More biscuits for the silly season. Italian this time. Panettone is fairly well known and sold in festive boxes. It is not easy to find any significant Christmas food that is a tradition that began in Australia. So do we have the best from everywhere?

What's in the mystery package? Probably a conventional biscuit with a twist.  The surprise factor leads me to try out imported food products. It is not as though ours are inferior to the import, just a little different ....  Le Stelle erano molto distanti l'luna dall'altra ....e nonostante ciascuna si sforzasse....per brillare il piu possibile, non riuscivano ad illuminare nulla....... 

Shortbread is part of Christmas fare. From Scotland, check out the evocative tartan and hint of the highlands aimed to resonate with something deep even so this example looks more upmarket than is usual.
Home-made shortbread is very melt-in-the-mouth. Is true shortbread very-very 'short' and loaded with butter?  Or is it true as less short, lots of butter, but with more character, for example, with rice flour?

Along with tradition, isn't Scotland associated with innovation and edgy stuff?

Dreaming of an Aussie Christmas?  Christmas Bush.  Gum leaves. 

Alice....Wonderland....Mad Hatter's Tea Party....Mad as a hatter about climate change issues.....Copenhagen Summit....

Copenhagen Update on these sites:   Sbs Television World News Australia. 
Green tv video blog.
United Nations.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation Portal. 

Pictured at Hunter Valley Gardens. 10/6 is the price of a hat. 

The Doctor's surgery I attend in the old CBD is nearby this scene. The Swine Flu (H1N1) vaccination is available and I can attest is painless and is free. Be prepared! - they say.
Also, a whooping cough (pertussis) booster is recommended (as a three in one) for adults in contact with newborns (and for other benefits).

Above, Wolf Street Newcastle in casual Street 'art' fantasy. The streets behind the old CBD are very steep.
The actual buildings on the right match each other. Amazing, considering it is unlikely they were ever owned by the same entity.
The corner building with the glass tiles has sat there seemingly very silent and inactive since the beginning of time but is it a vital link in communications?  David Jones Department Store side entrance is in the nearer building.

Copenhagen UN Summit  COP 15
Visit Show Your Vote via Google here http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/show-your-vote-for-cop15.html

Visit Earth Hour and vote here http://www.earthhour.org/. 
Join the messages from your suburb, village, town, city, county, province, state, kingdom, republic, federation, nation or planet.

Prior to Christmas these tasty butter cookies from Denmark are usually found in the supermarket. . 
Forud ikke At Jule disse smagfulde smørsmåkager fra Danmark er normalt fundet i supermarkedet. .
On-line translator

Hunter Valley Gardens.

Toy Run 2009, from Sandgate to the City Forshore, ran this morning.

Copenhagen UN Summit starts tomorrow Monday. COP 15
Visit Show Your Vote via Google here http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/show-your-vote-for-cop15.html

Visit Earth Hour and vote here http://www.earthhour.org/. 
Join the messages from your suburb, village, town, city, county, province, state, kingdom, republic, federation, nation.

Christmas at Hunter Valley Gardens.

Copenhagen UN Summit starts tomorrow Monday. COP 15
Visit Show Your Vote via Google here http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/show-your-vote-for-cop15.html

Visit Earth Hour and vote here http://www.earthhour.org/. 
Join the messages from your suburb, village, town, city, county, province, state, kingdom, republic, federation, nation.

Copenhagen Summit: two sleeps to go.

The Copenhagen Summit, Denmark,  is a UN meeting, December 7 - 18, aimed at co-ordinating action against climate change.

The dialogue is joined by my country and what can we contribute? In our own modest way we enjoy far far more privilege than many other people. What do we stand for in the face of millions who don't share our high standard of living yet cop the emissions.

Global warming: what messages do we hear in this country?

We do not hear direct suggestions to stop using up our resources, all the oil, the vegetation, the minerals. Is a message such as that too confronting? Doesn't fit our economy?  It's as if we can continue with unabated demand and let carbon credits or somesuch ease any problems.

Climate unbelievers can unite with the believers and put two and two together in the face of documented loss of species, loss of habitat and loss of crucial biodiversity. We all agree we extract a high standard of living. This leads to obligations around social justice and the environment and it suggests a sustainable economy.

Action in the form of taxes to rein us in and lead to sustainability is a response to climate change and to issues of social justice.

 

Louth Park Blitz, a brown horse, and friends took a swim..
Animal advice was exchanged.
Yuritamou, a bulk coal carrier, sailed

Rainbow Lorikeet. ....almost continuous screeching and chattering.... the description fits this flock heard right beside Nobbys beach - a city beach.  The trees around the car park were blossoming and were a haven for the visitors. They were rivalled by the human 'lorikeets' on the beach.

Newcastle City Council has worked wonders and has greatly improved the baths area. The workers arn't just moving the deck chairs around. A new workplace every few weeks for them and they will pack up soon and  leave the sea front for elsinore elsewhere.  Work is never ending but on the to-do list I would love a new surface outside the shower areas, entrance etc. Try walking there with bare feet, a smoother surface would be heaven.

Copenhagen Summit:  four sleeps to go.
More Danish trivia. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, ....to be, or not to be...Hamlet vacillated and look what happened to him....take heed....