Our Xmas in July

One of the things that I miss here in Australia is a white Xmas.
Being European and having lived in the north I know that not every Xmas in Europe is a white Xmas, snow comes later generally in the middle of January and goes on until the beginning of April.
Therefore when it snows in December everyone is keeping their fingers crossed with the hope to wake up on Xmas day, look outside the window and instead of seeing the usual boring frost, seeing a nice soft white  blanket covering the roads.
When it happens it's wonderful. Normally we don't really like snow as it makes everything difficult and unless you're a kid and your school has to closed down for a few days (yep, you're free to be jealous, when I was a kid I had to stay home PLENTY of times because of the snow.. ahaha...), you're not thrilled that your car is covered by 15 cm of thick snow and that it's taking you 3 times as long to go to work.
But when snow comes for Xmas everyone is happy.
Who wouldn't be?
Xmas is just a better Xmas with the snow!
The atmosphere is more festive because it looks clean (at least for the first 4 or 5 hours, then everyone starts walking on the snow and that makes it dirty and greyish), the sounds travel a longer way because of the pureness of the air (not scientifically tested but who cares?) but not all the sounds, nope, strangely the only thing you can hear on a Xmas morning if it has been snowing are Xmas carols coming from the hi-fi system of your neighbours or from the local churches.
The air is crisp and together with its coolness it carries many delicious fragrances, because if it has been snowing mums are happier and they cook better (again, poetic licence, please allow it), kids are less whiny and they help out with the sweets but no sooner than having opened all the presents below the Xmas tree!
A white Xmas is a blessing, jokes a part, it gives hope for a better year to come and for a warm family reunion. Everyone put all their grievances aside and they join in the spirit.
Yes, a White Christmas is something that I will always miss dearly.
But Xmas in Australia has got a few advantages, the heat makes it a perfect day to go to the beach for example, although I would steer clear of Bondi since it will be packed with sunburnt backpackers and you will have to circle for hours looking for a parking.
If you do manage to get a spot look for the "surfing Santas" in between the waves, they go for a nice photo!
This year Steve had a brilliant idea! To cheer me up he booked us for a Xmas-in-July dinner!
I guess I'm not the only one missing a "winter Xmas" and although there won't be any snow, having a Xmas dinner in the cold will remind me of the nice Xmas atmosphere we have in Europe.
A jolly group of people is having a Xmas Festival in the Blue Mountains to make it even more real and I'm sure there will be Xmas dinners everywhere in Thredbo.
We're not going that far, we're just staying at the foothills of the Blue Mountains but it will be cold!
And for once I'm actually looking forward to it :)