Pamela King's Blog, page 8

Tribute to an Old Girl

I remember when you were a baby.
Your eyes wide with wonderment at your new surroundings. Those turned over ears sitting on top of your head would soon be pricked and alert. You sat in our kitchen and gazed upon us. 
Did you wonder what happened to your siblings? Did you wonder why you were in this place alone?

But you were not alone. In through the door came Fred that galloping klutz who taught you all you needed to know – how to con titbits from the table, how to unravel the toilet roll and how, with a little teamwork, to unlock the sliding door.


By the time you were a slip of a girl you started to figure things out for yourself. 

I remember the time you sneaked out of the bedroom in the middle of the night. I am still in awe of how you managed to reach the front room of the shop; carefully stepping over fragile objects to claim the stuffed tiger from the furthest corner. He was yours forever. After all that effort, we couldn’t take him from you.
But I remember you were a bit cautious too. We spent hours coaxing you up and down the back stairs. You were very reluctant to try it by yourself but you finally managed and once achieved did it in bounds.

Within a year, you climbed anything and everything including the old car in the back yard.



At two you became a mum delivering a healthy litter of 10 puppies then went on to earn your Championship title before going into retirement.

More recently, I remember the morning I rose to let you out of the house. You couldn’t stand on your back legs. You dragged yourself along the ground while I stood and sobbed. I remember screaming ‘not my Sassy!” I shed more tears as we led you into the vet, dreading the worst. A slipped disc the vet announced. Injections and tablets would become part of your new regime.
Not long before you had undergone an operation for breast cancer and more recently you suffered a serious stomach infection. I owe the vet a small fortune. People tell me it is time to say goodbye. They tell me she’s 13 and lived a good life.
Then I thought. I am not young any more. I have pain and a chronic condition and I will also be on medication the rest of my life but I am enjoying life and I certainly am not ready to be “put out my misery”.
I don’t believe Sassy wants to end her life now any more than I do. 
And so, each day, my beautiful Sassy and I take our medication. At times, we both hobble around with stiffness and our exercise is more gentle these days. Neither of us could run around the show ring even if we wanted to.

We are both happy and have a love and a bond that is very special.  She is still the matriarch of our dogs but now is our time to leave things to the younger ones.

A Better Explanation for the Australian Climate

When people talk about the extremes of weather in Australia climate change is used as the explanation. I often wonder if people have forgotten how much our weather change dramatically.
I am not saying climate change is not happening but Australia has a history of weather extremes. We should also consider the knowledge of the original people of Australia, the Aborigines.
The D’harawal people are the original people of my region. D'harawal Climate and Natural Resources by Frances Bodkin (a D’harawal elder) helps us to understand the knowledge and understanding the Aborignal people had of the country and how to manage it and protect it. A knowledge we white people could well take heed of today especially as so much is being done to destroy the land.
The book begins with The Times of Day from pre-dawn to the Silence of the Night. It describes both the activities of the people of the land and the animals at each time.
The next section outlines The Annual Cycle or season. Not four like our year but six based on events that occur in the environment. The events can be plant flowerings and fruitlings or specific animal behaviour. They are described as: Cool, getting warmer; Warm and wet; Hot and dry; Wet becoming cooler; Cold, frosty, short days; Cold and windy
Then there is The Mudong Cycle, an 11-12 year period of change. It begins with the appearance of the Southern Aurora in the sky over D’harawal land and the phases are described as: Hot and dry; Getting cooler and wetter; Cold and wet; Warm and wet; Hot and wet; Cooler and drier; Cold and dry; Getting warmer and drier
If you look at these descriptions it helps to understand the extremes of climate we experience. Add to this minor cycles they recognise our climate is as complicated as it extreme.  
The book also features beautiful illustrations by Lorrain Robertson depicting the essence of Australia; its flora and fauna.

