Monochrome Weekend

For more monochrome madness, visit Dragonstar's Weekend in Black and White.

Sky Watch Friday

View from Level 47, MLC Centre.

For more Sky Watch from around the world, drop in to the home of Sky Watch Friday.

Sydney Christmas (6)

This is what Julie didn't want to show you. The garish Santa cage that completely overshadows the glorious tree on the upper lever of Queen Victoria Building, you can just see the tree in the background. The lower levels, however, don't have this problem. Here it is Swarovski crystal and all.

Christmas Lights (3)

Sydney Town Hall, not as good as last year and nowhere near as impressive as St Mary's Cathedral.

Christmas Lights (2)

Christmas Lights

This should make up for yesterday's post. The Christmas lights of St Mary's Cathedral.

Seasons Greetings

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral celebration of the winter/summer solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.

Also, I wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2012, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make the world a great place, and without regard to the race, creed, colour, age, physical ability, religious faith, or sexual preference of the wishee.

By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms: This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for herself or others, and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher.

This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.

Disclaimer:

No trees were harmed in the sending of this message, however, while a significant number of electrons were inconvenienced, no bits were lost.

Weekend Reflections - Sydney Christmas (5)

Its very difficult to photograph David Jones' Christmas window display without reflections.

For more reflections visit James' Weekend Reflections.

Sky Watch Friday

Another Lord Howe sunset.

For more Sky Watch from around the world, drop in to the home of Sky Watch Friday.

Sydney Christmas (4)

Sydney Christmas (3)

Merry Government Christmas!

All employees planning to dash through the snow in a one horse open sleigh, going over the fields and laughing all the way are advised that a Risk Assessment will be required addressing the safety of an open sleigh for members of the public.

This assessment must also consider whether it is appropriate to use only one horse for such a venture, particularly where there are multiple passengers. Please note that permission must also be obtained in writing from landowners before their fields may be entered.

To avoid offending those not participating in celebrations, we would request that laughter is moderate only and not loud enough to be considered a noise nuisance.

Benches, stools and orthopaedic chairs are now available for collection by any shepherds planning or required to watch their flocks at night.

While provision has also been made for remote monitoring of flocks by CCTV cameras from a centrally heated shepherd observation hut, all users of this facility are reminded that an Emergency Response Plan must be submitted to account for known risks to the flocks.

The angel of the Lord is additionally reminded that, prior to shining his/her glory all around, s/he must confirm that all shepherds are wearing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment to account for the harmful effects of UVA, UVB and the overwhelming effects of Glory.

Following last year’s well publicised case, everyone is advised that Equal Opportunities legislation prohibits any comment with regard to the redness of any part of Mr. R Reindeer. Further to this, exclusion of Mr R Reindeer from reindeer games will be considered discriminatory and disciplinary action will be taken against those found guilty of this offence.

While it is acknowledged that gift bearing is a common practice in various parts of the world, particularly the Orient, everyone is reminded that the bearing of gifts is subject to Hospitality and Gift Guidelines and all gifts must be registered. This applies regardless of the individual, even royal personages.

It is particularly noted that direct gifts of currency or gold are specifically precluded, while caution is advised regarding other common gifts such as aromatic resins that may evoke allergic reactions.

Finally, in the recent case of the infant found tucked up in a manger without any crib for a bed, DOCS has been advised and will be arriving shortly.

Sydney Christmas (2)

Sydney Christmas

Lord Howe Island - Out of town

The services and a couple of other shops are scattered around the island.

The island is managed by a Board constituted under the Lord Howe Island Act, which is administered by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. The Chief Executive Officer, a NSW public sector appointment, gets to live here.

Hospital

Police station.

Lord Howe Island - Downtown

Thompson's Store

The "town centre" consists of a community hall, post office/bank, bar/restaurant, general store and a couple of other small shops.

Looking from Thompson's towards the Hall and the sea.

Post office.

Community Hall and the bar.