Hello everyone, I had planned to do a post yesterday with Jo-Anne’s thoughts but it didn’t happen after going to the doctors I just didn’t feel like it.

When I was having my wash this morning I thought why is it some mornings when I look in the mirror I thought I looked ok as in ageing well, although yesterday when I looked at myself I thought differently. Now I do not think I look older then my years generally speaking but there are times when I wonder if I am being a tad vain.

My grandmother always told me to make sure I moisturise my body not just my face but my neck and chest and upper arms and I still do each morning, although now I also have to moisturise my legs as they are drying out causing me to scratch which causes the skin to break and bleed, something I find very frustrating.

I like to dress nicely when I go out wearing if possible a nice dress or skirt some jewellery, including my train broach that I wear in honour of my Dad. I also like to wear some lip colour either lipstick or lip-gloss and perfume.

                                                         My word of the year is ACCEPTANCE

ACCEPTANCE:  The action of consenting to receive or undertake something offered.

                              The process of fact of being received as adequate, valid or suitable 

                               Acceptance in human psychology is a person’s assent to the reality of a 

                              situation recognising a process or condition (often a negative or 

                             uncomfortable situation) without attempting to change it or protest it.

 As many people would know I listen to audio books downloaded from my local library, I use to listen to audio books when I was driving but when I stopped driving I  stopped doing it then a few years back I started to have trouble holding a book and reading it and due to Covid I wasn’t able to visit a library I took to downloading Eaudiobooks and this is something I enjoy and I do get through a lot each year as you can tell.  This is 2023’s list of books listened to, 

BOOKS LISTENED TO IN 2023

THE BARRAKEE MYSTERT ARTHUR W UPFIELD

THE HOUSE OF CAIN ARTHUR W UPFIELD

THE GREAT MELBURNE CUP MYSTERY ARTHUR W UPFIELD

WINGS ABOVE THE DIAMANTINA ARTHUR W UPFIELD

DEATH OF A LAKE ARTHUR W UPFIELD

MURDER MUST WAIT ARTHUR W UPFIELD

THE MOUNTAINS HAVE A SECRET ARTHUR W UPFIELD

BONY AND THE WHITE SAVAGE ARTHUR W UPFIELD

THE SANDS OF WINDEE ARTHUR W UPFIELD

WINDS OF EVIL ARTHUR W UPFIELD

BONY AND THE BLACK VIRGIN ARTHUR W UPFIELD

THE BONE IS POINTED ARTHUR W UPFIELD

MR JELLY’S BUSINESS ARTHUR W UPFIELD

AN AUTHOR BITES THE DUST ARTHUR W UPFIELD

DEVILS STEPS ARTHUR W UPFIELD BUSHRANGER OF THE SKIES ARTHUR W UPFIELD THE LAKE FROME MONSTER ARTHUR W UPFIELD THE WILL OF THE TRIBE ARTHUR W UPFIELD BACHELORS OF BROKEN HILL ARTHUR W UPFIELD

