A Summer Christmas

Perhaps seasons are nothing more than moods.

The weather has sort of flattened itself out, and we have warm winters, and cool and rainy summers and yet we feel different during each season.

Christmas means cosy, warmth, firesides and family. Today we have had none of that. And yet it has been the most brilliant of days. Just one that has been hard to correlate with the term “Christmas’

After presents and breakfast, rather hampered by a lack of staff in the hotel, we headed to the beach. Packing a beach bag with sun creams and towels is not the first thing that comes to mind for a Christmas morning, but its a nice thing to do. At least a little prep back in the Uk has provided Christmas t shirts to remind us just what day it is.

The beach is busy and lots of people settling down for the day. We spend a couple of hours ending with a swim. The waters are not tropical, but the feel is that of lazy summer days. Our mood is high.

Changing from shorts to shorts in the hotel we ahead off to a restaurant further down the beach which was booked blind from the Uk. A bit of a risk but it pays off. Evidently it’s Cameron Mackintosh’s favourite, but in spite of that, it’s heaven. Light, airy, full of warmth and packed with families lunching together.

The food is heaven. Turkey of course though sadly no sprouts. The service is excellent and the whole afternoon is a joy. Then it’s time to jump into an Uber and head to a drinks party at Amy Maiden’s, an old work colleague and friend of Richard’s. A great chance to chat with some American actors who are over here as part of the cast of the fabulous musical “Come From Away”. It’s like a summer Sunday at home, sitting in the garden, trying to find some shade. The bloody Marys flow, and the chatter delights.

Evening brings a second chance to enjoy the delightful beach at St Kilda with a walk on the pier and to gaze in envy at the kite surfers, and wonder just how much their arms will ache in the morning.

Crowds have gathered at the end of the pier hopeful of seeing the

return of the wild penguin colony who return to the bay each evening after sunset. By crowds, I mean the sort of numbers that any Wednesday matinee would be proud to achieve. If I were a penguin, I’d be talking to my agent about upping my fee, particularly having to work on Christmas night. Still , no Boxing Day matinee for them.

For us, no boxing either, but a full day of another sport that again gives us that summer feelin’.