Out with 2013, in with 2014...

So here we are at the end of 2013.  I've never liked New Years Eve.  Always so much pressure to make it a great one, because if you don't it's like you've stamped an omen on how the rest of the new year will turn out.  So we again have chosen to just chill here at home.  I made Mike his obligatory New Years Eve pavlova which he is tucking into with gusto, okay and I had a small slice too!  He's finishing watching a TV show and then we're popping a movie on to see us through to the New Year.  He'll go outside and play Auld Lang Syne on his bagpipes up and down the driveway at midnight (which has become a tradition and the neighbours look forward to it).  We'll make a few phone calls back to his relatives in Scotland and then we'll hit the sack.  All quite ordinarily boring I guess, but it suits us.  

But what we do do, is take stock as to how the year has gone.  We've both had a really terrific year.  Mike's business is booming, he can't keep up with orders, which is a good thing for a sole business owner.  I have gone from strength to strength with my running and just love it more than I thought possible, that sense of freedom knowing this old body is coming to the party and doing things I didn't think possible.  I'm maintaining a weight loss, fluctuating 3-4 kg though, so I do need to take hold of that.   I moved into a new role at work when our HR office closed down and am enjoying it.   I got to go to America this year on a girl's trip, what a great hubby for encouraging me to do that.  Actually one of the things Mike said to me at Christmas time was that he loved watching me this year, watching my confidence bloom and sky rocket.  What a nice thing to say.  We just need to work on the work/life balance for Mike and it will be yet another great year ahead, with lots of goals in store for me.

I really like this piece, it's been making the rounds of facebook so I've popped it here.  I think it's a perfect 7 Rules of Life to take on board.  It really resonated with me.  I hope you enjoy it as well and there's something you might take from it.

I bought home a boutique bourbon for Mike tonight and set about trying to photograph it but was duly photo bombed!!  The label said it was whiskey, cloudy apple and maple.  Mike said it was delicious.  It sounded like a red hot mess to me!

So from our house to yours, I want to wish you a happy new year.  May we all go from strength to strength in 2014, may we slam our goals out of the ball park, and overcome any obstacles that may stand in our way.  May we rise up against all odds and make ourselves proud.  We all owe it to ourselves.  Yes?

Boxing Day and beyond...

Still catching up, so many photos and stories to tell.  So Boxing Day was our day with the kids.  Sounds funny calling them kids now that they are all young adults.  Such a fun and different relationship we have with them as young adults, it's so wonderful.

So all the dishes I decided to make turned out fantastically and went down a treat.  We had Bon bons, and got to love Aaron, Tabby's young man, he wore his paper hat all evening, and even got in the car ready to drive home still wearing it.  I don't know if it was more to please me or he forgot he had it on!

So first things first, they know the drill. A family photo courtesy of the tripod and self timer.  I told them. No photo = no food!  Ha.  Bribery knows no bounds where there are memories to keep!

The beautiful Gingerbread House that I had made as a surprise.  The daughter of One of the ladies at work were making them this year and I ordered one.  The most delicious gingerbread ever.  I was delighted when I received it.  It had our name on the roof, and there were two dogs and a kitty with Lucky, Molly and Bo's names piped on them.  I was sooooo nervous driving this home and Mike was in awe when he saw it.  

We won't talk about the split in Lucky.  I had the house which was all wrapped in cellophane on the kitchen table and the cat jumped up on the table, something she NEVER does, so it must have been the smell she was attracted to.  And before I knew it she had her paw up almost pointing at the house, and Lucky got a split in him.  Typical love/hate relationship she has with him.  Out of anything that could have broken, she broke him!  I kind of put him back together with a smear of butter ready for when I brought it out to the surprise of the kids.

Just some snaps.  Me and the beautiful Britt.  She really is the most beautiful young woman, inside and out.

Mike and the boys.  Oh boy!  The rivalry now that they are older and Tristan has found his voice, and his muscles!  If Wes said black, Tristan said white.  Having said that it is nice seeing Tristan excel at his physical fitness which is something he has gotten into.  And Wes likewise, going from strength to strength with his football umpiring.

Tabby opening up one of her gifts with Aaron (still wearing the paper hat) looking on adoringly!  Gosh those two love each other.

And Britt's dog Samson, absolutely knackered after running around with Lucky for a couple of hours, ready to head home.  The pic with the tongue hanging out cracks me up!

But before I go, I want to wind back to Christmas Eve, we got a very VERY special gift.  Tab and Aaron came out to visit and had a card for us.  Mike said he'd put it under the tree and open it on Christmas Day, but they were very insistent he open it straight away.  And so he did, and I hear a whoop!  And the card had a sweet ultrasound photograph on it and inside it said "Dear Grandpa and Grandma, Merry Christmas, see you on June 28th".  We're going to be grandparents!!!!!

