Orthodox Ian has inspired me … what are you reading these holidays? and what are you watching?

Since 22/12/07 I have read the following…

Mags: Who, OK, Australian House and Garden, Australian Women’s Weekly.
Papers: Southern Highlands News (3 editions), Daily Telegraph (2 editions), Sydney Morning Herald (2 editions).
Books: 6 almost interchageable paperback American mystery stories, three involving recipes, two (oddly) involving San Jose; 1 Clive Cussler (great), just started 1 Robert Ludlum (looking good).

We came over on the day sailing of the Spirit from Devonport on Saturday 22nd, so it was a very early start, as we had to walk the dog first. Awake at 4:30am, to be all organised and on the road and at the boat by 7:30am for a 9am sailing. Not a bad trip, was very rough in the last four hours but neither of us get seasick, and Destructor was quite happy down below in his kennel, so it went well. We left Melbourne at 7pm and arrived at mum/dad’s at 4:10am Sunday morning, so didn’t do too badly. A bit longer than expected but we had to stop and untangle the puppy a few times (and put him back in his harness, as he has a habit of stepping on the seatbelt and letting himself out!), but all in all not a bad trip. I was up at 7am Sunday and made it through the day quite well. Obviously I need to stay up a full 24 hours to cope, if I go to bed really late I’m tired the next day, but up for 24 hours seems to work quite well – weird!

We had a great Christmas day, I think the bubble blowing machine I gave The Sherriff was the biggest success , and we’ve had a good time since. It’s been great to see the houses my brothers are living in, and see them settled back near mum/dad. Mr Tasmania has been doing a lot of wood cutting with dad over the last two days, while I’ve been doing stuff around the house and pruning plants etc to give the garden a general tidy up – mowing tomorrow apparently (while Mr TAsmania plays golf with KombiBro then goes to install a new stove for BroBoss). We’ll be catching up with an old friend from Canada too, he hasn’t been back to Australia since 1994 (I saw him in 1995 when I visited Canada) so it’ll be great to have a natter. I’ve kept in contact so I pretty much know what he’s up to, but so much better to see him in person! I would have caught up with him last year on my Europe/Canada holiday but a little thing (ie engagement and marriage) got in the way – so it’s nice he’s come to us!

Christmas was lovely, Mr Tasmania was THRILLED with his present (I ordered him a ‘Stig’ T-shirt from the UK, they’re not available here, and it should have arrived by the time we get home), the family was great, and Christmas day was lovely

My (our family) friend Mad Canada is back in Oz after 20 years! so it was great to see him in Church on Christmas Day – we’re catching up with him on New Years Eve – not real party animals us I’m afraid but it’ll be lovely.

we’re on holidays – yay! 0ff on the Spirit of Tasmania tomorrow am (with puppy in the kennels) hopefully not too rough a crossing (weather has been horrible!) (it’s pouring at the moment) (we had 3 inches WEdnesday night!) and hopefully the 8 hour drive up to the parents abode will be okay weather and traffic wise too.

Have a fabulous Christmas everyone

I originally wrote this last Friday …..

We had a family bbq last night, at the in-law's. Very nice … quite funny to realise that on one side of the little ‘Tasmania' family my husband and I are the youngest in the group of siblings in laws by 20'ish years, on the other side he's the oldest by about 6 years ….

My parents in law turn in their mid to late 80's, while my parents are late 50's and mid-60's … quite a difference. Especially when you realise that my husband's oldest brothers are almost the same age as my dad.

We are blessed that they are all on the ball, intelligent, active people – and when you are with people like that age doesn't matter as you are all on similar wavelengths. Although husband and I did call our little extra table (we ran out of room) the ‘kids table', much to his brothers' amusement!

Mr Tasmania's mum, Mrs Santa Claus, is a non stop action woman, loves nothing more than getting out on a road trip to see what's happening in the world, playing a game of croquet (known to us as hockey!), working as a volunteer at the local information centre, or whipping up an enormous feast in a very small kitchen.

His dad, the Potato King, loves his ‘taters, and takes off regularly with boat in tow to go fishing – 5 or 6 days, puts the motor boat in the water himself, we assume all is okay until he turns up again J – he's also king of the punters!

Certainly not one's to stagnate with age! Hope we're at least half as good at their age – from what I've seen (working in the Aged Care industry now) they're the exception rather than the rule, so I hope we can end up like them!

Ian, please avert your eyes … and anyone else IT, it's just one particular IT person who is giving me a world sized pain … and not just me but most of the people I work with.

