To ask you all to help me make it more Christmassy for DD?

[MrsMushroom]

We're in Oz. It' very nice and it's hot and all that but it's not festive in the sense we're used to. We have a tree...and there will be stockings andd crackers and all that....but te food is dfferent and we're at MILS which whilst lovely, is just not home.

DD aged 8 confided that it doesn't feel at all Christmassy and I feel the same. tomorrow we have to go shopping for last min gifts...the shopping centre isn't festive really either!

What can we DO about it? I told her I'd take her to the coffee shop for cake and hot chocolate...and that we would maybe look on iplayer for some UK telly. I think we might be able to watch some thiings live.

What else? I will put on some christmassy music on Youtube and she can wrap gifts for MIL and her little sis....any other suggestions?

We made some glittery cards today but our Christmas spirit isn't here at all. Oh yes...we can read The Night Before Christmas....

I think the trouble is...that it's not all over the house...this is MILs house and I'm not comfy putting up extra decs when she is so pleased that she's got lights all outside...it doesn't feel like christmas INSIDE. The food's all wrong.

Cherries and seafood. A lot of summery fruit...no Christmas caks or any nice cheese...

i think go other way , make it big adventure how diff - and great- xmas is in oz

It's not though. It's a nice summer holiday but it's not a "great christmas" at all. I've thrown us right into the beach and surfing and the DDs have loved it...but it's not Christmassy at all. It's just like a summer holiday with presents.

I think I'd start emphasising how exciting and different it all is!! Send FC a postcard rather than a letter! Find 10 things to do on Christmas eve that you couldn't do in England (open air swim/ walk on the beach/ picking flowers/hang baubles on the outside trees............) Start an Oz Christmas scrap book.

From here in rainy England, a sunny bbq Christmas sounds very appealing!

You risk not enjoying it at all if you try to make it into something it isnt.

oops cross posts!

It's one year, explore a different Christmas then do your lessons learnt for next time.

We have a scrap book but I like the baubles idea...I have tried to make things different but it's hard. It's not one year either bear we've promised we will come every other year...the inlaws have no other DC in the family. They are so happy to have us...so I feel mean but it's just SO different here.

I hope your ILs aren't picking up on the negativity.

I'm sure they would feel hurt.

Man I'd love to be in oz for Christmas.

Try and do something different though its not going to be a carbon copy of home.

See the light!

oh no Salmon....no way. I'm all smiles. I have assured them the tree etc is lovely and it's all fabulous. I;m not evil! It IS nice....but its so unfestive in the way I know it and DD knows it....my younger DD has no real memory she's only 4 so she's fine....I will attempt things again tomorrow.

Baubles on trees outside....sounds good. Maybe we can make some shell decorations too.

I also think embrace a different Christmas else what's the point?

You could download some Xmas tunes and take them to the beach and eat mince pies on said beach. Make a sand snowman. Skype at 7pm there to folks on Christmas morning here.

There must be an icerink - go iceskating or see if there's indoor ski slopes?

Are any Aussie mnetters here that could give you a run down of a traditional Aussie Xmas - might have some nice ideas.

Next year do Lapland [Grin]

How about tracking Santa on the NORAD site? It might be a bit young for her but it's very sweet and festive.

I'm a right stickin the mud. I just LOVE Christmas as it is....was. Never mind..sand snowmen sound good! It's so much about people getting off on their hols here....everyone finishes work....lots of places shut down....there are BBQs and piss ups and it's not my scene at all. Im very quiet and like the telly and cake and cheese! I'm deprived of all those!

I did see a shark the other day tho....that's a new one!

I bet your dds will love it as they get a bit older.

I'm jealous do they want to adopt me as well and ill do every other year too?

Seriously I did Spain one year, it was a bit weird, which I think is why it's good to put a twist on it.

Well I do think they're enjoying it...but it's like Christmas is only a little thing here...it's not the MASSIVE event that it is in the UK. DH says it's because here there is not as much commercialism but there is....only about different things.

Could you do some Christmassy crafts? My niece, aged 8, LOVED making snowflakes - cutting holes in paper basically. Then seeing them up as decorations inside the house?

this type of thing But ours are not quite as intricate!

Why not go to the portable north pole and make her a video? You even put in where you are and he promises you that he can find you wherever you are which might be a lovely touch if she's feeling a bit lost.

Make some mince pies or Christmas biscuits together - that way the house will smell like christmas even if it doesn't look it. How about getting DD to make some decorations? Cut out snowflakes, make a snowman out of cotton wool balls etc? Granny can't really complain about putting more decorations up if they're made by the grandchildren can she :)

Why not go to the beach with an orange and a scarf and make a sandman instead :)

Put on a Christmassy movie? Polar Express is my children's favourite.

It'll be the hardest this year but it'll get easier and easier as you do more Christmasses in Oz. A Christmas BBQ sounds amazing from here in rainy old England and I'm sure before long you'll be looking forward to your alternative Christmasses.

I love the idea of making Shell tree decorations. You can take them home and have them on your UK tree next year.

Abundant supplies of Christmas cake & cheese are available in Coles, Woolworths and lots of specialty groceries. If MIL hasn't bought them then buy them tomorrow . UK TV on Foxtel supplies all your UK Christmas Specials, and ABC free to air has Queen's speech, Carols from King's , Pope's message etc to your taste.
But really, no point in traveling to the other side of the world and wishing it was just like home. Add a sprinkle of the above familiar stuff to your buck's fizz and salmon croissants on the beach breakfast, Lobsters prawns, etc on the BBQ lunch.......
No it doesn't feel like Christmas at home but why would it?
Doesn't feel like Christmas in Paris / New York / Bethlehem either

Why don't you just tell MIL that the dds would like to put up some more decorations for her & ask her if she minds? Buy some tinsel & streamers and let dd go to town with it!

I am in Aus and fully stocked with Mince Pies,Xmas pud, Turkey and all trimmings, tin of Quality Street & choc oranges for those that like them and selection of Belgian & Swiss chocs for snobs others , Wensleydale, Camenbert and 4 other cheeses.......(everything except the M & S food hall)all bought from my local chain supermarket up the road. Food & TV are easily replicated. Drizzle, grey skies and 6 hours of daylight harder to come by (thankfully)

Listen to six white bloomers (Rolph Harris) - we had some childhood christmas' in Oz, and it always made Christmas for me !!

Oh yes, and to "White wine in the sun" Tim Minchin
Can anyone do a You Tube linky?

I've had a couple of Christmas periods in Oz, and a couple in NZ. The first one was v odd, but now we embrace it if we're over at DP's family in NZ. Relish the difference, and it will be a great experience for the kids. Good luck and have fun! :)

Sorry OP. You and your dd need to learn about different sorts of festivity. Jesus was born in the Middle East. There probably wasn't snow there in spite of some of the depictions. Christmas is not about how we do it in England it is about the birth of Jesus.

Go to the local church on Christmas Eve and listen to a similar message. Say some prayers for those less fortunate than you can't afford a decent Christmas let alone to take a family to Australia for the holiday.

Presumably your dd is half Australian - help her get in touch with that side of herself - please. Christmas is about love, about sharing, about Jesus, about festivals at this time of year, about families, about peace - what bit of that don't you have to help you feel more Christmassy?