'Tis the Season
One thing about working where I do is that they take Christmas very seriously, well, that is to say, they're serious about celebrating. Friday was the office mass and Christmas lunch, complete various baked foods, lots of beer and wine, and a themed trivia contest (my table did not win, but we made a decent showing; maybe next year). Today there's another party, just the department, and Wednesday yet another. On Saturday we'll have one at home for family, so that by the time Christmas has actually arrived, we'll be well worn out and looking forward to a bit of quiet time.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, M. & I attended the traditional gathering of Michelle's friends, this year in Pyrmont, a suburb we don't spend much time in, but which is really very nice. There's not much there beyond the Powerhouse museum and a few pubs and cafes, so I don't expect to be going there any more often. Michelle's very nice and takes her responsibilities as hostess seriously, including the planning, which ran to a $5-value "Kris Kringle" gift exchange. Most people took the price limit seriously, although M. & I insisted that there was nothing worth giving at that level (and we were right, although the chocolates I got were nice enough). The main point was, of course, the company, and there were a couple of other of our friends there and some new people to meet and chat with, so all-in-all a nice enough event.

Yesterday, Astrid arranged an evening picnic at Neilson Park, a lovely harbour beach M. and I rather like, and which is also very accessible via public transport, although the ride can be complicated at this time of year by holiday traffic, especially if you get stuck behind a Salvation Army marching band. (They might have used the footpath, but we made our connection with time to spare in the end anyway, so all is forgiven.)

The director and the producer of Meera's short (shameless plug: Upskirt) were there, of course, being family and friends, but also various others, some we've met and others new to us, and it was a lovely evening in the cool by the water in the last of the sun, perhaps the best way of all to finish a weekend.

Yes, that is a shark net across the beach in the photo at the bottom.