Working Effectively

I am retired so you would think time management would be easy but my time is filled with things I love to do. I am a writer (add in researcher for my current book), blogger (four of them) and book reviewer. I have a husband (no woman will ever say that is not work), a married son and granddaughter (who I love to spend time with of course), a stepson (he’s an adult but still counts when it comes to time).
I need to add in time for non-writing creative activities like making things for my granddaughter. I love to read and in addition the books I review for Indie authors I have a personal reading wish list; many are sitting on my bookshelves collecting dust and that brings me to one of my pet hates - housework. I also have a small part time job; ten to fifteen hours a week. Phew! I am worn out just listing all that.
I didn’t tell you all that to impress you but more to show that even in retirement our lives can be crammed full of things we love and want to do and that need managing. So, this is the list I try (TRY) and work to.
The list is the top 12 things people who work effectively live by.
Have daily dedicated planning time.By taking five to ten minutes each morning or afternoon to plan the day’s tasks and set priorities you will save time and not have your day taken up with unimportant or low priority jobs. That doesn’t mean these jobs shouldn’t be on your list. I find when I am particularly tired I will turn to the easier tasks because that is all my brain can cope with. If I try and do some of the more demanding ones I am not working effectively; better to leave them to the next day if possible.
I use the To-Do-List that come with Outlook. It is convenient for me because as well as listing my tasks I can also tag emails when they come in and prioritise action accordingly. My calendar of appointments and work time blocks are also right there. (see colour coding below)
Take care of quick tasks on the spot.Don’t get too carried away with your list writing. Often odd little jobs that you think of take less time than adding them to your list. Get them done, out of the way and off your mind.
Prioritise your to-do list.If, like me, your list is way too long to complete in a day you need to decide what is the most important. Rate your tasks 1,2 or 3 with the most important ones being a 1. Try not to get carried away with your 1’s. If you get through the most critical then move on to the 2’s. I sometimes reprioritise my tasks after the 1’s are completed.
Identify and utilise your productivity window.Have you ever noticed that you work better in the morning or afternoon? Some people are often at their most creative in the evenings. None of us can work at our best all day long. We have peaks and troughs in both our energy and our creativity. We have a two or three hour window once or twice a day that we are at our best. We need to recognise the times. For some things, like creative activities, we may also need to identify the times we are least likely to get interruptions. This is the time you need to put aside for the most important tasks that need your energy or creativity.
Know when (and when not to) multi task.If you can multitask that’s great use of your time but it is not right for every job on your list.  For example, if you are a writer turn off all distractions including social media websites and emails. That little bing when a new post or email comes in can be enough for you to lose your concentration at a critical time. If you need to listen to a recording or audio book there is nothing to stop you doing that while doing housework.
Use a planning/scheduling tool that works for your lifestyle.As I mentioned, I use the To-Do-List that comes with outlook but I often find for jotting down notes old fashioned pen and paper suits me better. I can quickly write down a thought and then drop it in the appropriate file for attention later or to add to my to-do-list when I am next reviewing it.
If your day needs to fit in with other people; friends, family, colleagues etc then you may need to look at one of the large wall calendars or a more complicated app.
Take a break.No one can keep going all day every day. Regardless of the demands placed on your time by others or yourself you need to recharge yourself with regular meals and refreshment. If you find yourself skipping meals then include them in your daily schedule. I also schedule in some exercise. Healthy eating and regular exercise will make you more effective and efficient.
Be realisticDon’t underestimate how long your chores or tasks are going to take. It is better to have time left over than feel the pressure and disappointment of not under achieving.
Have someone to make you accountable.If you don’t have to answer to anyone it is easy to make excuses to yourself as to why you didn’t achieve anything for the day. Find someone you can share your goals with and have them follow up on how you are going.
Be a perfectionist – but only when it countsIf you believe everything you do has to be flawless and without error nothing will be accomplished. Identity those tasks that must be accurate, error free and flawless; then settle for doing your best with the rest.
DelegateVery often this is easier said than done. Firstly, many people think they are the only ones who can complete a task satisfactorily. Don’t fall into this trap or you will carry the work load of all your work team or family.
Delegate the right way.You need to keep in mind the skills and knowledge of the person you are delegating to and their own work load or commitments. Above all else don’t forget please and thank you. If appropriate give positive feedback.
Appreciate what is achieved.Show your appreciation for what is done; don’t stress about what is not done. See the accomplishment of the day and congratulate your team and yourself.
Additional tip - colour codingI colour code. Whether it is writing, researching my next book, blogging, personal time, work or jobs around the house my files, calendar and task list are colour coded.
Because so many of my activities are difficult to identify the amount of time needed for individual tasks, I allocate time blocks on my calendar for each category. I do the same with emails as they come in. Unless they are urgent and need attending to straight away, I categorise them and attend to them all within that particular block of activity.
HouseworkAs I mentioned I am not a great fan of housework so here is a little bit of advice I am going to try (one day).

