CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA

 

It is the night before Christmas Eve,

 and we are about as ready as we can be...

I have been printing out the Latin words for all four verses of Adeste Fideles, ready to sing with the church choir tomorrow night.

It is always an absolute treat to sing these beautiful carols and hymns on the most precious of nights..

We are looking forward with great anticipation, to spending a few hours with the grandchildren on Christmas morning.  What a blessing they are in our lives.

Last week we attended a stage version of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'.  It was beautifully done, very atmospheric, but with a few laughs for the many young people in the audience.

Still trying to teach myself to do Junk Journaling, I recorded the night in my December 2024 Diary.

The front and back covers look like this:

I used a padded mail envelope for the cover, and collaged with fabric.

The pages I stitched in are a mix of coffee died papers, and some purchased Christmas themed paper.  Then I play around with pages of old music, and odd bits of ephemera from my collections.

My new little quick photo printer is very useful and fun.

Yesterday, I had a strange and unusual visitor in our garden.

I could hear rustling in the leaves below my sewing room window.

Looking down, I saw a very large Goanna (Australian lizard), about one metre long.

He climbed up over a rock, as I quickly grabbed my phone to get a picture. 

Unfortunately its head had already gone under the leaves in this first picture: 

It then emerged a bit further away, and I got another shot (greatly magnified):

I have never seen these creatures in a suburban garden before.  It may have become disoriented during yet another flood event last week, and is trying to find its way back to the bush.

It had very unusual banded markings.  I googled it, and I think it is a Lace Monitor goanna.  I found this photo on Google:

Not exactly the same, but similar.

I think 'our' goanna had more picturesque markings!

It did not stay around for long, and has now gone on its way.

In 2018 we enjoyed a wonderful Art and Music cruise on the River Elbe, from Berlin to Prague.

We floated along from Potsdam, then spent a pleasant day at the picturesque city of Magdaburg..greeted by this pretty pink statue near the waterfront..

I took lots of pictures of a fabulous pink citadel ...

What fun to live in this building..

We enjoyed coffee in a little cafe on the ground floor...

We also visited their ancient and beautiful Cathedral...

When researching family, Mr Cardinal later discovered his Grand+ forebears were married here.

Sadly, we have seen this week the tragic event which unfolded in the Christmas markets nearby.  Poor Magdaburg.  We pray for their citizens whose Christmas has been interrupted so shockingly.

Poppies pictured in a Monastery courtyard at Magdaburg.

Wishing all the Readers of the Red Cardinal blog a Safe, Happy and Merry Christmas, and a bright New Year in 2025.

Thank you for popping by, I do cherish your friendship and thank you for reading my ramblings.

Joy and Peace

XXXXX