Christmas nights and lights

It is Christmas Eve and I am in a whirl of baking.  The gingerbread house and the nut roast is done.  I have baked mince pies and cranberry nut rolls.  The panforte has been stirred and baked while I watch Carols by Candlelight.  Christmas has been filled with late nights, present wrapping, Christmas cards, decorating gingerbread, sleepless nights, eating out, berries, shopping and lights.  Lights on the tree, on houses and on the Melbourne Town Hall.

We have had a tradition of going in to the city one evening before Christmas and spending one evening driving around to see houses lit up with Christmas lights.  Here are some photos:

Christmas in the city square.  Top photo is the tree.  Above is the manger scene

We had Lord of the Fries for dinner and a festive ring doughnut from Krispy Kreme to share for dessert.  Three tubs of sauce from Lord of the Fries despite specifying no sauce for any of us!

We walked along to Bourke St Mall via Royal Arcade (above).

The queues for the Myer Christmas windows were too long so we decided to see them after Christmas.  We headed up to the 6th floor where there was quite a short queue to see Santa.

Then we browsed the toys, gifts and decorations.  This superhero photo window was great fun.  Can you see Sylvia's teddy?

Then we were out late enough to go to the train via the Melbourne Town Hall to see the light show. 

We saw about half of it and were prepared to stay and see the first part.  However unlike the Geelong Town Hall, it wasn't on a continuous loop.  We had to wait 10 minutes for the next light show.  Which is far too long when you have a tired kid you need to get home to bed.

We were glad to see a bit of it.  Sylvia found it magical.

Sylvia also found the lights on houses around us magical when we drove around last week.

This house (above and below) amused us with the kangaroos, Mary and Joseph not talking and DJ Santa in the background.

Then we visited the below house that we had seen last year.

And now it is Christmas Eve.  Sylvia is not sleeping,  E is doing dishes.  I about about to clear the kitchen table for breakfast tomorrow.  I'll be back in a few days after Christmas celebrations.  Wishing you all a merry Christmas and a happy and healthy holiday.