So exciting!  They've been through a lot those two, five miscarriages, including a devastating molar pregnancy which saw Tab being tested for cancer and being monitored weekly from the Royal Women's Hospital for six months.  They are now past the danger stage, the doctor is happy, Tab feels terrific and there's a sweet healthy growin baby on the ultrasound.  I can't tell you the emotions going through us right now, life is definitely good.

Christmas Day!!

So here's a quick view (or not so quick, depending on how you look at it) of how Christmas Day panned out for us.  So relaxing hiding out here in our little town, just enjoying Christmas day, the two of us, we make it special, we spend it quietly, and it's just brilliant.

I got up early, it was going to be a warm one, and went for a 4km run.  I had promised myself I would do this Christmas morning, complete with Santa hat.  Okay, so there's a reason that Santa is not a runner, oh boy!  My hair was literally dripping wet by the time I got home, it's pretty darn hot running in a furry hat in this weather.  Not many people out, not like in the days when I was a kid, we'd be out playing with our toys as soon as we were able.  Things have certainly changed.  Although I did get a few toots as I headed home down the main street of town.

Breakfast over and it was time to give the menagerie their presents from Santa.  Looks like I have their undivided attention here.  Although whilst Molly wasn't sure of the fuss, Lucky took off with his little green bone and chewed and chewed it.  And it's still in one piece.  Winner!

I set up the tripod for a quick pic, must admit there were a few arse shots whilst I was trying to jump on the porch next to Mike.  They will not see the light of day!!

Hmmm, hard to cut the ham when there are eyes on me.  Lucky was patiently waiting for me to throw him a tidbit, so Mike decided to wait as well!!  The ham, courtesy of our local butcher who smokes it here in town, was absolutely BRILLIANT.

I had gotten to, oh mid last week, not even contemplating what I was going to make for dessert this year.  We don't do the whole plum pudding thing unless we are elsewhere for Christmas lunch.  I usually grab some recipe out of a magazine or online an decide that will be it.  Very late in the piece I decided on a Chocolate Fudge Brownie cakey slice thing.  Definitely not on 12wbt.  But everything in moderation, right?  And well ... I did run this morning!

Complete with blueberries and raspberries and served with a scoop of icecream, it was AMAZING.  But oh so rich.

Bon Bons were cracked, but these ones I got from Darriwill Farm did not have corny jokes in them, they were more about facts, and actually had good little prizes in them.  Well worth it.  But of course they still had a silly paper hats.

The dogs also got spoilt with Christmas lunch, which I can tell you was devoured and the bowls licked completely clean.

Mike even did the dishes, he was really smiling, but decided to scowl for the camera!  His stomach by this stage was smiling broadly.  

What a day, perfect perfect weather for Christmas, the sky was blue, there was no wind, and it was warm.  We actually had the air conditioner on in the afternoon, I think it got to a top of 30 in the end, that's 86F for you Northern Hemisphere peeps.

We love to prolong the agony, and decided to unwrap the presents after lunch.  We did however unwrap pressies from our Christmas stockings earlier.  Mike loves to play the guessing game, it takes him an age to open a present.

Amongst a number of sporting things, which I'll go through later, I got this great book, you think Mike might be telling me something???  This is the story of Kathrine Switzer, who was the first woman to run the "all male" Boston Marathon back in 19 (something or other).

By late afternoon we were pooped.  The best part of Christmas here at home is that we can just lounge around.  I went out and found the cat had gone to sleep.

Molly was completely disinterested and dozed and gazed and dozed and gazed.  She just wasn't sure what the fuss was all about, although she did like her lunch!  Must admit, last year we wondered if she'd see this year and so glad she has.

Even Lucky, who never stops carked it in the afternoon.  Just waiting to get his second wind up.

And what can I say, there are no words!!!

Look who got very spoilt, a beautiful set of pearls - necklace and earrings!   Hmmm, the man is romantic, this was not on my radar.

And all good things come to an end.  Made some phone calls, checked in with my bestie to see how she was faring for the day.  And you'll never believe it, her hubby got her a pearl necklace and earrings too.  What are the odds!!!   We decided tonight to just chill and watch a DVD (Gravity) and sip coffee (courtesy of the new coffee machine Mike got for his birthday from his family) and just enjoy the aftermath of the day.   What a beautiful evening it had turned out to be.

And that my friends is how Christmas came to pass in this neck of the woods.  I hope yours was also a brilliant day.  We get to do it all tomorrow again, but just easier, as the kids are all coming for dinner.  It will be a relaxed affair and so nice to just enjoy each other's company and exchange gifts.

I have the menu planned - just a pick what you want to eat:

• A garden salad
• Tomato and Bocconcini Tart
• Caramelised onion and feta tartlets
• Honey soy chicken drumsticks/wings
• And an icecream which has crushed up meringue, frozen raspberries and pistachio nuts all mixed in
• And the piece de resistance a gingerbread house to devour (pictures forthcoming) 

More Santa time catch up...

