CHRISTMAS DAY 2008

For the very first time that I can remember in all of my seventy one years, there will only be the two of us for Christmas lunch and one, (guess which), is a virtual non drinker.

We generally have Christmas lunch with Carolyn, Brandt, Tom and Joe, but as it is Carolyn's turn this year to cook lunch for Brandt's family, we will be with them for Christmas dinner.

Before doing so we will visit my brother Brian and Betty and family early afternoon, as is our usual custom on Christmas Day.

Anthony, Megan, Nick and baby Tim are spending Christmas with Megan's family at Palmwood

on the Sunshine Coast, a particularly nice part of Australia and we will of course miss them.

They were with us in Hampton last Christmas and hopefully will be again next year.

Julie, Justin, Georgina and Susannah are likewise away from home spending their Christmas at Peterborough, where they have a holiday home not far from the Twelve Apostles and we will of course miss them too.

We were at Julie and Justins for Christmas lunch last year along with Anthony, Megan, Nick and had a lovely day.

How could you not when you are with your family and grandchildren who we just love spending time with.

The problem however is that they are growing up too fast for our liking.

Tom, (big Tom), will be sixteen in January and is taller than his father.

His big love is cycling and thinks nothing of joining "the pack" on Beach Road for a 70-80km

ride to the Peninsula and back.

However having recently "discovered" track riding, he has now added that to his list of interests.

Joe who will be thirteen on February 13 and doubles as my IT expert, also likes cycling,

although he is not as much in to yet as yet as big brother Tom.

Georgina who will be ten in March and Susannah who turned six on December 12,

are just the most beautiful little girls and are a real delight to both Lyn and I.

They are spending the holidays, (about a month), at Peterborough and will no doubt enjoy the time spent at the beach.

As Nick who will be eight in February and Tim, one in March, live in Sydney

we don't unfortunately get to see as much as them as we would like to.

We speak regularly on the phone and communicate via the web cam, but there is nothing like being there with them in person.

Nick was very pleased when his new brother arrived earlier this year and loves playing

the big brother role, while Tim as one would expect is yet to make his mark.

We look forward to spending some quality time with both Tim and Nick when we go to Sydney sometime early in the New Year.