Wishing you a Healthy and Happy 2011

I found the following photos yesterday, taken in Paris a few days ago - wonderful shots - they brought back great memories of our New Year in Paris in 2007/2008.

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Love the one below - this photo was composed through a hole in a snowy wall facing the Basilique du Sacre Coeur (Basilica of the Sacred Heart) on Butte de Montmartre (Montmartre Hill - the highest point in Paris)

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A young Queensland cousin of mine and her husband are doing a dinner cruise up the Seine for midnight tonight - hope it is perfect for them.

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We do love Paris.

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The sun is shining today, and we started it off by walking from 6.30 a.m. along Currumbin Creek and Beach.

So much early morning activity at the entrance to Currumbin Creek beside Currumbin rocks

We then strolled along the beach - a lovely long walk "pushing sand" before brekky.

For our New Years Eve late lunch the Brig is going to barbeque some garlic king prawns on skewers, and my duty is the lime and herb risotto to accompany it, it's sort of just a nice time for Frank and I to look over 2010 and plan our activities for 2011, he has a largish birthday, and of course we have a 35th Wedding Anniversary sneaking up, so things to do!!!!.

Then late this afternoon we will wander around to Kumi and Bob's house to spend a few hours on New Years Eve with them and their friends, a little bit of Japanese culture tonight maybe.

How lucky are we just to be able to walk to a friends place as opposed to the thousands of Queenslanders who are in evacuation camps, or surrounded by floods right now, having lost so very much. The area of Queensland which is covered in flood is actually bigger than the TOTAL AREA of both France and Germany COMBINED.

Queensland is under water

Major portions of this huge state is in severe trouble with the state of the floods, via many different rivers, whole towns are being evacuated, major highways and hundreds of roads are closed, so food supplies for humans and animals are on hold, peoples houses and sheds severely damaged or ruined for good, and businesses losing all their supplies and stock.

severe animal/stock losses

and of course the wide array of crops, whether it be wheat, pineapples, bananas, corn, melons and so it goes on.

Cities such as Bundaberg (producers of that special Rum), Rockhampton, Chinchilla and many other places are in real crisis. Some dams are so full that near Bundaberg 2 times the water of Sydney Harbour is gushing over this dam's spillway - every day!!! These floods will continue moving down for weeks, and that's before clean up starts.

For example in the Gemfields, the wonderful small city of Emerald has a river - Nogoa - which is due to rise "50 feet above its normal level" - 80 percent of this city will go under water by tomorrow - some 10,000 occupants are being, and will be evacuated.

We were in Warwick on our way home from the Snowy 4 weeks ago, staying overnight, road was atrocious then with high water tables and road train damage - can't imagine how bad it is going to be after this.

Some enjoying a play in front of the pub, before the real stuff arrives, you know to me this is quite silly, the snakes are also caught up in this disaster, swimming their way to higher ground - and who wants to share the floods with them!!.

And these two still celebrated their Christmas with water lapping at their top step - so typical of the strength and happy attitude of country Aussies.

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The rain has stopped here for the last 36 hours, and our little abode has not been affected - the Golf course down the road disappeared into a huge lake, but I feel so much for those who are under water, and for the stock and businesses which have been lost.

Crashed Cricket!!

Well, after Australia's pathetic batting performance yesterday, this poster below was printed on the back page of today's Australian Daily Telegraph!!!!!!

Unfortunately their bowling performance today is not going anywhere either.

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On a far nicer note, Bren called me this morning, he and Rani are planning to bring their 3 kids up here in the School Holidays in early July - they will stay at one of the "Kid themed" places on the Gold Coast. Seaworld with Luca, Ava and Hunter would be a blast - will really look forward to spending time with the 5 of them. Bren said the kids have really enjoyed the emailed Advent Calendar I sent them, they go to it about 5 times a day, 'specially to show Grandpa Rod every afternoon. When Bren first saw it, he thought typical Liz - so much of New England and snow in it.

Rani and Bren's eldest, Luca Belle, is learning Jazz Ballet, and the piano - cute as a button, and definitely has her Dad's hair.

