@Climacus Not a recent one, but I had been blissfully ignorant about the underground damage to the drainage system and that fixing it would be largely paid by earthquake insurance. I think my contribution will be under $200.
Given that the epicentre of the 7.1 quake was only about 5 kilometres away I really got off lightly. The bookcase took out the TV in a triumph of culture over crass commercialism, but other damage to the house was minimal and mainly cosmetic. At the time drains didn't seem to be a worry, then I found that the people over the road had theirs checked and that the drainage people advised it was likely that the whole street needed the drains on their properties renewed.
Having my drains fixed luckily alerted my neighbour who owns the rented property on the other side of her house. The damage was so bad she jumped the queue, otherwise things may have got very messy.
An intriguing service last night* where one of the constituent services (they can apparently vary) was new to me and I had no idea what to expect -- a lot more clergy/altar server movement than usual, and we have a bit. Today we also had some sort of service after Liturgy, for the parish feast day I assume as it was held in front of his icon in the middle of the church, which I left at some point during it as I had an appointment to microsuction my ears. A lunch was an offer.
A deacon whom I have seen before helped serve. He has a marvellous and deep voice, and his volume would be equally suited to the Hagia Sophia as well as our small church. Variety is the spice of life.
* the so-called "All-Night Vigil": which in parishes is nothing of the sort...
We have amazing hydrangeas at our place in the Blue Mountains. Dark purple ones have come first.
Little Miss didn’t make it through to second interview. She got good feedback, and is pressing on.
In sad news, I note the passing of the creator of Mr Curly, Michael Leunig. I shall be rereading my complete collection of his books before embarking on whatever books I am gifted at Christmas.
And confirming earlier reports, my backpack was very light as I came home from the work Christmas party tonight, because I’ve handed in my laptop!
Congrats on your retirement @mr curly, I hope it is long and enjoyable. Sympathizing with Little Miss, however it is good to get that essential feedback that helps one to tweak the interview or the CV or whatever else can be tweaked for future success. I am sure the most suitable job is out there waiting for her.
In the last couple of weeks Michael Leunig and Clive Robertson as well as John Marsden all no longer with us....making me feel very old!
In other news Cheery husband had noted our air fryer was on it's last legs so has bought a bigger and better one. However, it has required a re-arrangement of the benchtop which I had not really planned on for today. But it's been a good excuse to do a good clean, create a self seal bag labelled, sort out this mess and to move the fryer to a new spot where I think it will work OK. I had hoped to move it to the part of the bench nearest to the door coming in from the garage, but I realised all the medicines were stored in the cupboard above, and rearranging those definitely not on my agenda for today! So perhaps the air fryer is only in an interim home, we'll have to see!
While not a regular follower of Leunig, whenever someone shared something of his it was always interesting to see/read.
Best wishes to Little Miss for the future. As Cheery Gardener wrote, good feedback is helpful -- I'm looking for some work next year and a rejection offered feedback which I've replied to seeking it. It is a new career for me and potentially my applications aren't up to scratch in this field.
Feeling somewhat old, as I have a wedding for two millennials this weekend. I note that the groom was born on my 50th birthday! The bride a few years later, even!
YaY! drainage stuff is all finished. All the blokes were brilliant, but the homeowner (me) was a bit frazzled. I was worried that they hadn't connected the downpipes that carry the water off the roof under the footpath and out into the gutter. I even ran the hose into the pipe but no water came out into the gutter. I had visions of my house falling into an underground lake ( who, me - alarmist, what made you think that?). So I did what I should have done sooner and asked. Apparently there is a sump in which the water collects and it only runs into the gutter when it reaches a certain level. As they weren't the people who did that particular bit of the job they double checked by running a lot of water through until it was visible in the gutter.
They even moved the cat's bench so Aroha can come into the house her usual way.
I had no idea that such a site existed. Now spent, not a penny, but a few minutes looking at those nearest us. One or 2 need an additional note that the site should be avoided even in broad daylight, unless the need is dire.
There is a toilet in Newcastle that could do with a similar warning.
