Hong Kong - big Christmas weekend here as well

A quick visit back to Hong Kong before I was off again.
Busy night with parties at our usual spot and lots of celebrating and dressing up for the holidays - Saturday was Santa Night and everyone got dressed up and out they went.  Great dinner with friends and then off I went on Sunday.
A bit cooler than Sydney but still no complaints here about this type of weather in December.

Sydney Australia - Christmas Shopping and celebrating in full force

Always funny to have northern, winter Christmas customs all happening on a warm summer day in Sydney.
People were out in full force and should be a good season in Australia for merchants.

Took me a few days to get this posted and I got out before the weekday terrorist incident got started - just blocks from my hotel.
There has been lots of arrests and suggestions of this type of thing happening in Australia....hopefully not the start of an ongoing thing.

Sydney Australia - it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas...but also 80F and lovely

Despite the rain storms that arrived in the afternoon and dumped water like it can in Hong Kong it was a lovely and warm day.
The streets and shops were full of people - looks like a good Christmas season here.

Rochester MN - Lucille's last big celebration...

It is so wonderful when something sad has such a positive and uplifting end.  

It was great to spend a couple days celebrating my aunt Sister Lucille with her Franciscan family and her outside family and friends.  She had her hand in all of the activities to make sure it went as she had planned. 

Saint Paul - an unexpected extra dinner opportunity with the Mac Team

My trip to APAC got delayed so was able to get another dinner with Team Mac.

Saint Paul MN - Post Thanksgiving gathering of Friends and Family

It started as the cold turkey sandwich party in Chicago and has resurrected and reinvented itself many times over the years.
Currently a great lasagna night with the Mac guys and family and friends.
Cold night but there were still many of us around and ready for a night of conversation, laughs and more food.

Stamford CT - the smaller, casual Thanksgiving year

We gathered a much smaller group this year in CT.
Eddie and I got a great walk in and discovered a new spot for him to explore further in the neighborhood.
Great night at Matilda in the city with family and friends as well.