Move over Vivid - Christmas Lights in the city

#Sydney #Christmas .

Well now that Christmas has been done and dusted it is a good chance to look back at some of the cool Christmas lights that have been put up over the city of Sydney.  The warm nights and extended daylight mean that coming out after dark in Christmas time is pleasant and safe – as long as the thunderstorms don’t get you. Here are some highlights from my trips into the city:

Town Hall

The Town Hall was all lit up this year showing a variety of scenes that are shown upon it. It is hard to  photograph with busy George Street in front of it, but you can definitely get a feeling for how spectacular it is.

Martin Place

The usual tree was lit up in the western site of Martin Place with its big colour changing bulbs. Kids can line up and take turns in changing the colours from the switch  board. There was also a light display from the small building outside the MLC centre making its debut this Christmas.

St Mary’s Church

St Mary’s is the crowd drawer showing the 12 Days of Christmas and the Christmas story on the front of the church on the hour from eight. I bet the local residents would go insane – thankfully I can hear it once and then be on my merry way. This is becoming a Christmas tradition now been done for the last few years. We may not get the snow, but Australia can put on a good light show.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Reflecting on a tragedy

#sydney #martinplace #illridewithyou #peace .

It has been an emotional time for the people of Sydney since a gunman took hostage a group of people in Martin Place, eventually killing two in the name of the Muslim state.

I do not want to get hung up on the politics of it all, though I do believe that we need to do more to welcome minority groups into our community and make them feel safe and welcome. This man did not represent the thousands of Muslims in this country who contribute peacefully to our society, who work and pay taxes and who have become friends and relatives. I believe in tolerance, education and a fair go for all.

What was moving was to see the city coming together in sorrow. All backgrounds and cultures paying their respects to the dead. There were three blocks of flowers in Martin Place and a line up to get up close. It is a surreal experience seeing it and knowing it was in a café that I have been in a few times. It was healing to see the outpouring of sorrow and gave me hope for the future.

I believe that out of this will come a sense of community across the city's population. That the city will stand together and learn to love again as we heal.

Tori & Katrina - may you rest in peace.