VENOM HOUSE ARTHUR W UPFIELD

DEATH OF A SWAGMAN ARTHUR W UPFIELD CLUE OF THE NEW SHOE ARTHUR W UPFIELD CAKE IN THE HAT BOX ARTHUR W UPFIELD

BONY BUYS A WOMAN ARTHUR W UPFIELD

BONY AND THE KELLY GANG ARTHUR W UPFIELD

TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ HEATHER MORRIS

CILKA’S JOURNEY HEATHER MORRIS

THE CODEBREAKERS ALLI SINCLAIR

GULPILIL DEREK RIELLY

OUTBACK MIDWIFE BETH McRAE

WALZING AUSTRALIA TIM BORTHWICK

THE CHILDREN’S HOUSE OF BELSEN HETTY E VEROLME

THE TUNNELS GREG MITCHELL

OUR VIETNAM NURSES ANNABELLE BRAYLEY

BAREFOOT IN THE BINDIS ANGELA WALES

THE KELLY HUNTERS GRANTLEE KIEZA

MIDWINTER MURDERS AGATHA CHRISTIE

THE SOLIDERS STORY TERRY BURSTALL

IMMIGRANTS AND SPIES BARABRA MACKAY CRUISE

RAT CATCHER KIM KELLY

THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND ADAM COURTENAY

THE MIDWIFE MURDERS JAMES PATTERSON &RICHARD DiLallo

THE LOST AIRMAN SETH MEYEROWITZ & PETER F STEVENS

THE QUEEN’S COLONIAL PETER WATT

INSIDE STORIES TIM BOWDEN

STUBBORN BUGGERS TIM BOWDEN

LARRIKIN’S IN KKAKI TIM BOWDEN

SURVIAL TIM BOWDEN

1913 PAUL HAM

KOKODA PAUL HAM

HITLER’S DAUGHTER JACKIE FRENCH

PENNIES FOR HITLER JACKIE FRENCH

A STUDY IN SCARLET ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE

SIGN OF THE FOUR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE

VALLEY OF FEAR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE

HIS LAST BOW ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE

THE CASEBOOK OF SHERLOCK HOLMES ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE

SONG OF COMFORTABLE CHAIRS ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH

THE HOUSE OF UNEXPECTED SISTERS ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH

STRANGE CASE OF THE MODERATE EXTREMISTS ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH

ALL THE COLOURS OF THE CATTLE ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH

THE JOY AND LIGHT BUS COMPANY ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH

THE CHANT OF JIMMIE BLACSMITH TOM KENEALLY

SEARCHING FOR SCHINDLER TOM KENEALLY

SCHINDLER’S LIST TOM KENEALLY

Here we are at the last day of 2023 and this year I will end with a post about New Year’s Eve.

So when was the first New Years Eve, well wouldn’t it be the year after the start of life on Earth. Anyway the first know record of New Year’s celebrations goes back to around 2000B.C in Mesopotamia. It occurred at the time of some equinox which is around the end of March.

So we all know why it is New Year’s Eve but did you know it was only since the 1300’s that the word Eve has been used to refer to an evening before an event, such as Christmas and New Years.

When did the first of January start marking the start of a year well that was back during the reign of Numa that the Roman republican calendar would mark January and since January was named after Janus the Roman God of all beginnings.

Google tells me the first country to welcome the new year is Samoa followed by Kiribati and Tonga, as they are close to the International Date Line. This is also the reason Australia is also one of the first countries to welcome the New Tear.

Google also tells me that Rio hosts the world’s largest and wildest New Year Celebrations. Of course the classic ball drop in Times Square or the fireworks displays at Central Park are also big celebrations.

Here in Australia NYE can be celebrated on boat cruises, in parks or at the beach, all we just have a barbie at home with family and mates. Sydney’s celebrations are televised allowing many to celebrated in their home even if alone.

CHRISTMAS EVE

Up at 4.50am another cool start to the day. By around 8.30am it started raining and has been raining on and off all day.

Did the grocery shopping it will be delivered Tuesday afternoon between 1 & 7pm I will ask Tasha if her, Blain or Sam can be here when it arrives and unpack the cold stuff.

A quiet day spent waiting for the computer to load and work like I wanted it to.

CHRISTMAS DAY

I have been up since 5am, sent a Christmas text to different family members, have received some replies and had to restart my frozen computer before doing anything but I cannot get my email program to open, make one want to scream.

Sent Christmas messages to my siblings, niece and Jonathon and received replies.

Had a video call from Kathy and that really made me happy seeing their lounge-room looking like mum & dad’s on Christmas morning.

Jess & Sam came down and gave me and Tim a present each, a coffee cup for dad and a nice black necklace for me. The best present was although a photo of me and Sam.

Tasha cooked lunch and brought it down and we ate here all except Blain who wouldn’t get out of bed. He did eventually come down for his gift which was just a $50 gift card.

All in all it was a good day.

BOXING DAY

I have been up since 5am as usual and I am drenched in sweat, while sitting here Jessica came over and dropped off a chocolate muffin for me.

The shopping should be delivered around 6.40pm.

I feel frustrated this morning with the shaking and sweating and other things not going the way I would like, aka my computer…..

Went over to Kathy’s for lunch which was nice Michael made sow cooked ribs and a baked ham with spuds and carrots.

