Emily and Elyse.

Emily dropped in yesterday with Elyse, I hadn't seen Elyse for two years and she is only four. She is lovely - self confident and independent.

Emily had photos of their trip to Europe and England with Rhonda, her Mum. A big family reunion. Emily spoke of her favourite spot as being Venice, which she thought was beautiful.

Jess and Elyse

Christmas 2007.

The time has passed so quickly, as well as spending lots of time with Jess, Ben and Dan I've spent a lovely day with Trish and Rob, hearing about their trip to South Africa, time with Cathy who is now retired from SFX, and cat sitting Ellie in Kingston for my sister Linda. We all spent an evening at Annie's just before Christmas, it was lovely to catch up with, Lee and Glen, Jackie and new boyfriend also meeting the family, James, Annie, Stu and their friends.

Jess and I had taken on the task of teaching Ben about Christmas, and quilts, Jess has two lovely Xmas trees, one an optic fibre tree that was her Christmas gift from Dan last year. Ben seemed amazed at Annie's Christmas decorating and she was very restrained this year - three trees, a santa collection on the sideboard and a nutcracker collection in the hall.

I've done lots of cooking, Christmas cake and fudge, hard sauce, trifle and muffins with Jess, and Dan's favourite chicken/potatoe pie with Dan. My goal is to get Dan washing his clothes etc on a regular basis. I've been so interested and impressed with the art work both Dan and Ben are doing. They have been asked to do the walls at the table tennis centre, I'll post photos if they send me some.

It's been quite cold, well for me, so eventually I bought a cardigan, and now it's hot - for Canberra 33 deg! I've had a spending spree - it's lovely to be here to give the kids gifts, but also to have the variety of goods available. Ben and I went to the supermarket and I think he was astounded at my enthusiasm for all the goods never seen out in the west.

We eventually decided to have Christmas day here and to go to dinner another night with Mum's contribution to our Christmas. We bought plum pudding,turkey, ham, prawns and oysters, made salads and at around 3pm we sat out on the deck and had a leisurley and festive Christmas dinner. We had a late start as Jess and Ben came home as the sun came up after celebrateing Christmas eve with their friends, I do remember those days!

We had decided just made presents this year and each taking one person, I'm in th process of a quilt for Ben, Jess made a folder for Dan to keep his lyrics in, Ben bought Jess a dance CD, and Dan started me a drawing. I'd spent a day in Kingston, and though the shops had changed in 4 years, I managed to find a braclet for Jess, a mug from Silk Road for Ben. A wonderful antique Asian gallery so a great place to find dragons for Ben. And an etched glass for Dan, designed by one of his internet artist mates from Melbourne. I had no idea - it was just as close to something Dan might like as I could get.

Andrew came over as we were eating, he joined the kids in their round the world beer fest, and had bought carefully chosen presents.

Christmas Lights in Cloncurry.

I'm now back in Canberra with the kids, it was an interesting journey!
Qantas sat us on the tarmac for over 2 hours in Mt Isa - in 40 deg heat. Someone had brought an oxygen tank on board without telling the staff and they had to get all sorts of safety stuff put in place. That caused us it sit and the temperature to rise, so then the thermals meant more fuel was needed to take off, the pilot was also told there was a storm over Brisbane, so more fuel needed so our luggage was then taken off. People then complained - needing medication - catching an international flight - dogs in the hold-there's only one flight a day out of Isa. They negotiated with Macair to fly the luggage to Townville then down to Brisbane, and I believe my luggage will arrive some time this afternoon. I'd packed a box of mangoes I picked off my tree so I hope they have survived.

My last week was hectic, but I did spend some pleasant evenings, a meal shared with Milton and Loma, always lovely company, and an evening spent driving round Cloncurry looking at the Christmas lights with one of the families I work with. Photos will be added when I get home.
So I'm really glad to be here and even to have a day of enforced inaction as I wait for my luggage.