Christmas Day 2008

Ho Ho Ho

Christmas this year was unusual. Great fun, oh yes, but it just seemed a little odd not being round the table with Mum, Dad, Chris, Tim et al (all while trying to sneak an extra large portion of smoked salmon mousse ring...lol). Instead I spent it on a wee beach overlooking Manly in 30 degree sunshine. I had a lovely day with Simone's family and my cousins (and uncle) on Shelly Beach eating oysters with tabasco (mmm), drinking beers and snorkelling amongst the coral.

Uncle Mike enjoying an oyster, part of the fabulous spread provided by all for Christmas lunch

Everyone on the beach, as you might expect, was in joyous mood with carols being sung on the beach in the blazing sunshine (you would occasionally catch a distant 'FIIIIVE GOOOOOOOLLLLLD RINGS' from another party at various points throughout the day)

This was actually Little Manley just over the other side of the Manly peninsula.

Finally....I can't take the credit for the following photo as I don't have an underwater camera but this is a Grouper fish. These things grow bloody huge. Anyway, the reason for this photo is that whilst snorkelling I came across one of these. The one I found out on the reef was about 4 feet long and a foot high. I mean it was HUGE. It came so close and was completely uninterested in me and I obviously posed no threat to the point that I could reach out and touch it as it swum not six inches from my nose. Most cool indeed.

The view back across to Shelly Beach from the Howitt's rooftop apartment. To the left is the Pacific Ocean and the wide open sea!