Up at 3am for some reason today. I went down a YouTube rabbit hole of reaction videos, thanks to the algorithm responding to a music video from the 90s I like and watched for some reason (Shakespears Sister's Stay which, if you are not familiar with it, has a rather dramatic shift in musical style and the video clip story two-thirds of the way in, making for some interesting reactions from people who at least claim to be watching it for the first time...)
That's a wonderful app FD, particularly for the parts of the country where there are no golden arches, where the toilets can usually be relied on to be OK!
Husband has had a busy morning baking and putting some cds up on our house server, so we'll have some nice music for Christmas day. I know the youngsters and techy types would play some on their phones, but I do still like a cd, except where I discover as I did this morning that I'd bought one twice over, drat! And husband had opened the one still in it's wrapper so that is a pain too!
Having a slow day here, might catch up with my sister later, she will keep me in the loop re her movements, so we can meet up for a coffee outside somewhere. She is off to an exhibition at our big museum with a friend. Our family will probably go at some point, but perhaps after Christmas.
Cheery daughter is well in the swing with her plans for next year. She is having a short break at the end of Jan and later in the year having a second trip to China. Her leave is already approved and she has paid her deposit!!!
It's a pity that @Clarence and I are the only extant Shippies here in Paradiseville. Dangerous Deacon jumped Ship after his exaltation, but we break bread/drink coffee from time to time. Because then you could come up to Hervey Range for a bush fix and carols in the Community Hall tomorrow at 5pm. A monthly ecumenical communion service up there is my only regular gig in retirement, although carols are an extraordinary feast, which explains why the bar will be open during Advent. Actually, that's not the explanation at all, but it keeps the odd stickler happy. Whether the bar is open after or during carols is a mystery to be revealed.
I had a video call this morning with Beaky daughter who lives in the Far North. Our Kiwi grandson, aged 12, has had a successful trial and after Christmas will begin training and playing with the Northland regional football team. It will involve a lot of travel, including the possibility of places like Christchurch!
I finished my Christmas shopping yesterday with a mug that says "There's no such thing as too many books!" and I only went into the shop for a lime green ribbon to wrap the needlework piece I worked for a friend, at his request, to commemorate the cats he has had. I always find that wrapping needlework which as a rod with a bead at each end as a hanger a bit challenging to wrap, but at least this doesn't have to be posted as we are spending Christmas day together - as we have done many times in 35 years or so that we have known each other.
Carols in the community hall sounds wonderful @Foaming Draught and Congrats to Kiwi Grandson @MrsBeaky, lovely news.
I love the sound of the book cup @Huia, I have sone similar, I think it says there is never a book long enough or a cup of tea big enough and that could be my life motto! I hope your wrapping goes well and the gift sounds beautiful!
I wrapped a couple of gifts last night, have just given one to husband so he can wrap for Cheery son with other bits and pieces. I wrapped Cheery daughter's last night and caught up with my sister to pass on gifts for her part of the family, yesterday afternoon. I nearly melted, but that's ok!!
I've just come inside from watering plants and a bit of pot weeding and am looking forward to the rest of the day being quiet until it's time to ring my Aged Aunt, later in the day. I might watch a bit of TV and drop a line to friend via email. She's off colour and can't visit family over Christmas, so a note won't go astray!
Cheery husband posted Christmas gifts to his brother yesterday, and rang his mother, so that has pretty much sorted all the family gift giving. I might go in a minute and place an order for BBQ chicken to be collected on Christmas Eve and then I think I'm done food planning! Mince pie making tomorrow and that's it. Hopefully Christmas Day will appear and apart from putting food in the oven, that will be easy peasy!
A Christmas prezzie from @Clarence. Pressing the button elicits a digital voice exclaiming, in addition to the phrases you see, such diplomatic utterances as “What a wonderful idea” and “Why didn’t I think of that “.
@ Piglet, It might work, and I might try it for some people, but I don't know if the particular bloke I'm stitching this for has an iron (the hanging would need to be ironed face down on a pad of towels to straighten it out again).
Actually I wrapped yesterday evening. I had a piece of red flute board (like plastic corrugated cardboard) and put 2 ribbons around it one vertically and one horizontally and one vertically and covered the ends with sticky tape. I also cut small vertical slits at the top of the board so the cord that the needlework hangs from helps to hold the piece in place. (It's easier than it sounds).