The best advice on how to live life.

I had the honour of reading this out at the wedding of my son and his beautiful bride just on three years ago. I think it is something that all of us should have as a guide to living our lives.****All of what we really need to know about how to live, and what to do, and how to be, we learnt in Kindergarten.
Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sandbox at primary school. These are the things we learned... Share everything. Play fair. Don't hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Don't take things that aren't yours. Say sorry when you hurt somebody. Wash your hands before you eat. Flush. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.  - Give them to someone who feels sad. Live a balanced life. Learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day. Take a nap every afternoon. Be aware of wonder.Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.
Take any one of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world it would be if we all - the whole world - had cookies and milk at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had as a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.
And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.[Source: "ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN" by Robert Fulghum.  See his web site at http://www.robertfulghum.com/  ]

I remember

Each month our local writers' groups sets one or two themes for members to write about. This month it was "I remember" This is my first attempt at writing any sort of poetry.*****Mini skirts, bell bottoms and my first kissSerials, cartoons and newsreels at the flicksIce skating, adpole catching and cycling to school.Milkbars, juke boxes and being cool
Biscuits, sugar and flour that were weighedFive jacks, marbles and ball games we playedSmokey Dawson, Roy Rogers and Peter PanThe milkman, the baker and the dunny man


Cilla, Cliff and of course, the BeatlesIodine, Mercurochrome and Condy’s crystalsRock concerts at The Stadium; tennis at White CityPolio injections without any pity
Surfies, rockers and the modsMeasles, mumps and chicken poxSecret Seven, Bobbsey Twins and Nurse AmesGolden books and Charlie Chuckles with its games
Rampant bushfires, drowning floods and August wattleDrop the hankie, pass the parcel and spin the bottleTunnel ball, vigoro and hopscotchThe Mickey Mouse Club we’d all watch
Kittens and puppies and many budgiesSchool milk and sandwiches with my buddiesBonfires, crackers and sparklers brightBut the scary stories would give us a fright
Cut out dolls, cowboy hats and hula hoopsBandstand and Six O’clock Rock and fab groupsThe twist, the stomp and a parental frownA cup of tea, a Bex and a good lie down

Reading challenge

I came across this reading challenge recently. It was intended as a goal for 2017.
As it is now March and I have commitments with books I have promised to review, I decided to look back over those I have read since first beginning to write reviews and see what that leaves me as goals for the rest of this year.
Anyone want to join me? 


 







Here is my list.
A book you read in school The Secret Garden. It’s the only one I can remember from school. Does that say something? Review not yet published A book from your childhood The Bobbsey Twins Forest Adventure – currently my bedtime reading. A book published over 100 years ago Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens. Peter Pan was a childhood favourite and having recently watched Finding Neverland I decided to begin reading all of Barrie’s Pater Pan stories. Currently reading A book published in the last year Tears of God (The Blackwell Files Book 7) by Steven F Freeman. Reviewed. A non-fiction book After His Affair: Women Rising from the Ashes of Infidelity by Meryn G. Callander. Reviewed. A book written by a male author Indiana Belle by John A Heldt (my newest favourite fiction writer). Reviewed A book written by a female author Portrait of a Secret Agent who Knew Kim Philby by Tina Tamman. Reviewed. A book by someone who isn’t a writer The Hollywood Survival Guide for Aussie Actors by Kym Jackson. Reviewed A book published in the 20th century Mystery at Three Elms by Michael D. Gibson. Reviewed. A book set in your home town/region The Old Razorback Road: Life on the Great South Road between Camden and Picton 1830-1930 by Elizabeth Villy. Reviewed A book with someone’s name in the title Hail Mary by CM Albrecht. Reviewed A book with a number in the title 1066. Review not yet published A book someone else recommended to you Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog by John Groga. Review not yet published A book with over 500 pages Timbuctoo by Tahir Shah. Reviewed. A book you can finish in a day The Adventures of Sherlock Bones: Doggone by Lauren Baratz-Logsted. Reviewed. A previously banned book Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. So the story goes, it was banned in South Africa during the Apartheid days because it had the works ‘black ‘and beauty’ together. Review not published yet. A book with a one word title Eden by (Sandra Mahoney Mystery) by Dorothy Johnston. Reviewed. A book translated from another language The Escape of Alexei by by Igor Lysenko (Author), Georgy Egorov (Author), Vadim Petrov (Author), Marian Schwartz (Author), Atonina W. Bouis (Author) Reviewed. A book that will improve a specific area of your life Dingo Tails by Kane Guy. I read this books as part of my research`h on the life of the Dingo Lady Berenice Walters. Reviewed. A memoir or journal Tears of Innocence by TR Robinson, Reviewed. A book written by someone younger than you Living with the Dingo by Adam O’Neill. Not hard category seeing that I am 67 but I included because it is an excellent book. Reviewed. A book set somewhere you will be visiting this year The Fourth Season by Dorothy Johnson. Set in Canberra, Australia. Reviewed. An award-winning book Will Never Forget: A Daughter's Story of Her Mother's Arduous and Humorous Journey Through Dementia by Elaine C Pereira. Reviewed. A self-published book When Kingmakers Speak by Nathan Veerasamy. Reviewed
That leaves two categories I can’t tick off: A book that became a film and a book with a character with your first name.
I should be able to easily find a book that became a film but does any know a book with a character by the name of Pam or Pamela. Please let know any recommendations.
A special thank you all the Indie authors I review for and who keep my reading material interesting and varied.
My reviews can be found at http://pambookreviews.blogspot.com.au/

