Post Christmas

Christmas has come and gone. I had a 'spaced out' celebration. It wasn't me who was spaced out but our events were. Because Greg and Nikki and Cooper and Mia were going away for Christmas, we had the Christmas tree for the kids a week earlier. With four kids and an over-indulgent Nana, there were plenty of gifts under the tree, and most of them were opened.

The children had already received some gifts from their parents' work parties and had decided the previous night which of those would be put under the Wishing Tree at the shopping centre. All four kids seem to accept that when they get extra toys and gifts, they should give some to children who don't have much. I am always proud of their attitude - modelled by their parents, of course, who donate to charity a percentage of what they spend on their own kids.

On Christmas Eve, we opened the last of the gifts under the tree - mainly for Krista and Umar and a couple of extras for Cory and Hudson. I didn't have any because I was too greedy the previous week and opened all mine then. Lord grant me patience - and give it to me now! On Christmas morning we found that Santa had been and the boys got all they wanted, and more. They each got a small tablet, and I got sole use of my iPad again.

My family in Mackay didn't come down but my gifts had arrived in time for Christmas, as did their gift for me. Coffee vouchers! How did they know? I don't think I will see them these holidays as Andrew is taking Timothy and Oscar fishing at the beach hut. Then next week they are both playing in a golf tournament at Yeppoon. Tim, at twelve, is now playing 18 holes while four year old Oscar plays three holes.  He is so little that he takes about 50 strokes to get around the course. He looks good but is exhausted at the end.

We joined any other of my siblings who weren't committed to grandkids for lunch at Keith's place. There were probably about 25 of us and we each brought a dish for lunch. My reputation as a cook is legendary so I am always asked to bring some sweet nibblies. (I think the reasoning is that if I muck them up, it won't matter because they are not part of the real meal.) However I did a TimTam slice and my famous rum balls. The rum balls are almost healthy as the main ingredient is Weetbix. The TimTam slice was very easy to make and very popular to eat. I could even remember the recipe when I was asked for it. Crush 3 packets of TimTams in a blender. Add a tin of condensed milk. Roll out into a log in coconut. Chill, then cut into narrow slices. It couldn't be simpler - or more calorie laden.

After the festivities I am regaining my strength ready for my next trip. I am sleeping late and having an afternoon nap under the air conditioner. An afternoon coffee shop trip doubles as exercise. I am careful not to overdo things as you never know when disaster will hit and I need to be refreshed and rested and able to face anything.

We are fortunate at the moment to face only afternoon storms, so far without hail. North and Central Queensland are flooded at the moment after days of deluges. It may soon be enough to break the drought but the damage will be extensive. Meanwhile, on Australia's south coast, bushfires are raging out of control and have totally destroyed about 120 homes in three coastal towns. This is the most unpredictable part of the year. Although I am disappointed not to be travelling at the moment, I know I am in the safest place here at home.

But ..... watch this space! I will be gone as soon as I can.

Home Just to Change Direction

I have been home for five busy days. It's amazing that I've arrived in time for Christmas parties! That's good. I'm also due for surgery. That's not so good. That probably won't happen. And that's not good  - as it was the main reason I came home.

A visit to my GP confirmed that COPD has extended into full blown asthma and I have probably had a recurrence of whooping cough. More medication! Before my 8.30am (!) appointment tomorrow with the surgeon, I have spent today in waiting rooms - blood tests, a chest xray, and a routine breast screening. I assume that the surgery will be postponed once again but hopefully on fairly soon so that I can resume my travels.

Christmas will be rather quiet this year. Andrew and the boys won't be down. Greg and Nikki and the two littlies are going visiting and may be camping. Krista and Umar and the boys and I will probably just do the Santa things and enjoy our airconditioned home. I imagine that any orphans will be welcomed at Keith's place where we have gathered the last few years. We now do the full family get together on the October long weekend and a cousins' reunion on the Sunday before Easter. As most of us have grandchildren now, we are committed to our 'down line' at Christmas.

I got inspired at the rallies to start writing poetry again and have added a blog to this one - silvergypsy1944rhymes.blogspot.com.  You can also click on at the top of my home page. I am having a ball writing these. Last night I had a call from someone selling funeral insurance. I got creative on the phone, explaining that my daughter was a taxidermist (well, she could have been!) and that I was going to stuffed as a museum specimen and then stored at home to look after the kids. I couldn't resist a poem called Get Stuffed. It was fun writing it and I got lots of feedback on my blog. With Toastmasters clubs all on a Christmas break, I imagine I'll use that blog for my creativity.

Gunnedah, steeped in history

Gunnedah claims Dorothea McKellar even though nobody is sure that she lived here. It is believed that she holidayed here and that this area inspired her most famous poem, My Country.
The best known verse goes like this (with apologies for any memory lapse)

I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of drought and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel sea,
Her beauty and her terror -
The wide brown land for me.

In Gunnedah I was impressed with the other acknowledgements of history. In the Pensioners' Hill Park there are a number of sandstone sculptures detailing the indigenous and the modern history of the town.

I followed the Poets' Walk around town. Copies of famous poems have been set up in appropriate places. 'Said Hanrahan" is in the grounds of the Catholic Church. 'The Bush School' is at the state school etc. I loved the concept but unfortunately they have not been maintained and are hard to find and equally hard to read.

Keeping Myself Amused

As I drove through Tenterfield today, I saw a sign painted on the road, saying 1501. I did a bit of maths and decided that it had nothing to do with the history of the Middle Ages. I thought about a time, one minute after three in the afternoon. That made no sense either. Fortunately within a couple of blocks I came across the same sign, not painted into a white box. It said simply 50 - and I was happy to go with the speed limit.

I entertained myself remembering signs I had seen along the way. A long term storage facility had a huge banner along the side saying 'Children Free'. I know a lot of parents who would be happy to put their kids into storage from time to time, even long term would be seriously considered. That would allow the cereal box header to come into play, 'Adults go free!' As someone who is experiencing the freedom of the road, I wish freedom for all adults.

Bundaberg soft drinks (like sarsaparilla and ginger beer) have a suggestion on the label, 'Invert bottle before opening'. I assume they want us to turn the bottle upside down to dislodge any sediment or to shake up the bubbles or for some other serious reason - and then turn it right way up before opening. Inverting and then opening would result in an empty bottle.

I've been to two Toastmaster meetings in the past two days. On Tuesday night I joined the Gunnedah Toastmasters for a Speechfest meeting. I was lucky enough to get on the program and did the final speech in the Speaking to Inform manual. I was a bit disappointed as I had a wonderful quote to finish with and forgot to read it. Because I have finally, after 35 years of Toastmasters, had the confidence to attempt my speeches without notes, I forgot I had the quotation written out and left on the lectern.

My evening ended on a high as Angela and Peter invited me to camp overnight at their farm. I had planned on free camping at the RV spot near the river but Angela insisted there was nobody there and I should come with them. Apparently there was thunder and lightning during the night but I slept through it all in the total quiet and dark of their property. I was a bit slow getting away as we talked for quite a while and I sorted out a few simple computer issues.

On Wednesday (last night) I went to the advanced club in Tamworth. Like most advanced clubs there were a lot of very experienced speakers and the agenda provided a good variety. I was involved in the warm up exercise and a Just a Minute segment.

I headed off north immediately after the meeting and stopped about half an hour along the road. I thought I had slept well but ended up having a short nap today at Armidale and another at Glen Innes. I was tempted at Tenterfield but continued to the Jennings Hotel which is a step over the border from Wangaratta. Tomorrow I'll be back in Queensland.

A Crappa and a Dunny

Enough said!