Just as we were leaving it started to hail and we had to pull over for a bit.

Came home to a hot house and Tim saying he should have turned the air con on before leaving.

Not as hot this morning, I have been up since 4.30am had a good nights sleep.

A busy morning working at the computer which took longer then is should have but I was chilled and just rolled with it. I did get things done even if it took a while.

Kathy rang as she does every Wednesday but as I had seen her only yesterday I wasn’t expecting her to ring. We chatted about nothing much.

Another hot day, I turned the air con on around 11am and shut the house up to block out the heat.

Had a good night till about 3am when after getting up to pee I struggled to settle down again. Tossing and turning and after what didn’t seem very long I looked at the time and found it was 4.50am so I got up.

I was in the kitchen getting breakie ready when Jess turned up looking for bread but sadly I didn’t have any bread.

I decided to watch one of the many things I have recorded between 8.30am and when Tim gets up which is usually between 9.30 & 10am.

Another hot day, I am not handling the heat well it is giving me headaches and an unwell feeling.

I had a mostly good night sleep till 4am when I started to feel restless, I also started to feel like I couldn’t breath and needed to take my Cpap mask off, so I ended up getting up at 4.30am.

Tim was up at 9am and of course turned what I was watching on telly off so he could watch his show.

Had to turn the air con on around 10.30,at least Tim isn’t complaining about it going on, maybe he can see how bad the heat is affecting me.

Saw Kelli she came to borrow the wheelchair she was in a car accident yesterday and wrote off her father’s car, she will need surgery on her right leg but not sure when. The kids were with her when the accident happened but are ok. She looked ok which lessened my concern. Her friend Jay who is down visiting drove them over to pick up the wheelchair by them I mean Kelli and her dad Rex.

Up at 4.30 again after a slightly restless night, had to get up during the night and eat some cheese & crackers as I was feeling unwell with hunger pains.

Had an early morning visit from Sue she isn’t in a good place feeling she is poison and toxic and the world would be better without her, I gave her a hug well a few hugs and told her I don’t like to hear her saying such things. I said a lot more to her gave her a stern talking to in fact

I am so tired I fell asleep while trying to watch TV so went and had a lay down for an hour. Did a bit of research and discovered the new medication I am on causes sleepiness and sudden onset sleep.

Well it’s Friday and it’s hot again but it is Summer as my daughter reminded me.

A new year is fast approaching and what do I hope for the new year, I have been giving this some thought and what did I come up with……….

I would like to see Tim return to work, and if that’s not going to happen I want to know what is going happen next. At the moment we just don’t know what is going to happen, there is a meeting next Month that might give us some answers.

Both Natasha & Blain want jobs so I hope that happens for both of them. I feel that neither of them are really happy with how their life is going.

I hope that 2024 see’s me still improving in regards to my health. I hope to also lose a little more weight.

I want to see Sandra move into a 4 bedroom home so she has more room.

I also want to see the differences between Kathy & Tasha can be worked out and their relationship can improve.

I am also trying to decide if I will post 6 days a week, like I have done this year or should I drop a day and post 5 days a week.

How about everyone else, do you have any idea what your hopes for 2024?

The photos above are of my brother’s house and yes that is a photo of my brother and sister in-law

                        This next  lot are my house with decorations and presents ready to hand out.

                                                                 Christmas Day lunch

                                       Photos taken of Kathy’s  house and what she had for lunch

      A few photos of me with sister Sandy, Granddaughter Sydney-May and one of one me & Sam

Well here I am at Wednesday 27 December, Christmas is over for another year and for the most part it has been a good one. Starting on the 23^rd when Tim and I went over to my brothers for the Jenkins Siblings Christmas get together as well his sisters also in attendance was long time as in childhood friends Colleen & her husband and their child, a total of 15 people which had more the feel Christmas at our parents place which was good.

Christmas Day saw Tim and I stay home and our daughter Natasha cook lunch for us as well as Jessica and Sam, the morning was wonderful with Jess and Sam here.