AM I WINNING? By Bruce Higgins

Bruce HigginsBruce Higgins is a fellow member of the Wollondilly Branch of the Fellowship of Australian Writers. 

Am I Winning? was published in our last monthly magazine. It is one person's story about dealing with cancer; not just his own but many of his loved ones and close family.

I found it not only a moving piece but one that sends a message to appreciate every day and make the most of our time with the people we love.

Bruce has given his permission for Am I Winning to be reproduced as a guest post.




*******


“This is nothing like it happens on television and in the movies.” What a ridiculous thing to think of when a doctor advises “All the test results are conclusive. Unfortunately, I have to inform you that you have cancer of the prostate.”
As strange as it seems that is exactly the thought that had entered my mind as the doctor gave his final diagnosis. No dramatic music during the build-up, no pregnant pause before the climactic announcement. Rather just a simple monotone, every day like routine statement of fact.
The doctor continued, “Without treatment you have maybe twelve months. If you can withstand the severity of the radiation treatment required and it is successful you could possibly expect a life span of five to fifteen years,”
This was my own moment of truth with this insidious thing called cancer, however it was not the first time that as a family we had felt its effect. The suffering of the patient is only one part of the devastation it can cause on both the direct and indirect family.
As have most people I had known and heard of people who had passed on from cancer. However, in the main they had been much older; therefore, I guess the shock from these events was not as severe as when it began to attack our generation.
My initial close contact was just over twenty years ago, when I had driven my brother and sister in law to the cancer clinic in Brisbane. I was sitting with them when the final diagnosis was given.
“Inoperable cancer of the stomach, life expectancy six to twelve months.” The instant numbness, shock and confusion these words caused was like nothing I had ever experienced or seen.
Born on a farm, eating wholesome mostly home grown food. She had never smoked or drank alcohol in her life. Forty-three years old with two school age children. How could this possibly happen? Well, nature proved without doubt it could happen. Almost twelve months to the day later she was gone.  
Personally, I had spent numerous hours sitting with her during those twelve months. We had talked at length about plans and wishes for the future that would now amount to nothing. She shared her few regrets but as she would say “Words are superfluous now.” Having a bit of a reputation for being a daredevil I had always thought I possessed a modicum of courage. Sitting with her listening as she quietly discussed her life even as it was slipping away showed me a courage I had not seenbefore and it has inspired me to this day. I have always been in awe of the quiet courage that some people display at this time of their life. What I had possessed was stupidity and unfortunately it has also prevailed to this day.
While I had learned a positive life lesson from her passing unfortunately my brother basically self-destructed. He hit the bottle. Lost all of his ambition and caused his family to become totally dysfunctional. This dysfunction continues to this day. In the words of the family, “he dug himself a hole and climbed in and pulled the dirt in on top of him.”
Was it a personality weakness or a result of the damage this disease can wreak on a family? Who knows?
Another trip to the cancer clinic, another diagnosis. This time my brother in law with throat cancer. Once again, a shocked and shaken wife as well as another school aged child.
As he also came from the country he moved in with us for the duration of is treatment. Daily for ten weeks I would drive him to the hospital for his chemotherapy and radium treatment. As the regimen of the therapy took its toll he became more despondent. It became a daily challenge to get him to agree to dress and prepare for his treatment. Over the period, he was threatened with physical assault as well as the chance of being carried in over my youngest son’s shoulder. As my son is almost two metres tall he was well aware of the probability that it could happen.
During the entire treatment, his sense of humour never totally failed him and I truly feel this helped no end. An example of this was during a well being interview the nurse asked.