I will take some suitable scissors and he will just need to snip the ribbons at the back so there is no danger of the hanging itself being cut.
I know I'm being fussy, but I'm not willing to do the hanging again if there's an accident. ( there was a change in my vision when I was doing it and I struggled to finish it).
@Huia that sounds really well resolved. I do hope your friend enjoys their gift!
Having a quiet one today after a bad sleep last night, I did get the mince pies made though. They won't win any awards for their beauty as I overfilled the cases a little bit so some stickiness due to boil over of the contents. However, if I need to offer any to callers, I will jazz them up with a bit of sifted icing sugar.
Cheery husband is on leave and today he is making cinnamon buns. We had no cinnamon in our spice jar, but we had some cinnamon sticks, so he has grated those and the project was able to continue!
He also had a visit to the Swedish shop to get some artificial flowers for his Mum. As she is 93 she can't manage maintenance of any live plants, so we thought some artificial ones might be cheering just so she knows we are thinking of her.
I think almost everyone has done their Christmas wrapping and our thoughtful postie hand delivered a parcel and a couple of cards this morning.
Clarence is flying to Brisbane on Christmas morning to see her mother and her mother's offspring (like her sister 😊) and grand-offspring, and to take advantage of that day's cheaper fares and abundant seats. I shall dog-and-cockatiel-sit. So we're observing Christmas today, by opening prezzies this morning, breaking our Advent plonkfast, and eating a scrumptious lunch. Townsville being a trawler port and onshore from the Great Barrier Reef, seafood featured large. Witness prawns (which always make me think of another prawn aficionado with whom we've shared a bowl or three, our old Shipmate @Rowen ) and bugs.
Duck followed an hour or so later, after the crustaceanfest subsided.
A Christmas prezzie from @Clarence. Pressing the button elicits a digital voice exclaiming, in addition to the phrases you see, such diplomatic utterances as “What a wonderful idea” and “Why didn’t I think of that “.
Whenever I saw that picture on Farcebark this morning, it made me chuckle; my sister had replied to a comment on Whats App last night from one of my nieces with "Yes, dear?" and I was hearing it in my mum's voice; it was her go-to reply to any of us!
Glad you and Clarence had a nice celebration - the prawns look gorgeous - and wishing her safe travels to her mum's.
Sounds like a marvellous Christmas feast @Foaming Draught and lovely memories too!
I've done one supermarket visit, some groceries from another vendor have been delivered and husband has just gone out for one or two last minute things, which as I write it, sounds ridiculous!!!
I have a couple of gifts to wrap and deliver and that's us ready (I hope)!!
I have a sneaking suspicion that in all the rush of this morning, that Cheery husband has left the items he wanted to return to the shops, sitting on our breakfast table. I don't think phoning him would help at this point!
Looks like a wonderful celebration, FD; and I chuckled heartily at the gift. Safe travels to Clarence and enjoy the time with the pets.
Afternoon Christingle service at a nearby Anglican parish was enjoyable, and -- if I manage to stay awake past 22:00 -- I'll return for the 23:00 service. With the Russians now so Nativity is January 7 on the Gregorian calendar (Dec 25 on the Julian, which the Slavic churches, some Ukrainians excepted, use as far as I am aware...), making it easier to darken the doors of my Western sistern and brethren's churches on Australia's December 25.
I went to a friend's place for Christmas dinner. I was a bit reluctant as he had recently brought up a misunderstanding between us from years ago. When he raised the issue before I just said, "Recollections may vary" but I felt a bit hurt about it. Today we had a chance to tell each other our memories and the feelings the situation raised. We both realised that, at the time, both of us a were trying to give the other what we thought they wanted, which actually wasn't what they wanted.
It was such a relief to sort it out.
After that a friend of his whom I had met in a different context many years ago, joined us, as his car had been damaged in an accident and he couldn't join his family in another town.
Christmas Day draws to a close here. A series of lovely creative liturgies from our new rector has energised the parish. All services relatively well-attended, aided today by bright, temperate weather. Our son and his family looked after us for the rest of the day. Tomorrow will be a scorcher, so the rector is coming to our place to hide in the air-conditioning with us.