The yesterday Boxing Day Tim and I went over to our eldest daughter’s place for lunch and to exchange gifts. We got caught in a hail storm just after we left Kathy’s to come home, as like a minute after leaving we were still in her street and had to pull over due to the hail.

Now is the 27thaday spent at home seeing no one and going nowhere. I hope.

I will shar photos tomorrow after I go through what I have.

Here we are at Christmas Day here in Australia, and this is the last post using the book Christmas in the Colonies.

Santa Claus is a mixture of Saint Nicholas and Sante Klas and other magical gift-bringer of early folk lore. By the mid 1800’s he had become an elderly figure known also as Father Christmas, with a snowy white beard and a cap wreathed in holly or mistltoe, dressed from head to foot in fur trimmed clothes.

He would either deliver presents and rewards or punishment and coal to children depending on how good or naughty they were. He could squeezed down a chimney, drove a sled led buy a team of reindeer and thanks to Clement C Moore in 1848 with the story The Night Before Christmas became so well known around the world.

By the later part of the 1800’s he was firmly established as part of Christmas, his image appearing on Christmas Cards, and as illustrations in story books.

He first appeared in Australia in his tradition get up in 1864, some will say he swapped his reindeer for kangaroos but nope didn’t happen. Other’s believed he swapped his sed for an oxen cart laden with festive eucalypt branches and Aussie Christmas tree.

Up at 4.45am and it is much cooler then yesterday I do have both sliding doors open and there is a nice breeze.

It has reached 25 degrees and even though I am sweating I don’t have the air con on .

Sam had their eye sight tested and they need glasses.

Managed to get through the day without the air con on.

A good start to the day up at 5am it isn’t hot and there is a nice breeze blowing throughout the house.

Tim shut the back sliding screen door which meant I had to turn the fan on but at least not the air con.

Had a visit from Saint Vinnies with a Christmas Hamper of stuff this was a surprise, I said what we don’t want or use we can pass on to someone else such as Tasha or Sandy.

Blain brought down a bag of stuff that Tasha didn’t want so I could pass it on to Sandy.

My new bras came as well as the ¾ length pants, I hope they fit.

Up at 4.30am due to being hot and mostly awake, I opened the house up but by 8.30 I had shut the house up and turned the air con on. I also had developed a headache, the type that feels like it is caused by the weather.

The headache finally went away around 10am it is a pretty damn hot day, I turned the air con on early before Tim got up.

Tasha is in another mood over her rent and Blain, he doesn’t want to go on Centrelink benefits but because he is able too, the Dept of Housing will charge him rent as if he is getting the money. This has pissed her off and I get it, it is wrong and I told her to explain to Blain how it is, as the guy from the Dept of Housing said it is their policy. I think if he went on Centrelink Blain would be ok with it he just thinks it is not worth it and that Centrelink messes you around

A new day up at 5.20am after a rough night, it is much cooler and it is wet outside not sure if it is raining.

I have someone coming to take my blood and the tests are fasting tests so no breakie for me till after that is done just water to drink.

The lady turned up at 8am to take my blood, this was followed by breakie.

It has rained on and off all day, Tim went into work about extra time off and came home with the thought that he may end up losing his job. I said it may happen but no point in stressing over it. It is a bridge we will cross when we arrive at it.

The cleaners didn’t come which didn’t surprised me.

A much cooler morning, I am wearing light weight ¾ pants as the only shorts I have left clean are the above the knee ones that ride up and annoy me, if it gets warmer I will change into them. It started raining around 10 am and looks like the rest of the day will be wet.

While trying to type up tomorrows blog post I had problems with my word software and I lost all that I had written when I went to save the post. This is always frustrating when it happens and in the end I decided to write it up tomorrow.

Another cool start to the day and I am in ¾ pants again as it is cool with the sliding doors open.

Dawson rang around 10ish asking if Tim could pick him up and to some place a street away from us as he had no way to get there.

My mouth is so sore I am having trouble eating today.

Tim went and bought the prawns and went to have the paperwork filled out about his eyesight for his drivers authority.

At around 11ish Dawson arrived here to wait for a friend to come pick him up. We told him if he wants us to drive him to his dad’s tomorrow to let us know.