First Christmas in Oz (nearly) over with!

[Jo&Rich]

Hiya, as the title suggests, just had our first Christmas day in Oz. Not half as bad as I expected! Cried my eyes out last night after talking to my mum and sister, the usual "whhhhyyyy have we done this, I'm sooooo unhappy". But been to the beach this morning, picnic lunch by the sea, and just had Christmas dinner at home. Kids enjoyed it, (didn't cry for nanna as feared), and now they're off to bed so we can have a nice drink or three; I feel we've earned it!
Hope all those of you in the UK have a great last christmas there; treasure it, you will miss it like mad; still hope you get your visa soon though! For all those in Oz already, I hope you've had a great day. Probably have another cry in a bit, but then I will drink till I feel no more HA HA HA!

Thanks for all of you who I've had a chat with on here over the past few weeks; your help (especially you Em!) has really helped me get through the move here.

Jo x

[kiwi&jane]

Hiya, we have just spent our 1st xmas here in brisbane, kids have had a fab day and thats what matters, iv had a good cry this morning not through missing family really, it just feels so different here to what were used to, but would't change a thing we are loving it. but glad today is nearly over.jane x

[The Broughtons]

Having read your posts my husband has just turned to me and said, 'see it's perfectly normal!'. We both had a few tears in the morning but they were because the gifts our parents had sent us showed just how well they know us. They were so thoughtful and perfect.

We spoke to Michaels's mum on the phone after dinner and as I stood at the kitchen sink after saying hello the tears just started flowing. It wasn't because I wanted to go back - I just felt so out of routine. I'd never cooked Christmas dinner before, I'd never loaded the dishwasher (Mum didn't have one - we'd always fight about who washed, who dried and who didn't have to do anything!) and I'd certainly never had Christmas dinner without my family. I certainly cheered up a bit later though, we logged online and watched my 3 1/2 yr old niece open her presents. Last year it was a case of 'I'll just play with this for a bit' and it took the whole day to get through her pressies, this year it was 'ok that's nice, what's next!' The comment that made us laugh the most was - 'it's just socks!'

We got through our first Christmas and enjoyed it (God it sounds like an ordeal!) but it didn't feel very Christmassy. Maybe next year will be different. Now - the New Year Sales begin! Whoo hoo

Felicity

[ali]

We too had a few 'nerves' about our first xmas - Tom has pronounced it the best xmas ever and I must say it's been the most relaxed we've ever had and a really nice day. Lots of phone calls in the evening for us too and a little difficult speaking to my dad, who I know would be spending xmas without seeing the children, but the kids spoke to him and sounded so excited about their xmas that I know that probably did him good.

Nige has wanted to cook breakki on the barbe for so long - we're going to indulge him this morning, then indigestion on the beach I think this afternoon lol

For us, it's this time of year when we've felt being away from family/friends and what had become a routine of visits, meals etc. - but it has been fun so far

Ali

[nikkihayhurst]

Hey Jo, just to say well done on getting through your first Christmas, this time of year is all about tradition and routine but you are going to start your new traditions and routines so as long as you get through this current transitional time, you'll be fine.

We did our meds the other week and have been told spring will be our time to depart so we know that this is likely to be our last Christmas here and so it has been hard having that in our minds - but then times change for everyone, not just us. We usually have a Boxing Day getogether with my sister and her children but one of them, soon to be 18, has made plans with her friends rather than be with her family tomorrow, which made me realise that everyone moves on and regular events change over time, so we just have to accept that, it's harder when it's us doing the changing though as the guilt and blame is firmly on our own hands, but, change is good, reminds us we are alive! Looking forward to xmas on the beach next time round as it was bl**dy freezing here today!

Merry Christmas to all the Poms in Oz and an extra hug to those like us, who are still Poms in the UK and still only dreaming of the sunshine and the golden ticket!

[Rbecca]

It didn't seem like a real Christmas to me. There was no turkey and not enough mayhem. I managed to make it to the beach for a while though. Then I had phone calls from 'home' on my Christmas morning and calls back for their Christmas morning. Tonnes of my family are going to Mum and Dad's for Boxing Day and I think that's when I'll miss being there the most. Today (this evening) my brother and sister are going to set up my Dad's new webcam and we should be able to actually see each other, but as to whether that's a good thing I'm not sure!
Rebecca

[johatts]

I have just celebrated my 3rd Christmas here! For me they will never be the same as it is not cold, heatings not on, it isnt dark at 3pm, you`re not wearing 15 layers to keep dry and warm and you are out and about in shorts - too weird!!!!!
However saying that, its what you make it! We had the same, christmas calls at all hours from friends and family - the first being at 00.01 on Christmas Day from my aunt who wanted to be the first to say Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday to me!! (Born 25.12!!)
We had lunch with family that I have met since being here and we had a quiet night together.

Web cams are great. I opened my birthday pressys on webcam so my mum and dad could see me open them and i spent a few hours on MSN last night talking to friends and family!

I found my Christmas`s have got better as the years have gone on! Dont know if I will be saying that on dec 25th 2011 when I am 40!!!!!!

Hope that you all had a great day and that 2008 brings you what you wish for. For me it is bringing me my parents! All my Christmases will have come at once!

[ali]

And not a christmas jumper in sight!!

Ali

[skippy]

It's a natural part of life to cry and miss family & friends, especially at this time of year, I went through all that 37 years ago, NO web cams, 2 weeks to receive letters etc, and our families didn't have phones, it would have been a lot easier if it had been like it is today.
All my family have been here to Oz & said we had made the right decision to come, after a trip back to see the old town for myself, I'm now positive we did.
Christmas day was a wonderful time for us, it was the first time in many years that our Aussie family have managed to get together in the one place for a change, my wife and I arrived in this country with a 3 & 4 year old in 1970, now there are 17 of us.
Many people feel guilty for taking grandchildren away from grandparents, but as a grandparent of 9, I would never stand in the way of my children making a better life for themselves & their children as we did, or at least trying, life is very short really, and if you never go, you never know.
I only have 2 elderly brothers left in the UK these days, but we're in contact all the time by email, I often wonder how things would have been if I had let my feelings for family change our plans for a new life, I would probably now be saying, I told you we should have gone, now it's too late.
So although Christmas & Birthdays etc pull at your heart strings, time heals everything, to see your children/grandchildren in the backyard pool or running around on a perfect sandy beach and playing in the pristine waters is very worthwhile feeling, but not having family around to share these experiences is the thing that upsets most people.
When the time comes for you new comers to Oz to have family visit, they will tell you that you did the right thing & they will be envious of the lifestyle you have chosen to live & want to stay too, a close friends daughter has just returned from a holiday in the UK, [she didn't want to come here when she was 12 years old] she hugged her family & thanked them for bringing her out here years ago, after seeing the place she would have grown up in.
All the very best for 2008.

[The Baggo's]

Hey Jo! glad it wasn't too bad! Ours was nice but different even though we have been in various countries at Christmas. With various time differences I didn't get to chat to my parents and that was quite hard for me! Anyway, all over with for another year! just to toys to sort out. Hope you are well and catch up soon Nat x