@Barnabas_Aus It's kind of you to offer your Rector a cool space, I am very appreciative of our aircon and in summer time I was sometimes even happy to be in the hospital which was a LOT cooler than our house.
@MaryLouise your Christmas Day sounds very pleasant, tea, books and shortbread are my idea of heaven!
Our day was busy but quiet-ish. Kids seemed to enjoy their gifts, though husband forgot to put out some stuff for one of them. Fortunately that was easily rectified.
No food disasters and the timing worked out so that everything was ready together. I rang my Aged Aunt while the vegetables were cooking in the steamer. I rang my sister late afternoon where I could hear her Granddaughter talking about a new trampoline Daddy was assembling and it sounds as though my sister will be decked out in Canberra Raiders merchandise from top to toe come footy season!
It was a really lovely day made better by not having to travel with food and gifts and try to be on time and stressed. We decided to sit down after lunch as a family to watch Arthur Christmas, but I had to get up and deal with the washing up, just to keep me awake. I knew if I sat still for too long I'd be asleep and miss the film!
My new glasses, which I picked up just before Christmas are truly amazing. When I picked them up and they were fitted to my face the optometrist asked if I could read a line of small print. "Easy peasy, I can read the smallest line on that piece of paper", I replied.
I must find some of my 25 count* needlework fabric and see if stitching it would be possible.
Dear friends, who shall remain anoNymouZ, gave me a portable infusion smoker for Christmas. We shall christen it later when we have a stab at smoking brie and camembert. So where will bread come from? Ah, a Christmas/New Year project is Prof @Clarence teaching me to make bread. Accompanying songs include "Let us bake bread together for our cheese", followed by "I knead thee every hour", while now we wait for "Rise men from the Yeast". 🍞 🧀
Dad made bread once when Mum was away for a few days. It smelled baked so he took it out of the oven. The outside was lovely and crusty - the inside was raw and stretchy.
Being horrible little kids we had difficulty waiting until Mum got home to tell her.
Glad to hear about your new glasses @Huia and that they will make your stitching so much easier. I usually have to take mine off to do close work!
FD, love the sound of your gift and the planned breadmaking, sounds like lots of fun, especially in addition to the smoker!
We are having a few days of doing nothing much. None of us like the hot weather, so watching too much streaming/TV and reading. That and enjoying a sleep in and meals together, which are not that common these days. Cheery daughter often on shifts, so she's not around in the evenings.
I am hopeful that Cheery husband might re-upholster the last of our dining chairs as I've waited over a year for that. I tried to sell it as a job that could be done in the aircon rather than the garage, but no action as yet!
Nice to hear what you have all been up to as the year draws to a close.
Yesterday I headed 3.5 hrs up the coast to Boambee (just south of Coffs) to a community hall for a mission parish our priest serves. Simple but beautiful service followed by a delicious lunch and getting to know the 15+ people I'd never met before (2 others from the Newcastle parish were there). A great day. The next will be in Wauchope in late March (my Saint's Lenten Sunday), so assuming the world is still turning then I will attend.
Talking about refinding sea legs, I seem to remember that double posts were frowned upon? Ah well, here's that infusion smoker. It's like a thurible for the kitchen 😇
@adampater, nice to see you. A quiet Christmas at Grassville, although we had a mostly pleasant excursion to Sydney the weekend before Christmas, for afternoon tea with my sister-in-law, and various members of the next generation, and one from the newest generation, a very sturdy young gentleman of eight months. It was originally supposed to include my mother-in-law, but her residential care was under Covid lockdown. The mildly awful bit was getting a flat tire on the way, although, fortunately we were at the splendid new service centre at Pheasants Nest, when we spotted it and so were able to wait for the NRMA patrol officer in air conditioned comfort. The NRMA now sends you a link so you can track the patrol van’s progress. Also Mr WitG found a tire place that was open on Sunday and they were able to repair the tire for a modest charge.
Glad to hear your Christmas was nice @WormInTheGrass and that your visit to Pheasants Nest was made a lot easier by technology for the NRMA person. We have not been to Sydney for some years and did not know that the service centre there had been upgraded. It's almost worth an excursion to take a look!
