My Darlink sister is -

UP THE DUFF!!

Actually... she's had a bun in the oven for about 37 weeks.

Obviously I am a bit behind in my posting here...

I'm dreaming of a humid Christmas!

Just like the ones I used to know...

In a mere 2 days we're making a seasonal pilgrimage to the land of Oz, to celebrate Yuletide with beloved friends and family. It has been 3 years since our last Australian Christmas... and there is much I am looking forward to:

-Sun

-Beach

-prawns, moreton bay bugs, oysters, lobster & mud crab

-people who understand all the verses of six white boomers!

-watching rhino-beetles ricochet off ceiling fans

-cricket and the Sydney to Hobart yacht race

- the afore mentioned beloved friends & family

But it must be said, there is something, well, magical about Christmas in Deutschland. The candles, the elegance, the sparkling golden lights, the famed markets, the scents everywhere of cinnamon and clove and evergreen, Glühwein, and the promise of snow.

Not for the first time, I want to be in two places at once! I also want to know (as I select our suitcases) if Santa Clause et al, can be persuaded to employ a drop shipment policy.

Tyranny of distance -no.2

Right now - while I'm typing this - my beloved Darlink sister & her husband "Barry" (which is - incidentally - NOT his name - nor what other people call him - but is how he chooses to identify himself in most public spheres - and before anyone asks - NO - I've no bloody idea at all why) should be boarding a plane to Sydney.

They are heading down there for the weekend to attend celebrations for my Grandmother's 85th birthday. (Which incidentally is NOT this weekend - my Grandmother actually turned 85 last Tuesday. But the celebrations are tomorrow night.)

Needless to say I (& the Ger-Man, & the Caspi-Man) won't be there. (Although we do plan to phone in and ensure that we're passed around so everyone gets to hear the Caspi-Man's hybrid rendition of "Happy Birthday/ zum Geburtstag Viel Glück" ).

It is (especially) on occasions like this that the "tyranny of distance" really sucks.

So: here's a request for whoever's taking the happy-snaps tomorrow night: please photoshop the 3 of us into the pictures you take before developing them? Please? (Because you know we are really there in spirit.)

Some of the usual suspects (+ Capsi-Man & me) who'll be partying tomorrow night.

(nb: b-i-l "Barry" & the Ger-Man absent from this pic!)

The tyranny of distance.

"tamzinite & pyjamamel"

by Tamzinite, 2001

My dear friend Tamzinite has a photographic piece in an exhibition at the CPP in Melbourne tomorrow night. Apparently Jane's legs are featured. And red wine is promised.

I want to go.

And also this morning this message arrived from my beloved sister (3rd from left in team picture):

"Most of you, through no choice of your own, have been made aware of my obsession with the old/new sport of Roller Derby.
I am pleased to announce that I am finally playing in a game (or bout as it is known in derby tongue).
Some of you may or may not want to come and laugh and/or cheer.
Some of you may want to see me get hurt…….
Whatever your motivation, many of you have asked me to let you know when an actual game is happening, so……"

And I want to go to that too... not so much to laugh and see her get hurt (-ok then- maybe just a little bit ...) but really mostly to cheer...

Yep. Today I'm feeling the tyranny of distance.