My secretary is also retiring after 35 years with me and deserves a break. She and her husband quickly became very good friends, so much so that she's one of Dlet's godmothers.
I thought I had wished you congratulations on your retirement, but it must've been in my mind -- sorry. Congratulations on the retirement! Well-earned I am sure. May 2019 be a year filled with all those things you want to do.
Just in from playing at the morning service, same sermon hymns etc as last nights but none the less excellent. Off to lunch at the club soon and to my sister and all her crew for dinner.
Had a great day yesterday. I was in charge of catering as all other residents at Chez Curly were busy for 3 days at church with kids program and preparation for our Christmas Eve Kids Musical. Middle was in team that wrote and directed, Little Miss was leading in girls Yr 3-5, Mrs Curly was in the kitchen and being first aid officer while now Biggest is on staff at church he was in charge of the whole shebang. They were all zonked at the end of it.
So, we woke them up just in time for church yesterday, then home for presents and preparing lunch. Mrs Curly's family were in attendance, bar her sister in law who is in hospital for an extended period. (She has MND and has had the full on ventilation operation). We went to the hospital later for a visit.
Next I need to wake the lads who are leaving for the annual church golf day at 630. We’ll see how that goes....
Merry Christmas all!
mr curly
Fore! Hope the golf goes well. Sounds like a very busy Christmas season!
Hope sister-in-law is doing well.
Took my patents' dog for an early morning run around at the park this morning. He seemed to enjoy it. The ducks, corellas and magpies seemed a bit put out.
Mr Curly, That's exhausting just to read! Climacus have you got a copyright on that dog? Enjoy your retirement GeeD and Madame; may it be long and happy. GG hope those cakes were appreciated! Loth, hope everything went well at your new abode. Had good day at sister-in-law's yesterday, guests including the very-well behaved resident dog, and the first two members of the next generation. Littlest one mostly asleep but three-year-old extremely charming. Now attempting to make sure WitG not-quite-so-junior now departs tomorrow evening on first OS trip.
Hello, long time lurker who got the courage up to join on Boxing Day. I am a clergy wife from a land down under. I have a lovely hubbie, who pastors 2 churches, one small, the other smaller, I have 2teenagers, a cat and a dog. I have read and laughed and cried alongside you for several years, but finally joined. Thanks for having me.
Church crowded for Christmas Day service: numerous handsome adults that we knew as toddlers and so on home for family Christmas. Rousing singing of carols, new and old. It can be difficult to get non-churchgoers to sing at public events but people used to singing in church can always produce good volume, and this is where we practise.
On Sunday we join the Anglicans in their church up the road; the following week they come to us, along with two more Presby/Uniting congregations from nearby suburbs. So interesting sharing worship while the clergy take turns to have a break.
There have been periods in the past when we've combined with the Anglicans, the only other church in our little suburban centre, for many activities (eg Sunday School, Parish Camp), with a break when they got a new vicar who needed to be 'indoctrinated'. Like us, they are currently without a permanent pastor.
Welcome, Elizabth. If you have been around a while, you may well be aware of shiplife. Any questions, ask a host, there are two of us here, myself and Piglet. The ten commandments spell things out in more detail.
Hope you are coping with the heat. Another week of just under 40° ahead.
A lovely day here after a busy day yesterday. Grandchildren, some of whom I have not seen for a while. One went off to spend two weeks at Hawkesbury river with his mum and her partner. I will miss him and his cheerful help.
Thank you all for your warm welcome. It is indeed warm here today, 34degrees is predicted, which is a blessing as the spin cycle on the washing machine just died, so I have a clothesline full of dripping sheets, which will dry nicely in the heat.
At leasty they will dry. I took a long time to dry on Christmas day when nozzle exploded off end if hose and soaked me. I did not change, it was cooling and provided much mirth here for sons and family. “Drowned rat” were the wprds to describe me and lunch guests were entertained by the tale.
Ouch!! Drain on laundry tub blocked on Christmas Eve. Sons jury rigged an extension to drain outside. Plumber came this morning and spent some time clearing it with electric eel. Son asked about the storm water drain on opposite side of the block to drain cleared a few weeks ago. Plumber suggested investigating it today to save call out fee. Three hours later, it was clear. $$$$. Drains had been neglected and were jam packed with leaves etc. we will keep close eye on them.
Good to have your news Mr Curly. They all seem to have come through well and are making their own adult lives now. Well done to you and Mrs Curly (if she'll answer to that appendage name).
Yes we saw them today and the custard from Christmas is still not sold out. ( which is just as well as I bought too many puddings by mistake). It is cooler here today, which is a blessing, How are those north of us going, especially in he Blue Mountains?
