October Highlights (written in December)

I had no computer for most of October.

These are some of the things I might have written about if it had been functioning.

November

I just couldn't get into writing mode after having a break in October.

If I weren't so lazy, I might have written about...

Renovations to our Church - After meeting in a local school hall for a few months, we are back in our newly renovated building – with air conditioning. I'm still working out where to sit without the air conditioning full blast on me. I think I'll try over on the side next Sunday – or wear a parka!

Our World Vision Club Trivia Morning - These are always popular, and so easy to organise.

World Vision Street Stall - The last one for the year. I'm glad we got it over before the heat set in.

World Vision Christmas Auction - Instead of exchanging gifts, we auction them! We auction other things as well, but the wrapped gifts are very popular and its a lot of fun.

Toastmaster's Interpretive Reading Contest - The competition is getting stiffer! We had some excellent readers. I came third this time. We had a wild storm that night. It's a miracle that anyone showed up, but they all did.

Friendship Club Break Up - We got off to a very late start. When I went to pick up Harry, who is 93 and very deaf, he had gone to sleep. We knocked on the door and yelled for ages before we managed to wake him.

My new tooth - I got a tooth crowned and found out that dentist's are much more expensive than they used to be. I couldn't help thinking of a friend who once told me she was going to get her teeth crowned so they would look good when she dies. I told her she'd better leave instructions for her mouth to be propped open at her funeral!

December

Busy, busy month. Somehow I managed to get my Christmas shopping done in time.

Last World Vision jumble sale for the year - We weeded out piles of stuff we've had for a long time and passed it on to another charity.

Volunteer Day - Barbecue at Roma Street Parklands for World Vision Volunteers. It was good to meet the staff from the Brisbane office. We had a pleasant relaxing afternoon under the big trees.

Toastmaster's Break Up - with Secret Santa, Celebrity Heads, Christmas Carols. A fun night.

Minglers Break Up – Dinner at a local hotel with our church group. Nice meal, but we waited an hour and a half for it!

Alex (Joel & Frances' cat) very sick. - kidneys failing. She spent 3 nights at the vets and is back home on a special diet.

Christmas Eve – We had dinner with my sister Jan, Gary, and kids at their place. Lots of yummy food in a beautiful bushland setting. On the way home, we looked at Christmas lights.

Christmas Day – Very hot day. I went round to see my grandchildren, Miles and Hayley open their presents. Had to leave there about 9 a.m. to get ready to go to Lea's place. Hayley hung on to my leg & howled because she didn't want me to go. Frances called out, “Hayley, there's another present to open!” Hayley promptly let go of my leg and said, “Goodbye Meemar!” and ran back inside.

We went to Lea & David's for Christmas Dinner. The house was air conditioned, so we were quite comfortable even though it was 36 degrees Celsius (almost 100 Fahrenheits) outside. The boys were absorbed in a Play Station game most of the afternoon. Hayley played with her new toy vet's kit. We were her “patients.” She bandaged toes and performed heart transplants with plastic scissors. Someone said, “Let's just hope she doesn't want to take our temperature!”

We had a late afternoon storm on Christmas Day. We sat on the verandah and felt the cooling spray from the rain. A perfect ending to the day.

Boxing Day – I just loafed and read my new book, “Mao's Last Dancer.” Very humbling after all the goodies we've eaten, to read about a family having to make dried yams their stable diet. I'd been wanting to read the book since I heard the author speak at a writers festival last year and I wasn't disappointed. It's a good book.

More shopping – Mum & I went to one of the big shopping centres today to prepare for the onslaught of birthdays in the next couple of weeks. I don't know why so many in our family had to be born in January – it's a bit rough straight after Christmas! Nice & cool in the shops, anyway. It was another hot day.

So that brings us up to date. The old year is almost over. I didn't get far with my New Year's resolutions this year. I usually use the same ones each year – they're still untouched! But I'm hoping to update this Newsletter more regularly next year. We'll see...

Any way...

Happy New Year!!!