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...

Ha, I think "White Wine in the Sun" and going to the local church might be either-or activities.

Something for everyone here!

Married don't get shitty...PILS would never go to church....they expect us to spend the time with them so we can't do that. they have christmas eve all planned out.

Is a girl not allowed to get homesick?

Ramp up the airconditioning, dress up warmly with some scraves, hat etc, drink some hot chocolate and sing some christmas carols . It's NEVER going to feel like a Christmas in the UK, it's too damn hot!!!

''Is a girl not allowed to get homesick? ''

Of course people are allowed to get homesick but try to embrace the holiday and just enjoy it. You could always have a pretend Christmas day another day to make up for it being different. Just enjoy it.

The alternative in the Uk seems to be flooding, norovirus, bad colds, flu, rain, queues in every shop ...I'd rather be in Oz!

lol we don't HAVE aircon here in MILS DIY so perhaps I'm a bit grumpy tonight. It was 41 degrees today which to sun lovers I KNOW sounds great but is really hard work when you're fair skinned and a lover of damp, English countryside.

The house is in darkness on days like that...the shutters are all down to keep out the heat so it's a bit grim tbh. We tried to go out today for a while but the DDs were miserable in the heat and so were we!

To be honest though you should have expected the heat. It's pretty much the height of their summer!

Well I DID expect it! I'm not saying it was a complete surprise.

Ok. Fair enough. To be honest though you should be grateful you can afford a holiday. Not everyone can these days. Just enjoy it and stop moaning!

We did several Christmas holidays in Oz. You need to download an album of cheesy 80's Christmas songs and get them playing. It does help you get more in the mood. They aren't played everywhere like they are here.

Once you get use to them we enjoyed the swim at the beach after opening presents then coming home to a big seafood feast.

Expecting 41 and living through 41 are two completely different things! This is where I laugh my head off at people who go on and on about how absolutely wonderful an Australian summer is, and how they don't understand why we moved here. Live through a few of the damn things and THEN tell me how wonderful it is! The day we landed for a visit a few years ago it was 43 and stayed like that for a week. If DM didn't have air conditioning I'd have gone elsewhere!!!!

Although to be fair, it isn't usually that hot for Christmas - summer seems to have hit Australia rather early this year.

Candles in the garden when it gets dark. Christmassy music. Cinnamon air freshener!

Oh OP, it IS hard, but I think you def need a tree to make it more Christmassy. Here's one suggestion: go and geta fake tree with fibreoptic lights that are built in - it only needs to be small. Get kids to choose decs and decorate the tree. Tell MIL the kids have a surprise for her - then present her with the tree. Then you also have somewhere to put presses for adults, which makes it mre Christmassy. My other suggestions are - take the DC Christmas shopping for baubles for the tree. Myer do really nice ones and they have 40 per cent off at the mo! You could take them to see Santa there at same time (Myer or David Jones ones are good). Lovely individual baubles make nice presents. One for MIL from each kid? If you are in Melbourne, go to the Myer Christmas windows display in Bourke St CBD. (Myer in other big cities may do this as well). I have made it an annual event with DD. There are also lovely other things on in the city such as displays. Also, even if you are not religious, you could take the kids to a crib service on Christmas Eve. They are aimed at little ones. Or even just put on some Christmas music.
Does your MIL have Foxtel? UKTV channel has great British progs, we all watched Vicar of Dibley last night and felt v Christmassy. UKTV has quite a good Christmas line up. Otherwise, accept that Oz TV at Christmas is shite, as no one is watching at this time of year. But you can still buy lots of DVDs from UK in ABC shop or at JB Hifi, so if you can't live without your faces, chances are you can get them on DVD over here. (Foxtel also has CBeebies too.)
BTW, you can get Heston's mince pies and Christmas pudding (from Waitrose) in Coles. Why not add them to your shopping list? Aussies still do mince pies, Christmas pus, brandy butter over here, so all is not lost!
I really feel for you and your kids as, even though this is my 10th Christmas in Oz and my 13th hot one, it just doesn't feel AS Christmassy as at home and it probably never will do. I try to instigate traditions, such as Myer Christmas window, which mean something to DD, aged 7. Maybe try to turn it around if all else fails and tell your 8 year old this is a different way to enjoy Christmas, etc and that most of his/her friends would LOVE a hot Christmas. Good luck and let us know how you get on! Christmas hugs!

Er, that should be Christmas pud! And faves, not faces!

Go to the shopping centres to escape the heat; or the cinema; drive around in the evenings and look at all the houses lit up. Download some Christmas music and play it. Fill in the Christmas colouring competitions from the local shops. Go through the drive through coffee places and order one of their Christmas specials go to the local swimming pools find out what local activities are happening. Go to the beach go to the river get dd to make decorations and put them up. Have a water bomb fight out the back on the of your house but a cheap "slip n slide" and play on that make frozen mango daiquiris and champagne cocktails. And drink your beer fridge cold and get pissed. Have some bbqs go crabbing or prawning go to the outdoor cinema. Man there are heaps of things to do!!!

Have a look at the NORAD website. They have a radar that tracks santas progress across the world - your DDs may like it, I know I did and it made me feel all festive too when I was meant to be working Xmas eve last year. It's quite a nice story how it came about too

Local libraries have special Christmas activities too but usually you have to book

I miss oz . Life is what you make it. Enjoy your special trip. It's cold wet and bloody dark here

You can get the Snowman on youtube. Ultimate Christmas Eve film.