It has certainly been very warm in and about Katoomba, but we're home to Sydney on Monday, before heading to Uluru (! very definitely not my choice) on Wednesday.
Kittyville, indulgent host of guests from the Northern hemisphere
Bit lower than Katoomba but maximum here was 39. Lovely breeze this evening and we have opened house to allow it to cool. 39 forecast again for tomorrow. This place is double brick and well insulated. We have ducted aircon but over this hot week, we have not used it, yet. The pool has been well used
Hot up here in Port Stephens. My parents are inland so no cooling sea breezes.
I went to Circular Quay in Sydney yesterday to catch up with some friends which was very enjoyable. And had dinner with the parents and 3 nieces at East Maitland bowling club which was equally enjoyable -- especially as I got to embarrass the girls by breaking out into out-of-tune singing of Christmas carols when people walked past.
Ah! The favourite uncle. I remember when those nieces were born and now they are out to dinner with you. Another hot day ahead here but low 30s for a few days respite before the next blast of heat.
The holiday switch-around.
Today it was at St Luke's Anglican; present six Presbyterians and maybe a dozen Anglicans. Their temporary vicar preached his Epiphany sermon because next Sunday they'll be at our church and it would be a pity to waste it (not his exact words!) It was jolly interesting too. He visualises a huge crowd of Magi, with all their supplies and luggage and plenty of armed guards, everything you need for crossing deserts.
I had parked over the road and spent a few minutes watching the tall grass in a large nearby patch (mostly cocksfoot and I think a fescue) bowing in waves before the gale; but I was stuck there, quite sure that the Wellington wind gusts (100-120 kph) were of the 'Watch me bowl this old girl over' kind. Fortunately friends arrived and parked in front of me so I had someone to clutch between the car and the church.
Four hours later the trees round the house are barely moving.
I love Wellington. I was born here. I don't mind wind — but I won't put myself in its way when it's that fierce.
Forecast high here today is 30c, which is waaay beyond my comfort zone. I need to do my grocery shopping before it climbs much higher, and also make sure there is accessible water out in the backyard for the various cats that visit. Many people here don't seem to put water out, which means the 10 litre bucket becomes a local watering hole.
Whoops didn't post this.
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I don't blame you GG. Wellington wind often feels as though it's aimed at you personally, although I wouldn't mind a cool breeze right now.
A little cooler here in the East of Melbourne and steady drizzle which may put a dampener on swimming for my son. Combined service this morning, but 2 visitors both checking us out. We sang "All glory be to Christ" to the tune of Auld Lang Syne, complete with hand holding, which linked in with the reading from Hebrews about being brothers and sisters in Christ. A lot of reflection on the passing year here, especially as one of a our lovely ladies is moving to Queensland to be closer to family.
Well done Climacus on embarrassing the nieces, that is he job of relatives, to embarrass the young.
Good to have your news Mr Curly. They all seem to have come through well and are making their own adult lives now. Well done to you and Mrs Curly (if she'll answer to that appendage name).
Thanks GeeD. While things aren’t always how we’d like them to be, overall things are going well. We were reminded the other night while having dinner with Mrs C’s old university buddies that some parents face real challenges that we have been spared.
Have spent the last few days armed with painting gear and the lounge room has caught up with the dining room. Good excuse to have the aircon going. And to do a lot of dusting and vacuuming behind the furniture.
Piglet, it is 35°C here today, noticably cooler than yesterdays and the week before it. This place is well insulated, quiet and much cooler than outside. Next Saturday will be up around 40 again. Christmas holiday weather as I remember from my childhood. Day after day around 110+ °F where the sand was too hot to walk on beach.
It was jolly interesting too. He visualises a huge crowd of Magi, with all their supplies and luggage and plenty of armed guards, everything you need for crossing deserts..
Yes, indeed!
That is how I see it - 3 Magi to be sure but Permanaent Secretaries (Sir Humphrey) for each and Under-Secretaries and Private Secretaries for them and a whole lot of Intense Young Interns along for the ride, their future CV's and the experience ... all having wild parties when they stop in the evenning! (Midnight at the Oasis!)
Piglet, we are about 120km as the crow flies north of Lothlorien, and tomorrow will be our fourth day of 39degC, with the lowest predicted maximum for the week to come being 34. Until the monsoon from northern Australia streams south we'll keep having days like this. In the western part of the state low-to-mid 40s is the forecast.
Happy New Year to all. I don't think we are going to achieve anything in our angst over the hot cross buns - the community just doesn't 'get it'. I have taken to calling them Good Friday buns which does make some people sit up and take notice. I am perplexed that the ordinary fruit buns have disappeared until after Easter - why am I only able to buy ones daubed with crosses?
