That Time of Year

It’s that quiet time of year again. The chaos of Christmas and welcoming in the new year has passed and there are a few weeks before normal life starts all over again. It’s the time of year when I usually take the time to look back over what the previous year was, and look forward to what the coming year can be.

All in all, 2013 was a good year for me. I can look back and be happy. There were big changes, which I don’t usually handle very well, so the fact that I remember the year as happy means I coped just fine.

Country bears catching up with the City cousins

Now the question is, what about 2014? I don’t make New Year’s resolutions – gave that up a long time ago. I realised that just because a new year had started didn’t mean I was magically going to find the discipline, motivation, time, mindset or any of the other tools that I would need but had not managed to find at any other time of the year. I mean, really, what makes the start of a new year any different?

The start of a new year is just an arbitrary line we have made in the sand. There is nothing intrinsically special about it. When it actually occurs is different depending on who you are – a follower of the Gregorian calendar, or the Islamic calendar, or any of the other calendars out there, or an accountant. Despite all this, there is a commonality – with all of these calendars, it's like everything from last year gets wiped clean and starts afresh. That even goes for the accountant – is zero-based budgeting still around?

Easter bunnies just around the corner
from the on-sale Lindt bears!

But wiping the slate clean doesn’t mean I’m going to change. I will still have an addiction to chocolate (in fact that is usually made worse around this time of year, due mainly to Lindt chocolate Christmas bears being on special for $1 at Target). I will still be unable to run (I’ve tried to do the C25K program at least 3 times – maybe I’ll try again this year, using a new app on my phone – that might make all the difference!). I will still HATE housework (the only time I could deal with it was when I had a cleaner).

As a result, there is no point in me making those resolutions that are standard for most people – lose weight, get fit, get the house looking reasonable. As for that most important resolution of all – not work so hard and spend more time with family – I’m retired, for goodness sake, how can I work less?

Healthy lunches of chocolate,
wine and coffee!

This year will be no different to last year. I will make a list of the things I want to do and be, make a plan for how I will try to tick those things off the list, and know that at this time next year, I will be doing the same thing again. But as I said, last year was a good one for me. I’m hoping that 2014 will be a good one too.

So This is Christmas

I have to admit that for a number of years now I’ve dreaded then endured the Silly Season. Maybe it was something to do with all the expectations. It seemed to me there was the expectation that a good time was to be had by all, even if it killed you. Almost a case of “you will have a good time – that is an order!”.  Maybe it also had to do with my perception that in this season of goodwill to all, there didn’t seem to be much goodwill floating around – certainly not in the shopping centre carparks!

So many people seemed stressed, even more so than normal. Looking at the faces of the people around the place (I love people-watching), not many were smiling, or looking like they were even remotely enjoying themselves. Add into the mix the inevitable heat and humidity of living in Sydney at this time of year, and the tensions that arise when putting together groups of people who normally don’t socialise together. It seemed to me to be a recipe for disaster. Just add copious amounts of alcohol to make it a sure thing.

It could be said that I’d become disillusioned by it all – just a tad cynical. Since I’m not a religious person, I don’t have the original reason for the season to help me appreciate it. My idea of the importance of the Christmas season is that it is the time to stop and get off the treadmill, and take the time to appreciate the important people around me, friends and family. But because of the rush, stress, and chaos, this just didn’t happen the way I wanted it to. So I had almost reached the point of becoming a conscientious objector.

the meal table at our Tennis Christmas Lunch

But I’ve changed. I have no idea what brought about the change. All I know is that this year, I’m actually looking forward to having the family here on Christmas Day. I looked forward to the Christmas parties I was invited to, and enjoyed them when I was there, too! I’m not stressed about the preparations, and have just pottered along, doing what I can, when I can, and if something  doesn’t get done, I can live with that. I’ve managed to organise gifts where they are needed, helped a lot by a wonderful husband who did more than his share of the gift shopping. I’m not stewing over whether or not the gifts are “right”. The gifts aren’t the most important thing – the time spent with the people is, and that will happen even if there are no presents.

a good time WAS had by all!

That’s not to say I haven’t put any thought into the gifts – I have. But once they were organised, that was it, with no second-guessing, or changing my mind. It’s done – move on.