So Monday night we headed over to Terang to their annual Traders Night.  We go most years, shops are open, the sports clubs and service clubs all run raffles that are drawn on the night, and the grand prize of a trailer load of goods drawn from tickets given throughout the month from shopkeepers when purchases have been made.  Alas we didn't win anything but we did pick ourselves up some yummy takeaway for dinner and a hot coffee to warm ourselves up. Yep it was a tad chilly last night.

The pipe band paraded down the Main Street, Mike playing spectator this time rather than playing.  They lead Santa and the SES.

And here comes Santa.  He was hiding under all that hair!!

A fun night out, and then all systems go heading up to Christmas.  But not before Christmas Eve's endeavours.  My workmate Di T decided that her, Kelli P and myself ought run the Hopkins Road hill before the end of the year.  This particular section of road is the steepest incline in Warrnambool I believe and is 1km exactly of a very steady and steep hill rise.  We aimed to conquer it and Christmas Eve after work was the time.  

Most people finish work on Christmas Eve and rush home to get ready for Christmas or out for drinks with friends.  Not us.  We donned our running gear and headed to the Blue Hole to park and warmed up running to the start of the hill.  How come the hill doesn't look half as steep in photos!!!

The sun was a bit fierce (a lot different to the night before) and heck, the flies were bad.  I note that I snarfed a number of them as we set off.  A pic of our hopeful faces at the start.

The girls placed me as first runner to set the pace, and just quietly so I wouldn't drop off the end.  I set a slow and steady pace and chugged my way up.  Oh heck my legs were screaming but I kept my gaze ahead on the speed sign, I was heavy breathing and a number of times felt like chucking, my stomach was churning, but we all relentlessly kept running until wonder of wonders we made it to the top and found the water bottles we had secreted earlier on prior to starting the run (we had driven up with the trip meter on so we knew where 1km hit). 

Thumbs up at the end.  We walked our way down and wonder of wonders we decided to do it again.  Are you freaking kidding me!  Actually Di decided we could do it again and persuaded us.  Hmmm she can be very persuasive.

This time on the way up Di shot passed us setting her own pace, she is super fit and off she flew.  Both Kelli and I continued to plod until my lungs and legs gave way half way up the second time and I had to walk a bit and told Kelli to continue on.  I did bring it back home at a run, but a bit disappointed that I did have to walk some, but still elated I did it.  Check out the elevation on Runkeeper.  Hysterical!

So we did it.  I travelled home on a high, got ready for Church and went to the Christmas Eve service which was just lovely and a wonderful wind down and end to the day.  

Got home, oldest stepson was here, Mike made two of his Santa calls, one to my bestie's son and one to his nephew.  He has been making these calls for years, and totally has to get into character when he becomes Santa.  

He had to think quick this year as Tabby arrived and the dogs started barking.  Err, did you realize that Santa has guard dogs to chase away the snow bunnies that try to eat the Christmas wrapping paper???  Where the heck did he come up with that one.  When questioned why he just didn't put the paper up on a shelf again he had to think quick ... oh because the elves are so short and they wouldn't be able to reach the paper to wrap the presents for Santa!  So there you have it.  Just in case you were wondering ha!

More to tell but I will leave it for another post.

Getting our jingle on!

So tonight was our town's Carols by Candlelight and mind you I have to scratch my head to remember the last time it didn't rain on the night and the Carols ended up in the local hall.  Rain was forecast for tonight, actually Elders Weather forecast 90% chance of rain! oh joy!  But it held off.  It was chilly which was ridiculous after the heat of yesterday, but no rain!!

So off we trot, coats in hand, and had a lovely night.  Oh how times have changed, battery candles!

They did well with food vendors - the Rotary BBQ, the Lions coffee, there was portable wood oven pizza stand, and the whirly swirly potatoes.   Most unhealthy, but it was an event!

I was just soooo ready for it to get dark, I wanted to play with my candle.   By this stage it was getting so chilly I was thinking the battery warmth of the glow might have helped matters.

Mike saw his mate Gonzo and thought he'd hustle in on the blanket, nearly breaking the fold up chair in the process!

Looks like delirium had set in at this stage to the Bah Humbug man.  I did mention it was chilly!  Yep a number of times.

Now we're getting silly.  Mike tucked the two candles in the fold of my hat.

Then the jolly man arrived by horse and cart.  And kids came from all directions!

And let me ask you your thoughts.  A huge line of kiddies waiting to talk to the big guy in the red suit.  And look who photobombs the photo!  Would you call this being naughty or nice, or just a bit desperate???

All in all a great night and we no sooner stepped inside the back door and down it came, the rain.  2013 Christmas Carols can be called a chilly success.