… I know it’s a cliche, but I find it confusing and interesting at the same time to have a six week school holiday bi-sected by a change of year. Anyway, she writes;
“Dear Harry and Sandie, I had a very quiet christmas this year as the girls got together in Perth at Julies so that was lovely but I decided that it would be too hot and I didnt feel like travelling to far at this time of the year. I went to a friend and his family who I have had many BD and christmsases before so I knew I would have a lovely time. When the plate piled high with smoked salmon came round I hopped into that with great relish. We had a gazebo under the trees and ate around a long table with a lovely cooling breeze blowing. Lots of chatter and catching up and a little wine as the family had other dinners to go to in Melbourne that night. I pottered and read and did my own thing. At home I had been tackling bringing the garden into order. At the end of March I clipped some nerves in my back and although the pain has now subsided I lost the reflex nervous system to my right leg which has a tendency to collapse at inopportune moments. Makes getting on/off trams a bit tricky. Needles to say the garden was neglected for several months. I now have a promising crop of Tomatoes, Courgettes, Squash, pumpkins beetroot and potatoes to look forward too.
On my Birthday Jenny Tamika and I went out to breakfast in Port Fairy. A pretty little town about 50miles from here with a small fishing port and some good restaurants. Families have been going there for music festivals and other entertainment for generations. The custom is to hire a caravan or BYO for the 6 weeks of the school holidays put it on a serviced site and family comes and goes over that time and they all get together and celebrate christmas and the new year on holiday together. Remembering that in the past there have been 10children each so he gatherings could be quite large. My friends family hired part of the nunnery in Apollo Bay for a week in the spring each year as 2 of his sisters and 2 of his brothers where nuns and priests (His brothers still take services regularly around here). So I was initiated into the world of smashed advocado’s on toast which is a sign I have moved into the world of the yuppy. LOL
Yesterday (new years day) we went to the restaurant that Tamika works at. She does the washing up and had to start at 1pm. unfortunately it was one of the busiest days of the year and the dishwasher had broken down so all hand washing for 500 customers. The food was lovely and when I can figure out how to get the photos off my camera i’ll send you some pictures. Today I have to cut some wainscoting to finish the renovation in my Toilet as Jenny and I had replaced had replaced an old door that was the remnant of a larger verandah with an outside door to the toilet in days gone by.
It has been an electronic end of year as Julie and Jenny bought me an Ipad which I had been saving up for and I brought myself a Blue Ray player which has lots of features so that I can get Netflix and other I view TV programmes plus sport and lots of other things to watch. I usually spend my day working on the house and garden during the morning and then sewing or doing quieter things in the afternoon. I have taken up lacemaking again and think that this year I might try to fit in going to the lace guild in Colac(35mile) away each week and the embroiderers guild and a small quilting group. I’m finding my circle of friends have started to go into homes or moved to be nearer their daughters. However new people are moving into the village and I am getting to know some of them.
The embroiderers guild have an exhibition which is held every 2 years this year and I must aim to finish some of my Projects for entering. The first half of the year seems full already. I wish you all a lovely new year with good health and a feeling of contentment. I hope the winter isn’t too cold and the summer not too wet. Much love Pat PS if you want to put this in the family website I would be very glad”.
This was in response to an equally long catch-up on Merryhall and our summer event.
Related