This year, I’m not buying into that whole nightmare of doing things because they “should” be done. I’m doing things because I want to do them. I’ve enjoyed the company of friends in the lead up to Christmas Day. My family will be here with us for Christmas Day itself. We found enough beds for them all to sleep in, thanks to a (new) friend here in Bathurst. The food is all under control, although I do have to brave the shops early next week to get the fresh produce.

So, this is Christmas, and I’m looking forward to it.

look carefully - the jenny wren in her nest
she is now feeding at least 3 littlies!

It's a Small, Small World

Should I regret the purchase of
these as my gumboots?

I’ve often thought that it is a small world we live in, and that it’s risky to do something that I may regret because sure as eggs, someone who knows me will be there to see it. Even when I was travelling a long way from home, this thought was in my head.  I can’t say it ever really stopped me from doing anything, but I wouldn’t have been surprised if, just after I had done something, I’d heard a familiar voice call out “hey Joy!”.

My parents had an uncanny knack of running into people from Parkes, where I grew up, when travelling. They could be in Far North Queensland, or in Europe somewhere, only to run into someone who lives just up the road. Each didn’t know the other was travelling, so hadn’t arranged to be in the same place – it just happened. This was one of my first indicators that the world is small.

Then when I was working for a small company in Sydney (total employees of maybe 20?), my mother commented that the company must be going OK since we were hiring new people. Now that was information that was news to me, so how on earth did she know that? Turns out that the mother of the new employee lives directly opposite my Mum in Parkes, and they’d been chatting (as you do). I also knew the new guy quite well, because he had been in the same class at school as my little brother. Small World.

Then when I was leaving my last job to retire, I was asked to interview one of the people who had applied for my job. I thought I recognised the name, and sure enough, he turned out to be the husband of a good friend of my sister. Small World.

Turns out, Bathurst is part of this small world too.

When we moved to Bathurst, we went into the bank to change the address details on an account. We got chatting to the person who looked after us, as you do (well, we had to wait for the computer system to do stuff), and not only did he go to school in Parkes, but my father was his teacher. Small World.

Spectators at our tennis venue

Before we moved to Bathurst, we knew just one person who lived here (apart from Real Estate agents and the person we bought our home from, and they don’t really count). We’ve been here 3 ½ months now, so we know a few more, but still not a lot. Then we went to a Christmas in July dinner on the weekend, at a little village halfway between Bathurst and Lithgow. Since it was a fund-raiser for the Bush Fire Brigade there, and we were there because I play tennis with someone who lives there, I wasn’t really expecting to know anyone else. But within minutes of sitting down at our table, we discovered that the husband of one of the tennis people is the boss of that one person we knew. Small World.

Kevin Bacon has a lot to answer for (the Kevin Bacon effect – you know – six degrees of separation?). I am now convinced that the world is small, and getting smaller. I still won’t really stop from doing anything because of it, but take it from me – there is a big risk that just after I have done something, I’ll hear a familiar voice call out “hey Joy!”.

Just Christmas

So today is Christmas. Why do I have the time and inclination to put up a blog post on such a day? Well, this year it is the turn of the in-laws to have Christmas Day – our family will gather on Boxing Day to celebrate.

As a result, it is just me and my wonderful husband, and the nutso cat.

I made these cute decorations last year, based on a segment on Better Homes and Gardens, but I've since seen them everywhere on the web.

My wonderful husband is a traditionalist, and so is cooking a traditional Christmas lunch – turkey, roast vegetables, pudding and custard. Luckily, the weather has cooled down, so it’s fine to be having a hot meal in the middle of the day. If it had been yesterday, it would have been stifling – eating a hot lunch when the temperature is in the 30s and sticky and humid is not fun.

This year, we have bought all the makings for our lunch. Next year, I’m hoping that we will be able to supply at least some of it from our own garden. I’d love to try to grow potatoes, carrots, peas and beans. When we have our larger block in the country town, it will be possible, but it will depend on how good a gardener I turn out to be!

Our tree has been up for a couple of weeks, with the presents around. This morning we opened some of them – my best one was a milk frother! Now I can have frothy milk with my coffee – yippee! I love my plunger coffee each day, and to be able to have frothy milk in it is wonderful.

The nutso cat is less than impressed with Christmas.

Enjoy today!