If you know me well, you will know that the mid 1950s is my favourite era, particularly when it comes to music and film. The first thing I did when I realized I would be spending my first Christmas in the Northern Hemisphere was start humming “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas…”. Now you all know what I’m talking about, Bing Crosby’s beautiful voice charming out the best-selling single of all time (yes, that’s right folks – 50million copies and counting!). I love the mountains, I love snow and I have literally been dreaming about a white Christmas since I was a kid. So it seemed perfect that given Diogenes and I were away from family and that most of our friends had gone back to their respective families for the holidays, that we go up to the mountains and enjoy a White Christmas.
We travelled up with the married couple, Dave and Liz, who live in the studio in my house and all stayed in a quaint hotel on Tahoe Beach. We dined at a waterfront 5-star restaurant on Christmas Eve with the best seat in the house. We had a 3-course meal and ample wine to go with it. The meal was beautiful, relaxing and whilst it didn’t compare to the fresh lobsters, oysters and grilled whole fish I would normally eat on Christmas Eve, it was the perfect way to share the special meal. On actual Christmas day we travelled around Lake Tahoe, playing in the snow, exploring the view points and visiting ski resorts. Due to my injury we couldn’t ski, toboggan or do anything super fun and there were high winds so the gondolas were also closed. Nevertheless, it was just simply divine and a beautiful way to spend Christmas. The weather was perfect and we watched the sunset over the lake and mountains. I am still blown away at how beautiful it all was.
After Christmas Diogenes and I travelled down to Santa Cruz and spent some time on the beach eating prawns and scallops along the famous wharf. We reminisced time with our respective families and at home and hence enjoyed a quasi-Southern Hemisphere Christmas lunch on the beach eating seafood in memory of good times. If there is one thing for certain, Diogenes and I certainly know how to live the good life! I sent out hand-made cards to all of my family and tried to get in touch with everyone I love dearly. I felt spoilt with cards and presents flying in from Australia, Germany, Norway and Vietnam and decorated my room with flowers Diogenes gave me (Poinsettias and Winter Rose - two Christmas classics), candy canes, tinsel and other Christmas items. I really missed my friends, family and 'home' but being away from home almost made me get into the Christmas spirit more to make up for what we normally take for granted!
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