October to December
October Highlights (written in December)
I had no computer for most of October.
These are some of the things I might have written about if it had been functioning.
Our World Vision Club’s 28th Anniversary - We held a “Birthday Bash” and had a fun morning of games and reminiscing – which prompted me to write a Toastmasters speech about our club for my “Speaking After Dinner” assignment.
Toastmaster’s Area Conference - Always interesting to listen to speakers from other clubs as well as our own, and to meet old friends. Our club did well in the Table Topics and Humorous Speech Contests. No, I didn’t compete this year.
My friend Marjorie’s 90th Birthday Party - I was able to catch up with friends that I hadn’t seen for 40 years. I’ve known Marjorie since I was a teenager, (many years ago.) She founded a kindergarten in the small country town where we lived and I was her assistant.
Mickey bird - I found a baby mickey bird under my Pine tree one morning. The vet wasn’t open that day & I didn’t know what to do, then I remembered how, years ago, when I told a friend about a bird I had taken to the vet, she said, “I would have looked after it!” I rang her and she came straight away to get the mickey bird. The last time I saw her, she told me how she loves her little mickey bird. He is free to fly with the wild birds, but he keeps coming back to see her.
Visit by “Claws” - A strange black cat started hanging around. He was the most vocal cat I’ve ever heard, he yowled all the time. I put notices in the local shop windows, and located his owner. She informed me the cat was part Burmese and it’s name was “Claws.” I was so pleased and relieved when she came and picked him up. 15 minutes later, the cat was back on my doorstep, yowling. He was returned to his owner several times, only to come straight back. Altogether, he was here for about 2 months. The last time his owner took him home, she said she would lock him inside. I really expected him to escape and come back, but I haven’t seen him since. I had become quite attached to Claws. He was an aggressive, noisy cat and would probably have been a lot of trouble, but he got on well with my cats and I miss him.
November
I just couldn’t get into writing mode after having a break in October.
If I weren’t so lazy, I might have written about…
Renovations to our Church - After meeting in a local school hall for a few months, we are back in our newly renovated building – with air conditioning. I’m still working out where to sit without the air conditioning full blast on me. I think I’ll try over on the side next Sunday – or wear a parka!
Our World Vision Club Trivia Morning - These are always popular, and so easy to organise.
World Vision Street Stall - The last one for the year. I’m glad we got it over before the heat set in.
World Vision Christmas Auction - Instead of exchanging gifts, we auction them! We auction other things as well, but the wrapped gifts are very popular and its a lot of fun.
Toastmaster’s Interpretive Reading Contest - The competition is getting stiffer! We had some excellent readers. I came third this time. We had a wild storm that night. It’s a miracle that anyone showed up, but they all did.
Friendship Club Break Up - We got off to a very late start. When I went to pick up Harry, who is 93 and very deaf, he had gone to sleep. We knocked on the door and yelled for ages before we managed to wake him.
My new tooth - I got a tooth crowned and found out that dentist’s are much more expensive than they used to be. I couldn’t help thinking of a friend who once told me she was going to get her teeth crowned so they would look good when she dies. I told her she’d better leave instructions for her mouth to be propped open at her funeral!
December
Busy, busy month. Somehow I managed to get my Christmas shopping done in time.
Last World Vision jumble sale for the year - We weeded out piles of stuff we’ve had for a long time and passed it on to another charity.
Volunteer Day - Barbecue at Roma Street Parklands for World Vision Volunteers. It was good to meet the staff from the Brisbane office. We had a pleasant relaxing afternoon under the big trees.
Toastmaster’s Break Up - with Secret Santa, Celebrity Heads, Christmas Carols. A fun night.
Minglers Break Up – Dinner at a local hotel with our church group. Nice meal, but we waited an hour and a half for it!
Alex (Joel & Frances’ cat) very sick. - kidneys failing. She spent 3 nights at the vets and is back home on a special diet.
Christmas Eve – We had dinner with my sister Jan, Gary, and kids at their place. Lots of yummy food in a beautiful bushland setting. On the way home, we looked at Christmas lights.
Christmas Day – Very hot day. I went round to see my grandchildren, Miles and Hayley open their presents. Had to leave there about 9 a.m. to get ready to go to Lea’s place. Hayley hung on to my leg & howled because she didn’t want me to go. Frances called out, “Hayley, there’s another present to open!” Hayley promptly let go of my leg and said, “Goodbye Meemar!” and ran back inside.
We went to Lea & David’s for Christmas Dinner. The house was air conditioned, so we were quite comfortable even though it was 36 degrees Celsius (almost 100 Fahrenheits) outside. The boys were absorbed in a Play Station game most of the afternoon. Hayley played with her new toy vet’s kit. We were her “patients.” She bandaged toes and performed heart transplants with plastic scissors. Someone said, “Let’s just hope she doesn’t want to take our temperature!”
We had a late afternoon storm on Christmas Day. We sat on the verandah and felt the cooling spray from the rain. A perfect ending to the day.
Boxing Day – I just loafed and read my new book, “Mao’s Last Dancer.” Very humbling after all the goodies we’ve eaten, to read about a family having to make dried yams their stable diet. I’d been wanting to read the book since I heard the author speak at a writers festival last year and I wasn’t disappointed. It’s a good book.
More shopping – Mum & I went to one of the big shopping centres today to prepare for the onslaught of birthdays in the next couple of weeks. I don’t know why so many in our family had to be born in January – it’s a bit rough straight after Christmas! Nice & cool in the shops, anyway. It was another hot day.
So that brings us up to date. The old year is almost over. I didn’t get far with my New Year’s resolutions this year. I usually use the same ones each year – they’re still untouched! But I’m hoping to update this Newsletter more regularly next year. We’ll see…
Any way…
Happy New Year!!!
