than a nine-year old human child!!!"