“Are you still having sex during therapy?” His instant retort, “I’m living with my sister. That only leaves my brother in law and you can see how bloody ugly he is.” Finally, he was declared in remission and then at five years cancer free.
A couple of years after he was pronounced clear he rang and asked my wife and I to go down to visit. It was then he had informed us that the cancer was back and treatment was useless. Two weeks later he was dead. True to his sense of humour his last rebellious act was for me to announce that we were to have a beer at every pub in town on the way to the wake. By now I was becoming convinced that this thing was unbeatable.
Two years later came the start of this story with my own diagnosis. After the disbelief that the family could be hit a third time I was given forty-eight hours to make my decision as to whether I would undergo treatment or simply let nature take its course. There was no doubt as to my decision. We made a pact that we would still have fun, and as much as possible treat the entire thing with disdain. Thirteen weeks of daily radiation followed. During this time, we laughed and joked with the staff and other patients. I fell deeply in love with a number of radiologists as well as my oncologist, all unreciprocated I might add. In short, we attempted to make the very best of a bad thing. On one occasion the dietician rang at about ten one night to check that I was eating well. When my wife told her that I was having a big mac and a stubby of beer she simply hung up. Six months later I was informed I was in remission and my wife and I started planning celebration trip. We were going to drive to Victoria filling in the couple of gaps we still hadn’t travelled.
Six days later we again heard those dreaded words. This time it was my wife of forty-eight years. “Advanced pancreatic cancer. Inoperable and virtually untreatable. Life expectancy six months at the most.”
Four times lightning had struck. Unbelievable. No there was absolutely no doubt. Following the initial disbelief and shock we made the decision to do home palliative care.
What followed was the most terrifyingly beautiful and amazing six months of my life. We laughed, joked, teased and at times talked brutally honestly with each other. Most people I know who have lost a life partner have regrets. “I should have said that, I meant to tell them this.” We did it all, there was not a thing left unsaid. Her courage inspired me to be capable of administering the treatment required. Never would I have believed that I was capable of giving the injections of morphine and other comfort drugs in the way that was required. The routine was twenty-four hours a day but I would have willingly done it forever had it been possible. One of my proudest achievements in life was that I was able to keep her at home until twenty-four hours before she passed. She had actually sat with the minister and arranged her own funeral right down to the music and prayers. We had both been threatened with a life time of haunting had her instructions not been carried out in the finest detail.
Following her passing I don’t mind admitting that I struggled for a while. You can’t just erase fifty years of your life. It was at this time that I was introduced to writing by a very good friend. I have found it therapeutic as I get to recall some of the most stupid and humorous moments of my life and believe me there have been a few. I also spent a fair amount of time talking with my younger brother who had lost his wife. I must admit that at times I used him as my ‘what not to do’ model.
Just over four months ago, the news came through that he had been diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer. He passed away five weeks ago. So here I am. Sister in law, brother in law, wife and now brother. I often ask myself, why am I the one that is still here. I am not bitter or mad at the world as I learned at age eleven what will be will be but I don’t think I would be normal if I didn’t question things at times.
In the main I live each day as it comes and make the very best of it. Of one thing I am certain. Every day is precious so I enjoy every minute of it and always go to bed looking forward to what tomorrow might bring and what I might learn. Life is always an experience that we only have once.
For all of this on the odd morning as day breaks the thought crosses my mind. ‘Am I winning? Who knows?’
*****
Since writing Am I Winning? Bruce has two more people close to him diagnosed with cancer or undergoing treatment making eight people in his close circle.
His message is that every day is worth making the best.