My guess of an answer to your question re fruit /crossed buns is economics. If no plain ones are available and shopper then has to buy buns with crosses, that in business minds proves that there is a market for buns with crosses while still in Christmas season. And so it goes on and on.
Comments
And a blessed and joyous Christmas day to all!
Just in from playing at the morning service, same sermon hymns etc as last nights but none the less excellent. Off to lunch at the club soon and to my sister and all her crew for dinner.
So, we woke them up just in time for church yesterday, then home for presents and preparing lunch. Mrs Curly's family were in attendance, bar her sister in law who is in hospital for an extended period. (She has MND and has had the full on ventilation operation). We went to the hospital later for a visit.
Next I need to wake the lads who are leaving for the annual church golf day at 630. We’ll see how that goes....
Merry Christmas all!
mr curly
Hope sister-in-law is doing well.
Took my patents' dog for an early morning run around at the park this morning. He seemed to enjoy it. The ducks, corellas and magpies seemed a bit put out.
Church crowded for Christmas Day service: numerous handsome adults that we knew as toddlers and so on home for family Christmas. Rousing singing of carols, new and old. It can be difficult to get non-churchgoers to sing at public events but people used to singing in church can always produce good volume, and this is where we practise.
On Sunday we join the Anglicans in their church up the road; the following week they come to us, along with two more Presby/Uniting congregations from nearby suburbs. So interesting sharing worship while the clergy take turns to have a break.
There have been periods in the past when we've combined with the Anglicans, the only other church in our little suburban centre, for many activities (eg Sunday School, Parish Camp), with a break when they got a new vicar who needed to be 'indoctrinated'. Like us, they are currently without a permanent pastor.
Hope you are coping with the heat. Another week of just under 40° ahead.
Lothlorien, AS Host
Piglet, the other AS host
Ha ha. Darn autocorrect.
Good to hear from you. Hope not-so-junior got off OS alright.
Kittyville, indulgent host of guests from the Northern hemisphere
I went to Circular Quay in Sydney yesterday to catch up with some friends which was very enjoyable. And had dinner with the parents and 3 nieces at East Maitland bowling club which was equally enjoyable -- especially as I got to embarrass the girls by breaking out into out-of-tune singing of Christmas carols when people walked past.
Today it was at St Luke's Anglican; present six Presbyterians and maybe a dozen Anglicans. Their temporary vicar preached his Epiphany sermon because next Sunday they'll be at our church and it would be a pity to waste it (not his exact words!) It was jolly interesting too. He visualises a huge crowd of Magi, with all their supplies and luggage and plenty of armed guards, everything you need for crossing deserts.
I had parked over the road and spent a few minutes watching the tall grass in a large nearby patch (mostly cocksfoot and I think a fescue) bowing in waves before the gale; but I was stuck there, quite sure that the Wellington wind gusts (100-120 kph) were of the 'Watch me bowl this old girl over' kind. Fortunately friends arrived and parked in front of me so I had someone to clutch between the car and the church.
Four hours later the trees round the house are barely moving.
I love Wellington. I was born here. I don't mind wind — but I won't put myself in its way when it's that fierce.
Forecast high here today is 30c, which is waaay beyond my comfort zone. I need to do my grocery shopping before it climbs much higher, and also make sure there is accessible water out in the backyard for the various cats that visit. Many people here don't seem to put water out, which means the 10 litre bucket becomes a local watering hole.
Whoops didn't post this.
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I don't blame you GG. Wellington wind often feels as though it's aimed at you personally, although I wouldn't mind a cool breeze right now.
I definitely need that "eek" icon back ... 😤
Well done Climacus on embarrassing the nieces, that is he job of relatives, to embarrass the young.
Thanks GeeD. While things aren’t always how we’d like them to be, overall things are going well. We were reminded the other night while having dinner with Mrs C’s old university buddies that some parents face real challenges that we have been spared.
Have spent the last few days armed with painting gear and the lounge room has caught up with the dining room. Good excuse to have the aircon going. And to do a lot of dusting and vacuuming behind the furniture.
mr curly
Yes, indeed!
That is how I see it - 3 Magi to be sure but Permanaent Secretaries (Sir Humphrey) for each and Under-Secretaries and Private Secretaries for them and a whole lot of Intense Young Interns along for the ride, their future CV's and the experience ... all having wild parties when they stop in the evenning! (Midnight at the Oasis!)
Piglet, we are about 120km as the crow flies north of Lothlorien, and tomorrow will be our fourth day of 39degC, with the lowest predicted maximum for the week to come being 34. Until the monsoon from northern Australia streams south we'll keep having days like this. In the western part of the state low-to-mid 40s is the forecast.
And ABC Classic 2 is now playing the Hallelujah Chorus. OK, great music, indeed very great, but well out of season.