As one friend of mine attempts to corner the market on lurid personal Xmas photos (thank god for the hat), I decide to play it safe with this photo of a typical 30 degree day in Martin Place, pre-Xmas.

Xmas in Martin Place

Note, however, the absence of blue sky. Sydney. Is. HUMID this year.

After I took this photo I found a cheerful homeless guy sitting by the Commonwealth Bank and wearing a Santa hat. I thought about paying him to model some of that holiday cheer, but I dunno, he seemed a little incommunicado & I wasn't sure how to handle the transaction. He did wish me Merry Xmas, though, as I dropped him some coins. All in all, this Xmas has seemed like a happy one for most people I've passed. From the tinsel-crazed bus drivers to the homeless guy near the bank to the crazy dude in the safari suit who stands in front of Parliament House (he had to re-do all his signs when we got ourselves a new Prime Minister) to the people at the supermarket today who let a confused woman usurp their position in the queue ('It's Christmas!' they told her, but she scuttled away again, her sights set on a higher goal -- and shorter queue). It's been a happy & peaceful winding down to a busy ol' year.

So let me wish a Merry Xmas to those who celebrate, happy holidays to those you get 'em, an adequate Festivus to my fellow Seinfeld fans, & peace for everyone.

And to all, a good-night!

On another topic: last week I joined a professional development organisation, the kind of thing you join if you have a day job. Like, an organisation for project managers, say. Which it is. And this week I attended my first 'chapter meeting' (I warned my housemate, 'if I don't come home, I've been abducted by a cult.'). 'Chapter' meeting? Weird.

It turned out to be quite weird indeed. ( We played trivial pursuit )

... I have found nothing so funny as to replace Chris Christmas Rodriguez.

Thank god he's still online.

Merry [insert appropriate festival name] Everyone!!!