And so this is Christmas
I realise that my LJ posting is erratic at best, but at the end of the year, it's a great time to reflect.
We saw in 2006 in London, we will be farewelling it in Perth. In between, we've had a year full of highs and lows.
Our British holiday was indeed the holiday of a lifetime; everything we had hoped for and more. We do plan to go back, but not for three or four years, and when we go, it will not be in the middle of winter, and we're waiting until we can afford business class. From Sydney to London is just too far for cattle class. This afternoon, I'm leaving for Perth on the other side of Australia. Five hours there, four hours back because of the prevailing tail winds. Three weeks in Perth might night have quite the cachet of a month in Britain, but it has the advantage that my second brother Malcolm lives there, so I get to spend some time with him for the first time in a long time. I'm looking forward to it immensly.
My health has been great; I finished my diet, having lost 40Kg (88lb) and although my weight is fluctuating a little within a Kg or two, it has stayed stable for a few months now. I am one happy little camper! We have set up a home gym which we don't use as often as we should, but a lot more than I had feared we would. We still use it a couple of times a week.
I've read very few books, seen very few films and gone to hardly any concerts. This is NOT a good thing, but is a reflection of just how busy life has been. I'm taking a couple of books to read while I'm away; I have never read Kafka, but picked up a copy of The Trial at our Church fete last month, so we'll see how it goes. Perhaps not the usual light holiday reading, but when else will I get the chance to read it? I think the only film I saw a the cinema was Neil Young's Heart of Gold. (Robert also bought me the DVD, so I can relive it again and again). Missed An Inconvenient Truth, which was the only other film I REALLY wanted to see, but it was only on locally for one week, and it was hectic; I'm sure it will come out on DVD too! A few dramas looked good, but not good enough to juggle the rest of my life. We went to the Blue Mountains Music Festival in March; I love festivals - what a great way to see lots of performers in a short time. There are people that I have heard of but never seen-this way I get to hear them without a big financial committment; If they're good, I can buy the albums or see them again, if they're disappointing, it cost nothing to find out. The big ticket concert was Elton John on the 29th November; a great show, three hours of hits and he still missed at least a dozen of my favourites. Robert has just given me my Christmas present (we're exchanging early so we don't have to take them over and bring them back) and we are going to see Crosby Stills and Nash in February!!! Row 10, which in a 10,000 person auditorium is pretty impressive.
I still love my job, but it's amazing how it takes about 40 hours a week to do a 20 hour job! I only get paid from 9am to 1pm Monday to Friday, but when the work has to be done, well... And because it is at the Church I normally attend, most of the congregation assumes I'm working when they see me on Sunday. The money's not great, but it is still the best job I've ever had.
On the down side, we started the year with two wonderful old dogs, we finish it with no pets at all. Even though Jack died in September and Sheba in October, I still get a shock when there are no dogs waiting at the gate when I get home each day. We are thinking of getting birds next year. I don't think I could face dogs.
So that's my year. Great in parts, not so great in others. My husband still loves me, which is pretty good. My children, parents and brothers still like to spend time with me, which is wonderful.
I hope everyone else has a great time over my summer break. My brother does have internet, but I suspect that it is monopolised by his teenaged step-daughter. We'll see.
We saw in 2006 in London, we will be farewelling it in Perth. In between, we've had a year full of highs and lows.
Our British holiday was indeed the holiday of a lifetime; everything we had hoped for and more. We do plan to go back, but not for three or four years, and when we go, it will not be in the middle of winter, and we're waiting until we can afford business class. From Sydney to London is just too far for cattle class. This afternoon, I'm leaving for Perth on the other side of Australia. Five hours there, four hours back because of the prevailing tail winds. Three weeks in Perth might night have quite the cachet of a month in Britain, but it has the advantage that my second brother Malcolm lives there, so I get to spend some time with him for the first time in a long time. I'm looking forward to it immensly.
My health has been great; I finished my diet, having lost 40Kg (88lb) and although my weight is fluctuating a little within a Kg or two, it has stayed stable for a few months now. I am one happy little camper! We have set up a home gym which we don't use as often as we should, but a lot more than I had feared we would. We still use it a couple of times a week.
I've read very few books, seen very few films and gone to hardly any concerts. This is NOT a good thing, but is a reflection of just how busy life has been. I'm taking a couple of books to read while I'm away; I have never read Kafka, but picked up a copy of The Trial at our Church fete last month, so we'll see how it goes. Perhaps not the usual light holiday reading, but when else will I get the chance to read it? I think the only film I saw a the cinema was Neil Young's Heart of Gold. (Robert also bought me the DVD, so I can relive it again and again). Missed An Inconvenient Truth, which was the only other film I REALLY wanted to see, but it was only on locally for one week, and it was hectic; I'm sure it will come out on DVD too! A few dramas looked good, but not good enough to juggle the rest of my life. We went to the Blue Mountains Music Festival in March; I love festivals - what a great way to see lots of performers in a short time. There are people that I have heard of but never seen-this way I get to hear them without a big financial committment; If they're good, I can buy the albums or see them again, if they're disappointing, it cost nothing to find out. The big ticket concert was Elton John on the 29th November; a great show, three hours of hits and he still missed at least a dozen of my favourites. Robert has just given me my Christmas present (we're exchanging early so we don't have to take them over and bring them back) and we are going to see Crosby Stills and Nash in February!!! Row 10, which in a 10,000 person auditorium is pretty impressive.
I still love my job, but it's amazing how it takes about 40 hours a week to do a 20 hour job! I only get paid from 9am to 1pm Monday to Friday, but when the work has to be done, well... And because it is at the Church I normally attend, most of the congregation assumes I'm working when they see me on Sunday. The money's not great, but it is still the best job I've ever had.
On the down side, we started the year with two wonderful old dogs, we finish it with no pets at all. Even though Jack died in September and Sheba in October, I still get a shock when there are no dogs waiting at the gate when I get home each day. We are thinking of getting birds next year. I don't think I could face dogs.
So that's my year. Great in parts, not so great in others. My husband still loves me, which is pretty good. My children, parents and brothers still like to spend time with me, which is wonderful.
I hope everyone else has a great time over my summer break. My brother does have internet, but I suspect that it is monopolised by his teenaged step-daughter. We'll see.