Pause before you answer that phone call.

I used to teach customer service skills and one aspect of both our business and personal life we tend to forget is how we sound on the phone. Did you know your posture can impact enormously on how you sound?
There was an exercise we used to do that demonstrated this very clearly and I’d like you to give it a try.
Sit at your desk or table. Fold your arms and slouch down in your chair and say out loud “I feel great”. Do you sound convincing? No?

Now sit up straight, smile and say “I am so depressed”.
I am willing to bet neither time you sounded like you meant what you said. It is true for when you are talking on the phone. Your posture will impact on how you come across the person on the other end of the line. For example, if you need to ask the customer “how may I help you?”, your posture will convey a message of whether you really want to help or not.
Sit up straight again, smile. Say out loud “I feel great.” That is how you will sound with positive body posture and you will also feel it in yourself too.
Next time the phone rings take a few seconds to prepare yourself to answer the call. Sit up and put a smile in your voice; yes, it can be done without looking like a grinning fool. It will do wonders for how your customers will feel about you as a service giver and their own attitude will be more positive and friendly making your work life more agreeable.

My Christmas Message

It seems this time of year is one for reflecting on what has passed and what lies ahead. 

I think we should reflect on other aspects of our lives, not just the achievements, money, successes, career etc.

Were we better as humans - kinder, more generous, loving and forgiving? 

Did we support and help those in need - not just family but strangers? 

Did we do enough in our lives to stop animal cruelty and reduce the impact we as humans are having on our environment?

Let's all reflect on these questions over Christmas and make our new year resolutions based on making our world and others' lives better.

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and a very happy New Year

Presents on the Tree

The year 1953, the first year I have vague memories of Christmas. It was also the year of our first Christmas in Australia. My family was small, just Mum, Dad and me. We had no extended family to celebrate, except for Mum’s brother and his wife who we lived with at the time.
Dad particularly missed his family and the traditional English Christmas. He recalled Christmas’ past of aunts, uncles and cousins joining together in badly sung carols; a wondrous feast, cold weather, open fires and presents, often hand made with love.
My aunt and uncle decided to take a holiday leaving just the three of us to celebrate on our own. Mid December had been exceptionally hot and, of course, nothing like my father’s fond memories of home. I believe this was the time he felt the most homesick for his beloved England.


Money was tight because he had not long found work after months of difficult searching.  Evidently, he couldn’t get a job because he wasn’t a member of the union and he couldn’t join the union because he didn’t have a job. Finally, he got work in a non-union factory.
But, homesickness and lack of money was not going to stop the pleasure of Christmas. He wanted to make sure his little family enjoyed a full day by introducing some new traditions.
The first was a stocking waiting on the end of my bed on Christmas morning. It was partly to keep me (and 11 years later also my brother) quiet for a short time. It didn’t work because we would head into Mum and Dad’s bedroom and jump on the bed to share the toy, fruit, nuts and other small items our stocking contained.
There were no big presents first thing. The stocking and its contents kept us happy while Dad cooked a traditional English breakfast. Only after breakfast could we open our ‘real’ presents. Like most other baby boomers we generally only received one present although there may have been small parcels from overseas sitting under the tree.
We didn’t look for more. We happily played with our new gift until lunchtime which was always a full roast dinner with all the trimmings, regardless of the weather. Having crackers with our dinner gave us more trinkets to amuse us while Dad slept off the meal and Mum cleaned up.
But it didn’t end there. After a light supper of leftovers from lunch, Dad announced his second surprise. There were presents on the tree for us! At the time these little novelty gifts would have only cost a couple of shillings but in future years they became the most eagerly anticipated part of the day with constant requests of “Can we open the tree presents now?”
My immediate family now consists of husband (Italian) and grown up children (son, stepson, daughter in law)
My family’s traditions, at son and step son’s requests are included in the combination of English, Australian and Italian traditions we now observe.
I still put together stockings with treats, toys and trinkets for everyone. They are still the first things we receive and we still exchange “tree presents”. They remain the highlight of our gift giving. Sometimes they are handmade; mostly they are humorous; occasionally they will bring a tear to an eye and often they won’t even fit on the tree!
They are always there and always given in fun and love.