Sailor Boys

I went down to the Club for a short while today as it is the first day of the Hobie National Championships (Catamarans) that PMYC is hosting and Andrew & Nick are sailing together.

It was a mild day and the breeze picked up more as the afternoon started. They were racing with the Hobie 16s in the afternoon so were just getting rigged and dressed when I arrived. 

Hobies' sails make for a colourful sight 

 It is usually hard to get Nick to stand still for  a photo, but maybe he thought he was in disguise?

Andrew & Nick all geared up 

Pulling the boat into the water

Heading out 

I went upstairs to see them head out, then next thing they were coming back to shore. I went down to investigate and found Andrew was fitting the bungs in, and Nick was signing on!!!

Then they were off!

Andrew being 50 is sailing in the Masters group, Nick raised the question that if he (Nick)  helmed was Andrew sailing in the Juniors??

Christmas Day

The day broke cloudy but with promise of sun and 21degrees.

I started the day with my (our) traditional breakfast of French toast. This time with yoghurt and fresh fruit, and fresh coffee.

Sent a text to Celia who them rang me realising I was awake. We had a chat as she wa s starting to prepare her Xmas Eve dinner.

I was admiring the gift I received form Bridie, a boon once I am back at work!

Perfect for one who packs lunch every day!

A distinctive Luggage label for the traveller 

I am off to Andrew's for tea and staying the night as the drive there and back is beyond me at the moment.

I am dropping Spencer off in Richmond on the way, as Wendy will look after him. They (she and Sue) are off to the Boxing day Test tomorrow so I can collect him later in the day.
I rested in the morning and had a delicious tuna avocado salad for lunch with fresh peaches ! Yum No wine though!

Andrew et-al had arrived back from Xmas lunch and were all napping when I arrived Lynne had worked Xmas eve so need some catch up sleep for sure.
We chatted for a while then exchanged presents when Lynne got up, then lay in hammocks or by the pool reading or chatting as the mood took us. I gave  kate the Australian wildflower quilt that Maddy had received for her 80th birthday and wanted her to have.
We had a rolled turkey roast for dinner and pudding and custard, (the latter two, things I dislike about Xmas !) Andrew being the enthusiast for the custard, saying he could never make it as it took too long stirring and stirring; so Lynne made some packet and as long as there are no lumps no-one complains. 

Kate and Andrew in the pool in the glow of the lights 

View out to the water 

The house lights 

After dinner we had a spa /swim and watched boats coming by to check out the lights. A big deal on this section of the river.
Andrew had done a tasteful display of blue and white with a Santa at the gate and strips of red and green on the steps. Houses nearby had gone all the way!!

Boxing Day we got up late lazed around, Skyped Celia had BBQ prawns and Turkey sandwiches (not together)  for lunch, watched some cricket, Sydney to Hobart, then I drove back and collected Spencer en route.
A very nice quiet Christmas.  

  

Family Lunch

As usual Andrew and Lynne provided a superb meal opting for seafood much to our delight.

Andrew did dessert again this time a meringue Cherry creation The fresh cherries are superb at the moment.

The tree

Bridie keeping an eye out as Dylan starts to explore 

A big teddy 

The thrill of presents

Lynne and Nick

Cars !!

Nick & Kate perched nearby

The delicious Meal
 Lobster and BBQ prawns and salads

He had Nick's plate with Postman Pat, and enjoyed the unaccustomed music of cutlery on china

Beer ,water, Sauce  All one needs?

The Cherry Meringue

Fun in the pool

Today I went down to Andrew and Lynne's for Xmas lunch with Bridie and Sean and Dylan as we would not see them on Christmas day.

To conserve my energy I drove to Bridie's and went down with them.  20 minute drive vs 50mins.

Took lots of photos that seem to feature Dylan predominantly.

It was 38 degrees and the water was inviting so we had a lovely dip after lunch 

Initially he wanted to go outside, but did not want to go in the pool.

Sean in paper crown Dylan just splashing

Then he wanted to just sit on the edge, not go in.

Getting the hat wet

He slipped down the step and got wet 

Then when he was wet Bridie changed him

Then he enjoyed being in with Sean and the rest of us, but what he really liked was walking and crawling along the edge.

Even hot enough to get me in!

Good Friends

Following getting my haircut (result in picture below) I hurried home as Wendy and Sue were bringing dinner over for us all. 

Wendy made 'one of her famous salads'' as Sue said; this time turkey, asparagus, haloumi and cherries with small boiled potato and (low fat) sour cream.

Delicious!!

Sue brought the wine and dessert fresh fruit and rich yoghurt. I had water but they enjoyed a New Zealand drop.

