Wow, it's Christmas after almost 9 months living life on the road - somewhere on the bus.   On this 25 December 2015 we find ourselves in the very centre of Australia, the furthest point from any coast, Alice Spings, Northern Territory, Australia.   I don't recall ever spending a Christrmas away from my family in Victoria....I vaguely recollect that there was one, but only vaguely and without detail. 

Christmas has never really been a thing of mine, but was always an extravaganza event of my beautiful mum and family and was a wonderful though exhausting get together of excesses to be shared - food, drinks, gifts, love and fun (and not without the occasional dramatics). Since my unforgettable mum has left this earth, Christmas has been a day of dread, as she was always at the centre of festivities, and while missed every single day, never so much as Christmas day.  Well, this year is definitely a new experience!  Welcome to our Centralian Christmas.

Unfortunately Jay wasn't able to join us due to work commitments.   So after giving myself a rather dramatic new hairdo, Qantas the only available carrier, lands and Pop and Faye arrive in Alice Springs to experience the festive season central desert style.   After a  tour of town (a total of about 15 minutes) we checked in to their Hotel, a pool lesson for Lola and Faye and a revolting dinner at the Ibis that involved fake potato mash clag (won't be doing that again).  Christmas Eve is upon us and we decide to put on a Christmas dinner in the camp kitchen for our friends at the Caravan Park (there were more but I didn't manage a usable pic).  

Christmas morning and Lola does presents before we head off to meet Pop and Faye for Christmas Dinner dining out style.   And Daisy opens her present.  The first wine opened at their hotel room, and the lovely Annie gift given (a beautiful carving we purchased from Annie Hunter from Utopia representing Women's Business.   Christmas dinner was awful, but the wine continued to flow.   After lunch drinks by the pool before passing out in the hotel room.   A trip up to Anzac Hill to watch the sunset then a light dinner at the Casino.   What it lacked in the traditional family ruckus we are used to, it made up in a totally stress free unique experience of Christmas 2015 in the desert.   On to the new year!