Life Goes on

Introducing Grand daughter Number 5.

Another impatient lass who obviously wants to see as much of 2025 as possible.

Flora Nadalin

18th January 2025

2 weeks early 

7 lb 5 oz  (3,400 gm)

Little Sister to GD #2 & #4 

(Miss H and Miss I)

(With 5 Little Girls maybe it's time for that Embroidery Machine????)

Hello 2025

Not the best start to the New Year.

Yet, Somehow Snoopy always knows what to say...

We didn't know that Miss P's 2nd Birthday was the Last time we would talk.
The Diagnosis was brutal and They Lost Him Four Days before Christmas

Four Days after New Year we said our last Goodbyes.

Our SIL lost his Dad

Our Grandchildren lost their Abeulo

All too soon.

Rest Easy Carlos.

2024 - Year in Review

 Here I go again - For all those who just want to "Cut to the Chase"

2024 in 12 Photos!

January

Continuing with the Bathroom Renovation  

that started back in October.

February

Gave us an extra day

We were knee deep in our own renovation 

and also helped a Friend with Hers

We made a Promise to Our Granddaughters.

and said Goodbye to a loved BIL

March

Everyday on my calendar had something in it

Birthdays and Funerals and Easter and

so much that I forgot to write up our Visit to The DaVinci Exhibit

(something I have since included.)

April

It was all White Gloved Hands on deck for the AQC

and visits to the Vet with Our Cat 

May

We weeded out the old Pond and made a pretty garden instead

(The birds are making good use of the Feeder turned Bird Bath)

June

I spent my Birthday checking out the other Dinosaurs at the Melbourne Zoo.

July

Taking a break from the continuing Renovation and Repairs

DD & I took the Girls to the Cake Bake & Sweets Show

August

How on Earth do I sum Up August in just one Photograph?

12 day Epic - Bucket List Tour of The Red Centre of Australia

This is the living beating Heart of Australia

and it is FAR from Dead.

September

looking back through my Diary - September was 

mainly appointments and waiting for Tradesmen.

AND

DD's 40th Birthday.

October

Pharaoh comes to the National Gallery of Victoria

It took us the best part of all day to 

see the 500 Pieces in this landmark Exhibition

(even then I missed some!)

November

Baking and Birthdays

and Maybe a New Hobby

('cause we all need yet another Hobby)

December

and of course with all its Trauma and Tinsel

December is Christmas.

* * *

Whoever you are

Wherever you live

Whatever you Believe

 

Thank you for coming by 

and sharing a snapshot of 

Who I am and What I do.

Season's Greetings

and

Happy New Year

 

Christmas Day 1974

 "Santa never made it into Darwin
Disaster struck at dawn on Christmas Day
Santa never made it into Darwin
A Big wind came and blew the town away"

* * *

In the early hours of Christmas Day 1974 Tropical Cyclone Tracy swept through Darwin.

She was small and destructive. 

With winds that exceeded 217 km per hour before the anemometer at Darwin Airport was destroyed.

This girder is part of the Tracy Exhibit in Darwin Museum.

* "Cyclone Tracy had a profound impact on the Darwin community with over 70 per cent of Darwin’s homes destroyed or suffering severe damage, all public services including communications, power, water and  sewerage were severed, 

41,000 people left homeless, 35,362 people (of the 47,000 total population of Darwin) were evacuated and tragically 66 lives were lost."

50 years on - She remains one of the most destructive Natural disasters in Australia's History.

Santa Never Made it into Darwin, written by music duo Bill and Boyd.

*Darwin.nt.gov.au/ Cyclone Tracy 50th anniversary

What Now?

What are you doing for Christmas?

Nothing Special - We've already done Family Christmas

Which leaves us plenty of time to enjoy the Christmas Markets

Dec. 6.  Food & Wine Christmas Market -MCEC (Jeff's Shed)

Dec 14.  Indoor Pop up Market - Pentridge Coburg

Dec. 15  Handmade Design Market - Coburg Town Hall

Dec. 22  Pentridge Makers Market - Outdoor Pentridge Coburg

Didn't buy much but it was a good outing and fun chatting to the stallholders.

Christmas came Early

Christmas when we were kids was easy -

You woke up unwrapped Presents, 

Had a very big Lunch

Went to Grandmas via Uncle's Place

and were back home in time for Dinner.

(photo typical of Aussie Christmas c 1965)

Then you got Married. 

In-laws did Boxing Day

You wanted Christmas Day

Your Family wanted....

Then your Kids got Married and ....

Its all very complicated!

So THIS year we decided to Have Christmas Early - Very Early.  

No one else wanted December 8th !

The Table was set 

and the Meal Prepared - 

Allowing for 6 different dietary requirements

and 4 Toddlers

The Christmas Biscuits were NOT deemed too Pretty to eat.

And as far as Little Miss P was concerned 

"If I eat it with my cutlery then it IS my Main Course"

After Lunch -

Gifts were exchanged

And the Children begged to be allowed to "Go to the Park".

Before all clearing off and leaving Us to the Washing Up...

And That is the Way it Should be.

Merry Christmas Everyone !

Getting ready for ....

I do not enjoy the Stress and Hype leading up to Christmas and

Some days are that bad you just have to Drown a Reindeer 

in Your Coffee!

DH Birthday✔

Meltdown ✔

Christmas 

Good to get some things off the list early.