We exchanged Christmas presents, allocated ordered opera tickets and Bell shakespeare tickets and generally had a lovely evening

Topped off with by getting a call and having a long chat with Celia,

Hmm!!. the tablecloth could have done with an iron!!

A photo achieved after several attempts!

Crafty Hands

Resting up before I head off to the hairdresser at 4pm, I realised I needed to get some gift tags, and was thinking about what was near the salon.
Thought of a paper shop over the road, and how they would have tags as well as cards , then realised I have a Label cutter from Creative Memories.
So I whipped up some Xmas tags.

Japan Planning

While idling on my bed, trying to get energy to do something I had a flash about Japan and plans to take nephew Nick there next year; a reward from his dad for good Japanese study.

The Flash was about Golden Week in Japan, a period sort of like Easter running in to Anzac day so holidays in between mean people can get away. Golden week is a don't even think of it time to travel or find accommodation.

We are leaving Oz on Good Friday March 29th 2013 and Golden Week is in April and some hotels I looked at (a favourite in Tokyo eg) are booked out.

So I did a check and it is later in April (as I sort of hopefully thought) but the busy period and festivals starts on 12th, but we are leaving on the 9th April.  

So am planning our trip, given that Nick has not been there at all and we are there for 10 days 

so the plan is 

Tokyo, day trip to Nikko, Nagoya, Takayama, Kyoto, Hiroshima then back to Tokyo.

Looking up some travel stuff and saw this great picture,  not as crowded as some I have been in! 

But multi direction crossing is such a safe design and of course well obeyed in Japan!!

Shibuya crossing Facing the crowd on their mark!

Golden week consists of 

• April 29
  • The Emperor's Birthday (天皇誕生日 Tennō Tanjōbi), until 1988
  • Greenery Day (みどりの日 Midori no Hi), from 1989 until 2006^]
  • Shōwa Day (昭和の日 Shōwa no Hi), from 2007 (new Emperor)
• May 3
  • Constitution Memorial Day (憲法記念日 Kenpō Kinenbi^?)
• May 4
  • Holiday (国民の休日 Kokumin no Kyūjitsu), from 1985 until 2006
  • Greenery Day (みどりの日 Midori no Hi), from 2007^]
• May 5
• Children's Day

So they have the days off in between and end up with a whole week off.  A luxury in hard working Japan

Christmas Tree

I have not done a tree when by myself for Xmas, but have some lights and piles of gifts and my Santa string from Lisbon that I hang each year.

My lovely reindeer and xmas robin!

The wooden Angel

This year I was thrilled to get a Tree from my quilter genius friend Jo, Thanks a bunch!

The red and blue Xmas trees are cards from Japan

Bought in Lisbon with Celia et al 

A closer view 

Sento. Japanese Bath House

Re-reading my blog in Japan to check out the name of a place, made me think about having a Japanese Bath and Shiatsu massage. Didn't have to tire myself by showering etc before I left so I booked it for 3pm.

Bath house entrance

I was pleased to see, when I arrived that I was the only woman there! Some other girls arrived as I was getting dressed for the massage so did not have to flaunt my middle aged body beside their nubile forms!

The bath was great! I didn't let myself get too hot, so had 3 dips and was suitably relaxed for the massage 

She said she would work on my Meridians (always a good thing!) and not do too deep a pressure as that may be too tiring since I was already fairly wiped out,

The inviting tub!

I felt quite enervated when she finished and relaxed.

When I finished she commented that I had unusual palms, I though she meant life lines etc but realised she was referring to my Dupuytren's Contracture that I notice has increased a lot this year, though on a grand scale still slow and not contracted as such, just tight. 

 http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/dupuytren's+contracture

I have seen Bill Nighy in 2 movies this year and always check his hands out of habit; Don't know if someone told me or I noticed he has it too, last two fingers permanently bent in 

PMYC Christmas Party

Santa and his throng of fans were the highlight of the end of season get together. In typical fashion we had  few replies but my guesstimate of 60 (33 booked) proved good with 58 people staying on.
The list of 6 children coming swelled to 18 so Santa had enough to do.
Didn't think of it till after to ask Bridie if she wanted to bring Dylan, but I am sure he will get enough!

The evening was  a great success as usual, and a member Fahim does a great job of decorating the place for us . I had rested up in the morning and only went down about 330. But even a bit of fussing around and going up and down the stairs had me short of breath and at one stage people saying I was very pale. (though looked better after sitting down for the meal)
News of my illness has spread so people are coming out of the woodwork to offer to help with the Hobie Nationals to be held Dec 28- Jan 3rd. So that is a relief!
Cliff,  Steve and Shane (who bought my Three's Company) sailed our boat Good Golly Miss Jolly  to a 2nd place passing 3rd just at the mark!

Santa heading off for his sleigh