We have floated the idea of a Sydney trip over the last few months but have not organised ourselves to do so. I think the pleasure of a trip is a bit outweighed by the numerous times we've been there for reasons of no fun at all.
@Climacus LGB's are highly collectible these days and one of my treasured tomes is Golden Legacy, a history of little golden books. Ladybird books are much the same.
Good to see you here @adampater. festive greetings to you!
@Foaming Draught I hadn't imagined your smoker being quite so compact, nice to see you putting it to good use!
@Climacus LGB's are highly collectible these days and one of my treasured tomes is Golden Legacy, a history of little golden books. Ladybird books are much the same.
Thank you. Had no idea!
I visited the Pheasants Nest servo on my way back from annoying some Catholic monks in the Highlands for their Passion Play earlier this year; it had certainly changed since 15 years ago! Glad you could wait in the cool and track progress.
My oldest brother and I loved the LGB "The Little taxi That Hurried." as children. He is now in care with Parkinsons and I found a copy which I took and read to him. I was a good way of making a connection as each time I visit I am uncertain whether he will recognize me.
Comments
Given that the epicentre of the 7.1 quake was only about 5 kilometres away I really got off lightly. The bookcase took out the TV in a triumph of culture over crass commercialism, but other damage to the house was minimal and mainly cosmetic. At the time drains didn't seem to be a worry, then I found that the people over the road had theirs checked and that the drainage people advised it was likely that the whole street needed the drains on their properties renewed.
Having my drains fixed luckily alerted my neighbour who owns the rented property on the other side of her house. The damage was so bad she jumped the queue, otherwise things may have got very messy.
You'll need to put this on yr phone 😉
Mid-20 temps which is nice.
An intriguing service last night* where one of the constituent services (they can apparently vary) was new to me and I had no idea what to expect -- a lot more clergy/altar server movement than usual, and we have a bit. Today we also had some sort of service after Liturgy, for the parish feast day I assume as it was held in front of his icon in the middle of the church, which I left at some point during it as I had an appointment to microsuction my ears. A lunch was an offer.
A deacon whom I have seen before helped serve. He has a marvellous and deep voice, and his volume would be equally suited to the Hagia Sophia as well as our small church. Variety is the spice of life.
* the so-called "All-Night Vigil": which in parishes is nothing of the sort...
Little Miss didn’t make it through to second interview. She got good feedback, and is pressing on.
In sad news, I note the passing of the creator of Mr Curly, Michael Leunig. I shall be rereading my complete collection of his books before embarking on whatever books I am gifted at Christmas.
And confirming earlier reports, my backpack was very light as I came home from the work Christmas party tonight, because I’ve handed in my laptop!
mr curly (retired)
It is sad news.
In the last couple of weeks Michael Leunig and Clive Robertson as well as John Marsden all no longer with us....making me feel very old!
In other news Cheery husband had noted our air fryer was on it's last legs so has bought a bigger and better one. However, it has required a re-arrangement of the benchtop which I had not really planned on for today. But it's been a good excuse to do a good clean, create a self seal bag labelled, sort out this mess and to move the fryer to a new spot where I think it will work OK. I had hoped to move it to the part of the bench nearest to the door coming in from the garage, but I realised all the medicines were stored in the cupboard above, and rearranging those definitely not on my agenda for today! So perhaps the air fryer is only in an interim home, we'll have to see!
Onto the Christmas fridge clean out after lunch!
While not a regular follower of Leunig, whenever someone shared something of his it was always interesting to see/read.
Best wishes to Little Miss for the future. As Cheery Gardener wrote, good feedback is helpful -- I'm looking for some work next year and a rejection offered feedback which I've replied to seeking it. It is a new career for me and potentially my applications aren't up to scratch in this field.
They even moved the cat's bench so Aroha can come into the house her usual way.
I had no idea that such a site existed. Now spent, not a penny, but a few minutes looking at those nearest us. One or 2 need an additional note that the site should be avoided even in broad daylight, unless the need is dire.
Up at 3am for some reason today. I went down a YouTube rabbit hole of reaction videos, thanks to the algorithm responding to a music video from the 90s I like and watched for some reason (Shakespears Sister's Stay which, if you are not familiar with it, has a rather dramatic shift in musical style and the video clip story two-thirds of the way in, making for some interesting reactions from people who at least claim to be watching it for the first time...)