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Well it is still raining here, another 4 inches in the last 24 hours the worst up here for 150 years, however my thoughts are with our good friends in New England and Chicago with the terrible blizzard which is presently taking place there - 100's of flights, buses and trains cancelled,high winds and just so much snow - just hope everyone is okay.

Our Christmas Feast

Well what a true festive feast we were served at the Marsh's of Tallai. Steve had roasted on his very large barbeque the juciest turkey, a really tender duck, a monster pork roast, and then our glazed ham along with all the vegies, sauces etc. Gail then served us her speciality - a scrumptious huge Christmas pudding!

***** Post dinner drinks and coffee out on the patio

Ann made her first gingerbread house, and I the Christmas tartlets behind

The girls, Auntie Beryl, Patrina (Gail and Steve's eldest daughter), Maddie (Ash and Sue's twin daughter), Ann, Gail, Moi and Sue

A truly super family day

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This morning we opened our presents from under the tree - 24 hours after Santa had been - thank you to those generous givers. and today, Boxing Day, we are declining from starting our diet, as the Brig wants to do a large lunch - glazed ham, barbequed eggs, and potato - and I am sure he will throw in some beans as well.

Yes it is still raining, so no walks, we will probably watch the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race at 1 p.m. and right now that "Ash's" cricket match against England is on our box.!!!

La Porte Verte

Christmas Eve lunch was superb. Yesterday, Ails, Rod, the Brig and I dined at a little French restaurant, La Porte Verte (the Green Door) . Ailsa and Rod have just had a couple of weeks in the Dordogne. We four decided this was a good place to celebrate Christmas - as we won't see Ails and Rod today.

La Porte Verte had been recommended to us some time ago, it is a 15 minute walk from our place, though we drove as yes - it is still raining. It is in a little side street, and looks a bit like a hole in the wall from outside - but superb it is.

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We were the first to arrive for le dejeuner

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and literally rolled out after 3 absolutely delicious and truly french courses

The Brig loved "la carte de vin"

Ails was quite taken with "la carte de dessert" and its contents ***** Now I am fiddling with this blog while waiting for the ham to bake - we are on glazed ham, candied carrots, Christmas mince tarts and trifle duty for Christmas Lunch at Gail and Steves - there will be about 16 of us - just lovely. A huge diet will commence tomorrow!!!!

JOYEUX NOEL

A younger person's Birthday

Thursday was cousin in law - Ann's birthday, 16 of us met for lunch at Currumbin and then back to Auntie Beryl's for coffee and cake.

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2nd cousins - Lachlan, Alex, Blake and Maddie Coffee and cake at Auntie Beryl's apartment

Auntie with her 3 favourite girls, daughter Gail and two daughter in laws, Ann and Sue

All the girls - except Ailsa, who went to the hospital to visit her Mum, Auntie Nalda

Blake with his Mum, the younger birthday girl

Today, late afternoon after our super lunch with Ails and Rod, Blake, Ann and Wayne came across for a couple of hours, I also invited our neighbours, Kumi and Bob. Blake spent some time in Japan last year, and has been learning Japanese this year, and on 6th January he is taking his parents back to Japan - so an enlightening couple of hours talking to Kumi was great for the 3 of them, and for us - lots of fun too and a few "kampai's" as well.

Only 2 sleeps left

The last couple of days have been busy for us and quite festive, with some pre Christmas shopping and entertaining.

The tree has been up for a couple of weeks

Always a special time for me, so many of our tree ornaments are from close friends and family given to us over many many years

They are carefully packed away every year - just like precious little ornaments should be.

Tuesday night, Gail, Steve, Auntie Beryl and Sue (Ash had to work) came for dinner. The Brig and I really stretched ourselves here, but it was a "pretty okay" meal. Fresh and gorgeous Queensland prawns and peppered smoked salmon pastrami with a couple of sauces, barbequed baked Pork and apple , and a colourful trifle which I had found a photo and recipe of a couple of days ago, easy and rather nice.

