Christmas Day Champagne and OJ Blues: December 25th

 The true test of a civilization is, not the census, nor the size of the cities, nor the crops -- no, but the kind of man the country turns out. -Ralph Waldo Emerson, essayist (1803-1882) 

 
Hi Corinne and Patrick:
 

It’s Boxing Day 6AM here. Having put on some lawn sprinklers, swept up an outbreak of little bronze beetles around the outside lights, hung up last night’s damp spa towels, given the dogs a few leftovers to entice them out of the kitchen, and done a quick sweep of the garden for rodents and reptiles, I am ready to munch a mince tart, coffee up and compose by the dawn’s early light and the birds’ early symphony. 

We had a glorious Christmas Day here – it was clear and sunny and got to around 30 C with just a little breeze to keep it nice. At lunch we had Jessie and her flatmate and her dog, our friend Jill from Perth, and Steve’s brother Ed and his family; our friends Nick and Robyn and Clare and Julia and two transient Taiwanese ladies and a million mosquitos joined us for the evening.  14 YO nephew Xavier brought his Fender guitar and new Orange amp, so he and Uncle Steve interspersed the old Christmas CD (much Messiah) and the new Christmas CD (blues artists do Xmas) with their favourite Stones and Beatles riffs all day long. 

Our two new black and white cats, confined to barracks for 6 weeks to habituate them, are now enjoying the freedom of the garden; we will be sorry to see the bird population dwindle a bit, but the cats are on a mission to disturb the wildlife: it’s been another very snaky summer season here (our Jack Russell Milly killed a 4 foot brown snake in the wood pile last month and survived thanks to a prompt dose of anti-venom).

Today being Boxing Day, the Melbourne (cricket) Test between Australia and England starts although the Aussies have already redeemed themselves by winning the series in other cities around the nation; also the Sydney to Hobart yacht races starts, with one of Ed and Jane’s nephews in charge of strategy on a French boat this year; it is my policy to avoid Boxing Day sales like the plague. We have done such a good job of tidying up the house and garden that we decided to hold a 4 day open house so we are expecting lots of help from friends over the next few days to demolish the remains of yesterday’s feast… We have record amounts of leftover turkey, ham, champagne and chocolate – ready for Armageddon anytime. We will spend New Year’s at the beach on the Mornington Peninsula, and then I still have a few days’ leave up my sleeve to wrangle the tomatoes and the zucchinis and paddle in the local swimming spots. 2013 has gone by so very quickly, partly thanks to us being away from home for a total of 10-12 weeks – at this time last year I had no idea I would be seeing Nashville, Ottawa, Copenhagen and Italy, all for the first time; makes one wonder what the New Year holds. 

Also, I am not bad with the work-life balance most of the year, but my two annual bouts of intensive health informatics teaching in June-July and October-November really don’t leave any room to manoeuvre at those times.
Thinking of you and all your family and friends and neighbours at Christmas; heard a bit of your news from Zoe and Matt last week, hoping that this note finds you well and happy and making the most of the festive season. 

Love and cheers from Old Oak, Kathleen and Steve xoxox

Hi Patrick, As usual another of your great stories and detail.  We did in fact manage a small 20k ride to south bank and back after lunch (the ride we all did when you were over).  As usual we have a very quiet Christmas, Claire’s Fiona is in Perth and my daughter and husband came around for lunch. 

We have both made a note to try to expand our circle of friends.  Though we are both pretty quiet.  Claire is back to work in a week and I am will continue my ongoing wrestle with retirement vs part time work vs trying to get involved in some sort of volunteering.  The trouble with wanting to travel and work and volunteer I don’t seem to make any real step in any direction.  I am getting quite good at making things like kayaks, steel elephants and hippos for fun though. Oh yes and we now have a real caravan thing and have been enjoying long weekends at the beach to kayak and surf also fishing. Though I have discovered another non skill I seem to have, I can put the bait on the hook and throw it in but a thing with the brain the size of pea can still outwit me a little depressing though relaxing to know I am feeding the fish.

We are off to Italy and France in 2014 (May) for two bike rides, Venice to Croatia and Paris to London possibly then New York so Claire can visit the parent company in Washington.  With luck we will be doing a road trip to Perth From septmenber 2014 to Perth about 10,000k round trip should fun. Any way we  have had an up and down year China was great did the tour and saw the sights and the amazing people.  Then London for a week in September, Claire’s uncle passed away suddenly so a week of dealing with the capital of bureaucracy amazing they still personally sign death certificates over there. All very good though we were a bit wrecked when we got back.

The Sarge mentioned SE Asia in 2015 how do you guys feel about Orangutans as a bit of something interesting? Or a bike ride top to bottom of Vietnam?

Anyhow great to hear from you and I hope you all had a great Christmas and that 2014 is one of those years that is as memorable for its new friendships as it is for its joy. Cheers Greg and Claire

Pat,
Thanks kindly for the 80 kale recipes. We are still using the summer crop. It is reslient to all weather and a great vegetable. Hope your Christmas Eve extravaganza went well. Thinking of trying to ride at some stage of the day if it stays dry. Ray

Stats for today's ride:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/419611551#.UrvCZwLCHLQ.email

\\Takagaki Toshiko

Takagaki Toshiko Corinne, Patrick, Ayn, Chloe Merry Christmas from Okinawa!! Please have a gorgeous Christmas Love, Toshiko

Ayn P Merry Christmas Toshi! ! Xoxo

Takagaki Toshiko Merry Christmas, Ayn!!

Corinne Durston Merry Xmas from Vancouver to you and all your loved ones!

Takagaki Toshiko Thank you, Corinne! Great to hear from you!!Please tell Merry Christmas to Dusty and Clara!!

Corinne Durston

Chloe Alexis Dunn Hi Tosh!!! Merry Christmas to you and all your family!!!! ️️️

Takagaki Toshiko Thank you, Chloeノ∠※。.:*:・'°☆

 
Ancient Chinese proverb say: Man who dipsey doodle unsettled in his mind and resort to fermented beverage to try and settle but no work, so man continuously try to sway others to his position of thinking.
 

Other proverb say man should embrace the flaming earth below and learn to glide across earth with mind settled and give away his ferrmentations freely and willingly and often especially those who argue so vehemently against his way of thought. 

In this way man will embrace true meaning of life and Christmas and have wonderful holuday and life to follow. Cheers, Confucius. 

Dear friends and family,

I cut it very fine this year. Reminds me of the days spent cramming for my exams at school and university. But I did it! Finished and sent the attached newsletter on Christmas Day! Hoping you've all had a lovely day with your loved ones, eating good food and having fun, wherever you may be. We hope we are fortunate enough to see you all in the near future. Love Yien

Thanks for your thoughts over the festive season. Wishing you all a safe and merry festive season. Love, Mike and family