Wow, Ozzie hot is sure a different hot to overseas hot!
Hot n'muggy for me, but a fan helps as does sitting downstairs between open doors with breezes blowing.
Apart from that, it isn't too bad yet.
Am helping paint my granddaughter's bedroom for her for Xmas, so that will be fun as we slosh around together in the paint cans tomorrow! She just wants it all white, so there will be no problems with the cut-ins, which is always a taker-up of time.
Then next week my 2 lovely girls and I go up to Alexander Headlands to visit with my sister for the day, in my eldest granddaughter's car.
Wow, they grow up so fast.
It seems like yesterday I was driving them around, now they are driving me!
Then the rush is on to complete last minute Xmas shopping and then the feasting begins...and
goes on until after New Year when the last of the ham bone is finally eaten up...then it's all over until next time.
The fun and comfort of traditions hey? It makes for nice secure and very fond memories.
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| Hahaha...too funny. Amsterdam Airport advertising for a hybrid car! |
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| Leaving Budapest at 1pm on Tuesday... |
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| Arriving Amsterdam at 3.30pm...A nice clear...ish day in Europe. |
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| Inside the airport is one of the many nice restaurants. |
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| Nice...At the train station... |
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| 4.15 pm outside railway stn in Amsterdam and the sun is setting. |
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| Darkness falls quickly... |
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| The railway stn in all its glory, captured by the setting sun. |
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| Such funny names. Check out the name on top of the building! I thought it was Peek and Clobber! hahaha... |
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| Evening peak hour...Bikes everywhere! |
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| A walkway to a shopping mall. Very nice! |
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| My fave spot in Amsterdam...well, it was until they took away the beautiful big black armchairs...They were real Adams Family style and thoroughly mood setting! All gone and updated. |
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| So we went out onto the verandah for a drink. My friend I first met in 2011, met me at the airport and we hung out all afternoon and evening. |
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| Not a bad spot after all... |
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| Had a couple of drinkies here and then went looking for a nice, cozy restaurant. |
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| Xmas lights are just being erected, so I was a tad too early.. Kids Xmas, had just been the day before and then the decorations begin. |
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| Had a nice green curry chicken and rice pasta with beef. Yummo |
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| Walking across the numerous canals towards my hostel in the next suburb. |
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| Looks like the lights were out on one of the arches of this famous bridge... |
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| Can't resist a chandelier! |
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| Some of the Xmas lights in the outer city. The inner city lights we by-passed as we went to the Xmas stalls/Markets area...but found they didn't open until 10th Dec...Awhhh and I had to get gifts! Dratt!!! |
It is celebrated as a Christian festival with particular regard to his reputation as a bringer of gifts, as well as through the attendance of
Mass or
worship services.
[3][4]
In Europe, especially in "Germany and Poland, boys would dress as bishops begging alms for the poor."
[5]
In Ukraine, children wait for St. Nicholas to come and to put a present under their pillows provided that the children were good during the year.
Children who behaved badly may expect to find a twig or a piece of coal under their pillows. In the Netherlands, "Dutch children put out a clog filled with hay and a carrot for Saint Nicholas' horse.
On Saint Nicholas' Day, gifts are tagged with personal humorous rhymes written by the sender."
[6] In the United States, one custom associated with Saint Nicholas Day is children leaving their shoes in the
foyer on Saint Nicholas Eve in hope that Saint Nicholas will place some coins on the
soles, for them to awake to.
[2]
The American
Santa Claus, as well as the British
Father Christmas, derive in part from Saint Nicholas and in part from the Dutch
Sinterklaas, the saint's name in that language. However the gift giving associated with these descendant figures is associated with
Christmas Day rather than Saint Nicholas Day itself.
[4]
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| A really lovely building... |
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| . |
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| Red light district? No, but it did suggest this though. We didn't go to the red light areas as I'd been there, seen that, before. They had all these undie clad women in windows, packaged like Barbie Dolls, standing and beckoning those who appealed to them from inside the windows. Weird as. |
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| Lots of pleasant places along the way, in the outer suburb where my hostel was. |
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| . |
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| Surprising lights even in the back streets.. |
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| Heading into the hostel area now. We only had 4 hrs together, but did a lot in that short time. Drank, ate, walked for miles just chatting away! |
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| Will have another try at this one day...I can snow ski a bit, but can not skate, roller skate or water ski! |
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| Opposite my hostel... |
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| Next morning in the bus to the airport at 8am and it's still pitch black! |
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| A bit blurry as the bus was racing along...but still pretty. |
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| I have a great shot of this building from last time in Amsterdam, but it is still the same decorations as in 2013! |
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| Out the front window of the bus... |
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| Nice... |
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| At Amsterdam airport and it's just getting light at 9.am. My flight to AbuDhabi leaves at 10.30 am...and as I check the time, I notice a man inside the clock! |
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| A time consuming job, hey? |
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I love these fruit bars. They just blend real fruits, only 2 or 3 together, no ice cream etc like
Boost, so they are really healthy, not full of sugar like Boost juice is. I had the mixed berry one. |
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| M&M have a bright store there too! |
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| Bright indeed! |
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| The HA HA HA room! On the pillar, you can see flashing hahaha's! A great kids play area here. Amazing. |
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| Lovely new sitting areas being built here too... |
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| Check out the original ideas here... |
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| Moving on to the security check in area again. This will be the 62nd time in just under 6 years! |
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| Hahaha, could only be in Holland! Bikes used as table legs too! |
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| Very innovative, the Dutch! |
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| Phone and computer charging and using areas... |
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| Another kids play area. This one is a plane in the clouds. You can go in, "drive" the plane, sit and play in it too. |
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| These cups are in a cafe...They have tables and seating in them, for adults...hahaha... |
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| A huge furry dog, on his side. Another kids play thing! The cleaner was sweeping between his legs, but looks like he is doing a perioscopy (that's in your mouth Mary, but you know what I mean) or something! |
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| Off again , headed for AbuDahbi on a 7 hr flight, with an hour and 20 min stop to change planes, with yet another security check. Take off yr coats, caps, belts, shoes, computer out of yr bags, makeup opened and so on, for inspection. |
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| Another dream was to view the mountains in Europe with snow on them. This is over the Dolomites in Italy, so I'm told. |
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| OZ next stop. ..13 hrs flight |
Arrived in Brissie at about 6pm on Thursday evening. Slept on and off for the flight from AbuDhabi, so that was good.
My youngest son and his 14 yr old daughter met me and whisked me away, which certainly reduces stress of dragging your luggage onto the train and off again!
Oh, by the way...Dog has had 4 puppies. All well. No pics as yet, but they are coming.
See you next week before Xmas with an OZ update.
All the best and do take care with busy Xmas shopping expeditions!
Cheers,
M
xxxx