Just as they were arriving, the phone rang, and there was number 2 cousin (I am number 5 in age - of 24 first cousins) on the phone, last time I saw Ross was when I think I took him (a country boy) to see the Beatles (live) in Sydney - quite obviously many many moons ago. He joined the Royal Australian Airforce when he was 19 and stayed with them and moved all over the place for most of his married life. We had seen his Mum on many occasions, his Dad (Mum's brother died quite young) - anyway of course arrangements have been made for he and Yvonne to join us for lunch today to celebrate cousin-in-law, Ann's birthday.

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Yesterday had a great start, with a phone call from London - K.D., a specifically dear friend of mine from many years ago - chatting to him was as easy as it has always been. Speaking of London, Gilly (my young 2nd cousin) and Matt eventually landed in London, after being stranded in Singapore (because of the snow at Heathrow), and are now touring around London with my God daughter Jo, and on Christmas Eve they will drive to Marlow-on-Thames to a special little Pub to celebrate Christmas for a couple of days, before heading to Paris.

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Last night was another great evening, with some neighbours popping in for a drink for a couple of hours - Carol and Valley, the wonder dog stayed for an hour or so (dinner out for the girl), and Kumi, Bob, Connie and Dieter stayed on for some lovely chat and snacks.

Between the 6 of us, there were 6 different birth nationalities, starting with Kumi (Japan), Frank (England), Bob (New Zealand) Connie (Portugese Goa) Dieter (Germany) and of course Moi - from Oz.

Ah, the Brig on his knees, and looks like I am definitely spreading out on the coffee table ***** Today, 16 of our family are meeting for lunch at Currumbin to celebrate Ann's birthday (she and cousin Wayne arrived on the Gold Coast last night) ****** AND IT'S RAINING, AND WILL BE - ACCORDING TO THOSE WICKED FORECASTERS - FOR ANOTHER 7 DAYS!!

Waterfalls at the Rock

I received these incredible photos yesterday, they were taken by a keen photographer, Peter Carroll who happened to be out at Uluru on this very rare occasion earlier this month - when it was raining at Ayers Rock - Uluru.

Those instant waterfalls

rolling down this incredible monalith

I did climb this incredible baby in early May 1968- she's 1,142 ft high, and 5.8 miles in circumference

that was probably when my "fear of heights" set in

Water pouring down the incredible rock formations

on a very rare occasion on our "island mountain"

Stunning photos by Peter Carroll - thanks.

Christmas cheer at Carol's

Last night Carol (our next door neighbour) held the Christmas drinks for a small group of neighbours and friends - lovely couple of hours. - inside this year - yep she was still raining.

Carol on left, with her Mum, Sally and friend Nan-lis

The Brig catching up with Carol's Dad - Ian, and of course Valley, her wonder dog was laying and listening.

Rose and Janet (another neighbour from our Close)

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This morning the sun was shining, not one drop of rain all day, and we spent a good part of it stocking up on our festive food - such as identifying a good ham to glaze, and the recipe and photo of a fine looking trifle had caught my eye, so that was going on trial for dessert when the relos came on Tuesday evening for dinner.

The Courtyard's tree

Every year the Faulkner's (my in-laws) and their neighbours put up and light a festive tree in their combined courtyard at the Barn in Sheffield. I believe a few Carols and the consumption of hot toddies also takes place.

She's glowing this year even under snow

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I believe there is loads more snow than this now, with some of the European and English airports closed. (I received these photos above a couple of days ago from Kevin) I have a young 2nd cousin and her husband stranded in Singapore, as their plane for that special "northern hemisphere holiday with Gilly's eldest sister - Jo, my god daughter" couldn't land in Heathrow today because of too much snow.

This photo arrived overnight from Frank's brother, Peter - taken in their garden at Banbury, Oxfordshire, yesterday. Apparently some of the north did not get hit as bad as the south - near Heathrow and Gatwick.

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And now the Snowy Mountains in both New South Wales and Victoria have been topped with snow - and it's mid summer in OZ - the forecast is for more snow on Christmas Day in the highlands - most unusual.