Husband has had a busy morning baking and putting some cds up on our house server, so we'll have some nice music for Christmas day. I know the youngsters and techy types would play some on their phones, but I do still like a cd, except where I discover as I did this morning that I'd bought one twice over, drat! And husband had opened the one still in it's wrapper so that is a pain too!
Having a slow day here, might catch up with my sister later, she will keep me in the loop re her movements, so we can meet up for a coffee outside somewhere. She is off to an exhibition at our big museum with a friend. Our family will probably go at some point, but perhaps after Christmas.
Cheery daughter is well in the swing with her plans for next year. She is having a short break at the end of Jan and later in the year having a second trip to China. Her leave is already approved and she has paid her deposit!!!
Enjoy the carols FD! Looks like an interesting town. And nice to hear you still meet with the exalted Dangerous Deacon!
China is on my want-to-go list.
I finished my Christmas shopping yesterday with a mug that says "There's no such thing as too many books!" and I only went into the shop for a lime green ribbon to wrap the needlework piece I worked for a friend, at his request, to commemorate the cats he has had. I always find that wrapping needlework which as a rod with a bead at each end as a hanger a bit challenging to wrap, but at least this doesn't have to be posted as we are spending Christmas day together - as we have done many times in 35 years or so that we have known each other.
I love the sound of the book cup @Huia, I have sone similar, I think it says there is never a book long enough or a cup of tea big enough and that could be my life motto! I hope your wrapping goes well and the gift sounds beautiful!
I wrapped a couple of gifts last night, have just given one to husband so he can wrap for Cheery son with other bits and pieces. I wrapped Cheery daughter's last night and caught up with my sister to pass on gifts for her part of the family, yesterday afternoon. I nearly melted, but that's ok!!
I've just come inside from watering plants and a bit of pot weeding and am looking forward to the rest of the day being quiet until it's time to ring my Aged Aunt, later in the day. I might watch a bit of TV and drop a line to friend via email. She's off colour and can't visit family over Christmas, so a note won't go astray!
Cheery husband posted Christmas gifts to his brother yesterday, and rang his mother, so that has pretty much sorted all the family gift giving. I might go in a minute and place an order for BBQ chicken to be collected on Christmas Eve and then I think I'm done food planning! Mince pie making tomorrow and that's it. Hopefully Christmas Day will appear and apart from putting food in the oven, that will be easy peasy!
@Huia, would it work to roll up your needlework round the rod thingie and then wrap it like a Christmas cracker?
Actually I wrapped yesterday evening. I had a piece of red flute board (like plastic corrugated cardboard) and put 2 ribbons around it one vertically and one horizontally and one vertically and covered the ends with sticky tape. I also cut small vertical slits at the top of the board so the cord that the needlework hangs from helps to hold the piece in place. (It's easier than it sounds).
I will take some suitable scissors and he will just need to snip the ribbons at the back so there is no danger of the hanging itself being cut.
I know I'm being fussy, but I'm not willing to do the hanging again if there's an accident. ( there was a change in my vision when I was doing it and I struggled to finish it).
Having a quiet one today after a bad sleep last night, I did get the mince pies made though. They won't win any awards for their beauty as I overfilled the cases a little bit so some stickiness due to boil over of the contents. However, if I need to offer any to callers, I will jazz them up with a bit of sifted icing sugar.
Cheery husband is on leave and today he is making cinnamon buns. We had no cinnamon in our spice jar, but we had some cinnamon sticks, so he has grated those and the project was able to continue!
He also had a visit to the Swedish shop to get some artificial flowers for his Mum. As she is 93 she can't manage maintenance of any live plants, so we thought some artificial ones might be cheering just so she knows we are thinking of her.
I think almost everyone has done their Christmas wrapping and our thoughtful postie hand delivered a parcel and a couple of cards this morning.
Duck followed an hour or so later, after the crustaceanfest subsided.
Whenever I saw that picture on Farcebark this morning, it made me chuckle; my sister had replied to a comment on Whats App last night from one of my nieces with "Yes, dear?" and I was hearing it in my mum's voice; it was her go-to reply to any of us!
