Christmas in the sun/heat ?

[Mosman]

My youngest girl is already getting quite upset ghat Christmas won't feel right. Her best Christmas was a week in centre parts the year before last with snow and log cabins.
So now we are in Perth Australia, Im guessing a real tree is out of the question, it won't be dark so lights will be of limited value. What do you do to make it magical and sparkly ?

My DSis lives in Aukland NZ (not Australia I know but she has Christmas in Summer too)

I think you just have to embrace it, not try to recreate the snow and log cabins (which sounds lovely BTW)

It'll be Christmas on the beach for you this year though for me it would be a ticket to somewhere snowy if I lived in Australia

I'm from NZ and despite living here for 10 years, I still get a Christmassy feeling around May/June time so Christmas in a southern hemisphere climate can definitely be done!

Re lights, not sure how old your DD is, but my mother used to drive us around the neighbourhood at around 8pm at night (probably on the 23rd rather than the 24th) and we would look at all the lights as it was dark enough by then that they made some impact. I do that now here with my DS and he loves it!

I'm not sure what sort of area you live in, but Christmas Eve for me and my brother was always playing out with the neighbourhood kids, playing in the pool, watching Santa's progress on TV (back before there was the internet!) and just getting all excited with our friends. On the day itself, it was fantastic to see and hear (and as a kid, join in with) all the neighbourhood kids playing outside on their new bikes/skateboards or whatever. It was great for the parents as well who got to prepare lunch without the kids underfoot. I still miss seeing kids outside on Christmas day now - I find it really weird that everyone stays inside!

I take it this is your first year in Perth. Maybe ask around and see what the locals do for their kids? Christmas is all about tradition so whatever you do, your kids will love it and adapt and will look back with fond memories!

www.snozoneuk.com/v/milton-keynes/the-slope

Is there similar in Perth?

It will be dark in Perth. Probably by about 7 pm. People decorate massively in Perth. There ar competitions for it on the radio and a Scottish family who live in woodvale tend to win it most years. You should take a trip to see it. There home is fabulous and they Make such an effort to collect for charity.

Yes it will be boiling at probably close to 40 degrees but have champagne on the beach on Christmas day. That is where lots of people go. Gmtv used to broadcast from cottesloe on Christmas eve.

There are plenty of places to see Santa too. It really is just a bit warmer and needs to be what you make of it. Decorate your house to the max. Get the lights out.

Thanks sausageroll I shall embrace bling and light up the rental.

Most of what I shipped over was Christmas decs so the children didn't miss their stockings etc so we should be alright. That child just has the ability to make me feel guilty and isn't settling as well as the others.

Thanks for the other ideas I'll look around for a snow some, there's definitely an ice rink that might have to do.

Google comstock way Christmas lights in woodvale. They are good.
That and whack the air on on so high you need to wear winter clothes inside!

Seriously though, I struggled with my first Aussie Christmas so take it as it comes

MIL leaves on 27th Dec, I already have a countdown calendar on the go lol

I live in Chile, and love a summery Chistmas, but that just because I get SAD, or used to before I left Britain.

We still do a tree, although not real, and because of a European influence you'll see snowman decorations and Santa with the trad red coat and boots here. We're close to the capital so have never seen how the indigenous population deal with Christmas, or even if they do.

I'm sure you can get festive things, plates- either disposable or fancy china cookie plates, table cloths etc to make your table look the part. Do you get Christmas crackers? We can't get those here.

Not really sure what you can do about the temp other than do as suggested up there ^^ and whack the air-con into overdrive.

Make new traditions for your family Mosman.
What about a cricket match in the afternoon?
Maybe a champagne breakfast near the beach?
A lovely big cold buffet for lunch - are you big seafood eaters?
Some of my inlaws still have the hot roast dinner but at my place its always a cold buffet. I realised that this is one thing that has become a tradition for my kids when my youngest said he couldn't wait for the Christmas party with everyone there and all the food.
I have certain recipes that I only make at Christmas and this makes it feel like Christmas for me.

I love the heat so don't see that as a negative myself, I like the fact that we will be able to go out on the bikes, that the pool will get use etc, all exciting stuff.

This will be my fourth Christmas in Perth. It is a bit strange to be in the heat but I agree with the above people who have said to make new traditions.

We took DS to see Father Christmas at Myers in the city last year - and will do again this year. One of our new traditions is that we BBQ breakfast (so yummy!) eat in sitting out on the patio and open the stockings out there (before we want to come inside and turn the aircon on!) we then have a late lunch - we got some of the biggest prawns we have ever seen from Burswood Seafood (along with plenty of other seafood) and BBQ again with some fancy salads. Whilst I miss a traditional roast, on the day its so hot that the idea of having the oven on is horrific! - but if you think you can't not do it, get a Weber and roast the meat outside.
I also make home made icecream and mix Christmas pudding into it (but as I'm pregnant with DC2 I might refuse this year as I won't be able to eat it!) which goes down a storm.
Letters to Santa can be sent to Santa, North Pole, 9999, make sure you use a stamp and write the childs name and address on the back of the envelope and Australia Post will send a reply....

Hope you are settling into Perth, I'm happy to be here, it's a great city with a laidback lifestyle. And I remember some of your other threads - so I hope your MIL isn't being too much hard work - and if you need respite I'd be happy to meet for a cuppa!

Oh Wombat that would be wonderful, she's been here less than a week and the following me around like lost Labrador is driving me potty already. I start my new job mid September which is wonderful, simply the best role and best organisation I have ever come across so very happy. The children have settled in really well and are having a blast I just hope we can stay forever !