VanDijkTrack

These weeks of the year, we have been busy with “children activities”.

After Nicole and Jorick have put the red balloon, found in Alma Zoo, in their shoe, they got some presents and finally Sinterklaas didn’t forget them.

On 30 November Sinterklaas visited Brisbane for a few hours at the Dutch Club.  Already earlier we have visited the Dutch club for “Koninginnefeest” (Queen’s Birthday) and with Easter (with hidden eggs). Both Jorick and Nicole got a present from the Dutch Saint.

On Saturday morning the 6th of December we heard on the Sinterklaas journal that the Boat with packages had returned to Sinterklaas. Soon after that Nicole found the “De Zak van Sinterklaas” (the bag from Sinterklaas) in front of the main entrance, so they were very exited. They were very happy with the presents like the diving equiment, the Insect Catcher and SuperMan suit.

Schools in Australia are now getting closed for the long summer holidays that have started. The closing took place with some celebrations and ceremonies with the presentation of certificates being part of it. The children like it to have 7 weeks off and we have already planned several things to do. 

Again we went to the Queensland State Library where the children love to do creative art, followed by a visit to the Queensland Museum.

Already long before Christmas there are many Christmas Carols events each weekend. From Genesis/BrayPark a Christmas Carols event was organized at the local Warner shopping center with songs and several events (playgrounds, jumping castle, face painting, 4WD info, etc. Nicole participated in the choir and had been practicing for weeks. Songs as “Jingle Bell”, “Rudolf the Red nose Reindeer”, “We wish you a merry Christmas”, … were part of the program. Finally when the main program was started, it had to be closed down after half an hour due to extreme tropical thunderstorms and lightnings. It was a pity.

Last Sunday (14th of December) we have been setting up our Christmas tree. It was bizarre to do this with the air-conditioning on and an outside temperature of 34 degrees. It’s our Dutch Christmas Tree so we are lucky that it still didn’t melt down. Perhaps we should forget all about a white Christmas this year.

Dear all, We wish you all a Merry Christmas with many blessings.

Jan, Anita, Nicole and Jorick.

Remark: The 20 November post has been added recently. Please scroll down in case you missed it.

Everyday we are watching the Dutch “Sinterklaasjournaal” over the internet. Nicole and Jorick are looking forward to it each day and follow the journals full of excitement. And of course “Zwarte Piet” is putting presents in their shoes at night.  With Nicole and Jorick being the only Dutch children at their school they are the only ones getting these presents here, so they have to explain it all. 

The Sinterklaas journals are also a bit sentimental for us since the action takes place on walking distance from our previous home in The Netherlands. Also several scenes take place at the pre-school Nicole and Jorick have visited. 

One of the worries is how all the balloons that got lost will be brought back to Sinterklaas.

It’s hard to believe but at least one balloon has been blown to Australia. When we were at the Alma Zoo last Sunday, Jorick and Nicole found a red balloon in the Kangaroos area. We took it home and the kids have put the balloon in their shoes so “Zwarte Piet” could take it at night and bring it back to Sinterklaas.

Our first foto is in the 5th edition of the formal Sinterklaas news paper De Sinterklaasjournaalkrant“. Unfortunately the names of Jorick and Nicole are replaced by other kids names. However, in the extra edition (27 Nov) they have done it right withe the 2nd picture.

We wish you all a good Sinterklaas !!!

Jan, Anita, Nicole and Jorick