Christmas Scenes

Life size Nativity Scene in front of the Buckland House.

I realized that I had not updated with blog with pictures of the Area Office and temple at Christmas. We did not get many night pictures because most nights we were too dead tired to return to take pictures. It doesn't get dark here until around 8:30 or 9 pm.


Sydney Temple grounds at night.

New Year's Eve 2007

The evening began at 5 pm when we left our flat and drove 20 minutes to the Gordon train station. There we parked the car on the street (the car parks were already full) and took the train about 10 stops to Waverton. We then walked 10-15 minutes to Berry Point where we set up our chairs in the weeds to wait. We took snack foods to eat. We arrived around 6 pm.
As it got dark, an hour glass appeared on the bridge that had lighted balls that dropped about every 15 minutes until 9 pm. At 9 the first fireworks went off. There were three displays that we could see from where we were sitting, to the left, center and right of us and then the bridge. All were the same fireworks and were set off so that everyone could see them from wherever they were perched.
The big show came three hours later at midnight. I wish I could download the video to be seen on the blog because it really shows the fireworks that were set off of the buildings in downtown and the boats. There were fireworks going off everywhere. I have never seen such a display. They ended about 12:20 am. We packed up and made our way with literally thousands of others back to the train station. We caught the first train to stop back to Gordon. It was packed and Jay almost got left behind when the doors closed. We arrived back home at 1:30 am. For those of you who know us (we go to bed at 9 pm on New Year's Eve!) it was a very late night!!! Jay said it was worth doing once but not twice! We shall see!!!
Elder and Sister Hilbig-1st Quorum of Seventy
Nallys, Bakes and Oldroyds at our vantage point.
Sydney Skyline from our spot.
Sydney harbour bridge and city skyline.

Dusk - still hours to go.
Hour glass counts down the time 'til midnight on bridge.
City Skyline as it gets dark.

Fireworks from the bridge and over Sydney

Finale

Christmas in Australia at the Oldroyds

Our little flat looks quite festive. The "big" tree rests on the air conditioner and if the air conditioner is on we can't plug in the lights. We have a very small tree on the telephone desk by the TV that works in a similar fashion. If the TV is on you can't plug the lights in or the reception on the TV goes haywire!! Ahhhh! Life in the missionfield. I am amazed at how hectic it gets even for missionaries at Christmastime. The seniors have scheduled themselves with too many parties to keep us from getting homesick and now we are all complaining!!! Maybe we would rather be homesick.
Air Conditioned Christmas!!

Nativity on the bookcase.
Aussie Nativity with the native Australian animals.
Our second tiny tree on the telephone stand.

Train Trip Home

The train trip was rather boring and sleepless as it rattled and rumbled along the tracks. The food was reasonable but not quite the gourmet dining that was described in the brochure. The scenery was really boring the 2nd day. Much like the Utah desert only red dirt.
Jail at Cook.
Nullarbar Desert
Getting ready to disembark.
The shower

Vi & Colin Harding, our dinner partners.
Population 4
Cook

Toilet and sink.

Name of train was Indian Pacific.
The "Cabin"
Pensive Jay
The scenery.
Lounge car.

Downtown Perth

Kings Park
Kings Park and Skyline
Perth from Kings Park
ANZAC Memorial in Kings Park.
Forever Flame, Kings Park.

The white building was our hotel. Our room was on the sixth floor on the end.
Kings Park from the river.
Shopping street.
Skyline