Glad you and Clarence had a nice celebration - the prawns look gorgeous - and wishing her safe travels to her mum's.
I've done one supermarket visit, some groceries from another vendor have been delivered and husband has just gone out for one or two last minute things, which as I write it, sounds ridiculous!!!
I have a couple of gifts to wrap and deliver and that's us ready (I hope)!!
I have a sneaking suspicion that in all the rush of this morning, that Cheery husband has left the items he wanted to return to the shops, sitting on our breakfast table. I don't think phoning him would help at this point!
Back to the rice salad preparations for me!!
Afternoon Christingle service at a nearby Anglican parish was enjoyable, and -- if I manage to stay awake past 22:00 -- I'll return for the 23:00 service. With the Russians now so Nativity is January 7 on the Gregorian calendar (Dec 25 on the Julian, which the Slavic churches, some Ukrainians excepted, use as far as I am aware...), making it easier to darken the doors of my Western sistern and brethren's churches on Australia's December 25.
A blessed Christmas to all.
Have a pleasant day, everyone!
We are not travelling, looking forward to lunch with crackers and the usual.
Thinking of those who find today difficult for a variety of reasons ...
It was such a relief to sort it out.
After that a friend of his whom I had met in a different context many years ago, joined us, as his car had been damaged in an accident and he couldn't join his family in another town.
I'm so glad we cleared the air.
Very hot Christmas morning here, spending the day quietly alone, just reading and having shortbread with mugs of tea.
@MaryLouise your Christmas Day sounds very pleasant, tea, books and shortbread are my idea of heaven!
Our day was busy but quiet-ish. Kids seemed to enjoy their gifts, though husband forgot to put out some stuff for one of them. Fortunately that was easily rectified.
No food disasters and the timing worked out so that everything was ready together. I rang my Aged Aunt while the vegetables were cooking in the steamer. I rang my sister late afternoon where I could hear her Granddaughter talking about a new trampoline Daddy was assembling and it sounds as though my sister will be decked out in Canberra Raiders merchandise from top to toe come footy season!
It was a really lovely day made better by not having to travel with food and gifts and try to be on time and stressed. We decided to sit down after lunch as a family to watch Arthur Christmas, but I had to get up and deal with the washing up, just to keep me awake. I knew if I sat still for too long I'd be asleep and miss the film!
I must find some of my 25 count* needlework fabric and see if stitching it would be possible.
*25 count means 25 stitches to the inch.
Being horrible little kids we had difficulty waiting until Mum got home to tell her.
FD, love the sound of your gift and the planned breadmaking, sounds like lots of fun, especially in addition to the smoker!
We are having a few days of doing nothing much. None of us like the hot weather, so watching too much streaming/TV and reading. That and enjoying a sleep in and meals together, which are not that common these days. Cheery daughter often on shifts, so she's not around in the evenings.
I am hopeful that Cheery husband might re-upholster the last of our dining chairs as I've waited over a year for that. I tried to sell it as a job that could be done in the aircon rather than the garage, but no action as yet!
It's been a few days since last...
Nice to hear what you have all been up to as the year draws to a close.
Yesterday I headed 3.5 hrs up the coast to Boambee (just south of Coffs) to a community hall for a mission parish our priest serves. Simple but beautiful service followed by a delicious lunch and getting to know the 15+ people I'd never met before (2 others from the Newcastle parish were there). A great day. The next will be in Wauchope in late March (my Saint's Lenten Sunday), so assuming the world is still turning then I will attend.
We have floated the idea of a Sydney trip over the last few months but have not organised ourselves to do so. I think the pleasure of a trip is a bit outweighed by the numerous times we've been there for reasons of no fun at all.
@Climacus LGB's are highly collectible these days and one of my treasured tomes is Golden Legacy, a history of little golden books. Ladybird books are much the same.
Good to see you here @adampater. festive greetings to you!
@Foaming Draught I hadn't imagined your smoker being quite so compact, nice to see you putting it to good use!
I visited the Pheasants Nest servo on my way back from annoying some Catholic monks in the Highlands for their Passion Play earlier this year; it had certainly changed since 15 years ago! Glad you could wait in the cool and track progress.
Nice smoker FD!