Alohra! It's been a long time!

Tis the season to be me-herry! You know it's Christmas when you see cars sporting reindeer antlers.

December, not unlike the final sprint of the 400m hurdles, is the month where we celebrate the closing of another year with fun, dancing, parties and fine company.

First stop: our work Christmas party that was held at the Lowenbrau. We feasted on pork knuckle, sauerkraut and "lukewarm" chocolate pudding. Admittedly, the menu sounded questionably unappealing, but happily a tentative taste here and a gulp of alcohol there and the spread was surprisingly pleasing. So very deutsch, so much bier and lots of Edelweiss. A suitably jovial party.

That night, I watched an incredible sunset as I flapped about in the swimming pool. Summer in Sydney, need I say more? I drifted along, staring at the sky, getting feasted on by mozzies and wondering how in the world December has come around already.

The next day, my sister and I popped around to Mrs Rocke's house for a wonderful spread of moroccan sausage pilaf, three different salads and a mango custard pudding. We were spoilt for choice, time, fabulous weather and excellent conversation.

[Spider catches its next meal:]

Friday whirled around and Miss Ebae and I wandered amongst the buskers and sellers at the Rocks Markets with Miss SJ. It was like high school all over again and we were treated to a secret three minute performance in a hidden alcove along the street- a French Ring Master lured us in and in the tiny little space behind the red curtain, a lady with double jointed hips did a daring dance with bells and swords.

[Oprah flew in and created a media frenzy:]

[Miss Ebae:]

That night Man from Mars also flew in and on Saturday, we attended a beautiful wedding reception to celebrate the marriage of NivRah (Melbourne's classier and more ridiculously good looking version of Brangelina). I loved the saris, the stunning colour, the speeches, the couple's first waltz dissolving into Taio Cruz's Dynamite and the food. May you both have a splendid partnership together.

[The couple's first dance:]

[Man from Mars and his uni friends:]

The next day, we headed off for our annual December trip. In 2008, it was the South Island of New Zealand. In 2009, it was the Great Ocean Road. This year, it was Broadbeach, the Gold Coast. With winds and floods buffeting much of the upper north coast, we toughed out some turbulence on the plane (lots of people looked green around the gills) and were greeted to a tarmac full of rain. Sideways rain, upwards rain, downwards rain and lots of rain. Add to that we had no umbrella and needed food supplies. Then mix in a little optimism that the "shopping centre isn't too far away" and what you got was too seriously wet people. Not cool when you're a dedicated glasses wearer like myself.

Thankfully, we were granted two full days of sunshine where we basked in the beach sand, slid down the slides at Wet N Wild and mellowed out as the sun went down. On the days it rained, we rented out some Oovie dvds: Letters from Juliet (my choice), Salt (Man from Mars' choice) and Transamerica (a unanimous decision). All in all, we had a great time.

[A ladybird!]

[Wet n' Wild:]

[Man from Mars all tanned and beachy:]

[A soft sunset:]

Today, as I returned to work on the eve of Christmas, I was greeted with a buzzing workplace excited for Christmas. It's Miss K Kaif's birthday on the 28th and we celebrated with a Thai lunch and street corner photo:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, YOU FINE LADYY!

As the year draws to a close, I'm feeling the annual "let's reflect" wave coming on. It's been a year packed with life, work, some anxiety, theusual self-exploration, friendship, the occasional feeling of uncertainty ("is what I'm doing, what I'm meant to be doing?") resolving into a generally content sense of satisfaction. I'm not exaggerating when I say that it's all passed in the blink of an eye. Where'd the year go??

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!