We have opened this 'blog', or online journal, to share with all of you our lives as it happens here in Perth, DownUnder, seeing we are all scattered around the world - and this would be one way of linking up with you and keeping you in touch with all our activities.
It would be great if you would leave us your comments as we continue on our journey, and hope to hear from you along the way, or even better, send us your blog address! How is that for a challenge.
I will start with Christmas, December 2006, where we were privileged to read at Midnight Mass, and ended off with Christmas mince pies and tea until 2am when we got home.
The challenge was on to get everyone up, as the boys are used to lying in on weekends or holidays - we had a busy schedule ahead, and had to spend some 'family Christmas time' together first, including croissants and tea, before going to our neighbours for drinks before Christmas lunch at our cousin Laurie.
It was Laurie and Colin's turn to host Christmas for the Mauritian clan, and would have been about 32 of us including all the children. It was a pretty warm afternoon, almost 40 degrees, which made me sleepy after a glass of wine. It was very pleasant catching up with everyone after not having seen them for most of the year. The kiddies had a ball, playing in a little splash pool on the lawn, and having rides on Mick's wheelchair, not to mention the excitement of opening all the presents that were piled around the Christmas tree. These had to be relocated to a shadier place under the avocado tree at one point during the afternoon, due to the fear that any presents 'might melt'.
The Christmas Lunch was no big fuss, as everyone brought something to contribute towards the BBQ and yummy dessert.
The rest of our Christmas week was spent 'on holiday by the sea in Perth', as Eamon had taken the week off, we enjoyed our daily walks and swims at the beaches not far from where we live, and our share of picnics on the beach, and get togethers with friends around the neighbourhood.
We have had daylight saving since the beginning of December, which has been a bonus on these beautiful summer nights, with the sun setting round 8.30pm, plenty of time for a good walk by the ocean, before enjoying dinner on our patio which overlooks the bushland, sunsets and sea down the valley from us. Aren't we spoiled!