We have just rolled our work email over from Outlook to an Outlook exchange server … so theoretically we can now communicate much better ….

Just for starters, each person's storage limit on their emails is only 50MG …….

Instead of doing the rollover of 30+ computers starting first thing on a Monday he started in our office at 4pm Friday, the week before our last week before Christmas.

I don't think I really need to go on, do I?

had a lovely first wedding anniversary. Started the day with a walk around the Seabrook Golf Course (husband and two mates played – I enjoyed the walk in the sun) at 7:30am. Off to church, which was great, very Christmassy, and a lot more traditional Christmas carols than you usually get in a penty church – nice! I love a good carol and Christmas Song …. O Holy Night, The Carol of the Birds (Australian, see if you can find it, lovely lovely lovely), and The Snowman!

Love it all!

We then went to a lovely lunch at Jolly Rogers Restaurant in Boat Harbour – gorgeous summer sunny day, warm, bright, beautiful blue green water, perfect day with my lovely lovely boy.

We are going halves in the Dyson hand held vacuum cleaner as our first anniversary present. At the post-Christmas sales! Yes, we’re probably far too practical but if we are happy who cares eh

I’ve just ordered Mr Tasmania’s Christmas present online … he won’t get it until after Chrissie but I think he’s going to be very very very happy. I can’t tell you what it is as he reads this BUT if you want to find out (’cause you’re nosy!) email me and I’ll fill you in!

I’ve just finished writing our Christmas Cards. I think I mentioned earlier that this was a BIG year of cards, as I figured I’d send one to everyone we invited to the wedding, plus all our families, plus all our friends – even those that Richard hasn’t met, that I haven’t met, etc.

Next year the list will be MASSIVELY cut down. I have so far posted 40, have 55 sitting ready to post, have 3 to find addresses for and then post (Ian!), have 8 internationals to buy stamps for and then post (PS thanks for the lovely postcard Deeleea, it’s truly lovely – and I agree with all you’ve said re blogs etc!!!! ), have hand delivered one, and have 3 sitting under the tree to be dropped off before we leave on Saturday. Phew! HOw many is that … 111 I think. NOt a competition obviously! Glad to have done them though, I actually really enjoy doing them – one of the main reasons for doing less next year (apart from time and cost!) is that I’ll have more time and ‘brain’ to write in them all properly .. I like to write a message, not something generic. I honestly don’t know why people who just write “Dear Miss Lisa and Mr TAsmania, Merry Christmas, Love ….. and …. bother really” … I guess it’s nice that they regard you as worthy of a card, but you somethings wonder if it’s just a habit?

anyway, not to spoil the joy, only 8 sleeps until Christmas, 5 sleeps until we leave for NSW, 4 sleeps until our last day at work, and no sleeps until I get a day off – yes, it’s today – yay!!!!!

I hopefully will write before and over Christmas etc but in case I don’t, I wish you all joy and fun and peace and blessings at Christmas and into the New Year, and a fabulous 2008! And go you wedding things, have a blast!

This time last year I was running around like a chook with it's head cut off, doing all the last minute things. The marquee was set up in the backyard and we were busily decorating tables and walls and trying to get the microphone speaker to work. The whole family was charging about. I think Mr Tasmania might have managed a nap in the middle of it all but I can't be sure … guess I could go and read my own archives!

I did enjoy it all though, very much, not really a stressed out bride – and I hope that those coming up to their weddings(!) will be as unstressed as I was and have as much fun as I did, and enjoy their first year of marriage as much as I have.

It feels like so long ago and only yesterday – I still get excited when I say ‘my husband' – helps that he's a cutie!

we’ve skipped church (again!) and have been for a walk on the beach with the dog (before 10am, so it’s legal) and had coffee with friends. Mr Tasmania is now washing the trailer and the car and then we’re heading off to Latrobe and the Raspberry FArm at Elizabethtown to meet friends – the Mellencamps – for coffee and raspberry deliciousness. We really don’t want to go anywhere, it’s such a gorgeous day, but they’re down from (my) home for the weekend and it’s halfwayish between where they’re staying and our place – and after 1200km’s it’s a bit churlish to say no, hour anda half is too far to drive. But it’s such a nice day here …….

ah well … friends are friends ’cause they do these things

Speaking of weddings …. 7 sleeps to go and it's our first anniversary! It's been an interesting year, and a very very good one on the whole. Some traumas, some tragedies, lots of fun, lots of laughter, lots of love … so I think on balance we can mark it down as EXCELLENT!

My boy is lovely and I love him incredibly.

Not one single tiny teeny weeny incy regret on marrying him – he's a joy.

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