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I got rostered on for a 10AM start on New Years Day. How about no.
Melanie wrote: "CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST HERE!Which means I can almost go back to the coast for some much needed sun, salt and sand & Puppy!
Beach is way to far away from me in Melbourne, and Ellie does not live with..."
Hey, Melanie. Owe you an apology. Didn't recognize your icon when you commented on my (anticipated) review of Bracken's opus. Everybody keeps changing avatars, but 'tis the season, I suppose! I'm visual, so I'm very easily disoriented! :) Enjoy the coast!
Michael wrote: "★ Jess wrote: "I got rostered on for a 10AM start on New Years Day. How about no."
Im on an arvo shift new years day Jess. Oh well lest i can see the new year in though. :)"'
Linguistic discontinuity detected by central processing unit. (I'm dumb.) What is an "arvo?" And why do they have to be shifted? And why has one been shifted onto you? It all seems very unfair, but I suspect it would seem more so if I knew what an "arvo" was. Must work harder on my Aussie lexicon.
Michael wrote: "That is an afternoon shift mark. Was just saying it in Aussie. :)"Thanks, Michael. I think, in America, we call it an "afternoon shift." Or possibly a carburetor or a unicorn. I'm never sure about these things. :)
Brenda wrote: "Melanie wrote: "CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST HERE!
Which means I can almost go back to the coast for some much needed sun, salt and sand & Puppy!
Beach is way to far away from me in Melbourne, and Ellie do..."
I leave Saturday morning flying out at 6am and Im there for 10 days :) a friend just came back from living in Europe for three years so I get to see her to!
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Mark wrote: "Melanie wrote: "CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST HERE!
Which means I can almost go back to the coast for some much needed sun, salt and sand & Puppy!
Beach is way to far away from me in Melbourne, and Ellie do..."
haha no harm ;)
★ Jess wrote: "I got rostered on for a 10AM start on New Years Day.
How about no."
don't worry Jess I have an 8am flight on new years day.
my parents have the wonderful job of getting up and 6am driving around the coast to find me, then taking me to the airport...I am a loved daughter haha
Which means I can almost go back to the coast for some much needed sun, salt and sand & Puppy!
Beach is way to far away from me in Melbourne, and Ellie do..."
I leave Saturday morning flying out at 6am and Im there for 10 days :) a friend just came back from living in Europe for three years so I get to see her to!
1
Mark wrote: "Melanie wrote: "CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST HERE!
Which means I can almost go back to the coast for some much needed sun, salt and sand & Puppy!
Beach is way to far away from me in Melbourne, and Ellie do..."
haha no harm ;)
★ Jess wrote: "I got rostered on for a 10AM start on New Years Day.
How about no."
don't worry Jess I have an 8am flight on new years day.
my parents have the wonderful job of getting up and 6am driving around the coast to find me, then taking me to the airport...I am a loved daughter haha
I've decided to go into hibernation for the Christmas/New Year season - already the shops are becoming packed to the brim with people - all of whom seem to want to stand right in the middle of the aisle while they take twenty-seven minutes to decide on a brand of cheese! Cynical, me? Never :)I also have a nearby street with every single house decorated to the nth degree - it literally looks as though Christmas threw up on their lawns... and me? All I can think about is how on earth can they afford the electricity bill. Perhaps I am a bit of a Scrooge... so bah humbug everyone and have a fabulous Christmas ;)
Michael wrote: "Good on you Melanie. I know you were sad having to leave family and your puppy. I hope you have a lovely christmas day. :)"
yea Im such a family girl, so its hard being away from my brothers and cousins and well everyone.
there are only two of us that live out of the gold coast.
but by far leaving my dog behind was the hardest (granted I know have one insane cat sitting on my laptop). so I excited. It will diffidently be an awesome christmas
yea Im such a family girl, so its hard being away from my brothers and cousins and well everyone.
there are only two of us that live out of the gold coast.
but by far leaving my dog behind was the hardest (granted I know have one insane cat sitting on my laptop). so I excited. It will diffidently be an awesome christmas
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How about no."
Never mind Jess, good money!! Where are you working?
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How about no."
Im on an arvo shift new years day Jess. Oh well lest i can see the new year in though. :)"'
Li..."
You cracked me up Mark!! I thought you knew all our Aussie'isms by now;)
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Which means I can almost go back to the coast for some much needed sun, salt and sand & Puppy!
Beach is way to far away from me in Melbourn..."
Awesome Melanie..10 days is really great!! I can imagine the reunion between you and your puppy! I bet there are some tears (from you!)
Brenda wrote: "Mark wrote: "Michael wrote: "★ Jess wrote: "I got rostered on for a 10AM start on New Years Day. How about no."
Im on an arvo shift new years day Jess. Oh well lest i can see the new year in tho..."
Well, you know, I've been trying, but it's a terrible strine. :) I do know how to mimic a marsupial, though, if that helps at all.
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Tracey I don't know how people afford the electricity costs for the Christmas lights now either...we have stopped decorating our house, and only have the tree on now. The cost is extreme, and it's a shame as kids love the 'light show'...
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yea Im such a family girl, so its hard being away from m..."
What will you do with your cat while you're away? Have a wonderful Christmas with your family Mel:)
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How about no."
Im on an arvo shift new years day Jess. Oh well lest i can see the ..."
I don't think I've heard a marsupial;)
Brenda wrote: "Mark wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Mark wrote: "Michael wrote: "★ Jess wrote: "I got rostered on for a 10AM start on New Years Day. How about no."
Im on an arvo shift new years day Jess. Oh well lest i..I don't think I've hear a marsupial ;)."
They're very quiet. I can do that, too.
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Women are from Venus; men are from Marsupials, you know. (John Gray is from a planetary fungal growth floating in space in the vicinity of Betelgeuse, but don't tell anyone.)
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Wonder by R.J. Palacio which I have had on my TBR for awhile, so I'm pleased about that!!
In this city (an undisclosed location in Southwest Texas named after a saint, but *I'll* never tell), there are many deceased and lamented armadillos, but a regrettable paucity of marsupials. I'm not sure about Venusians. There are some xenophobic people who keep talking about "aliens," but I don't think that's what they mean. For my own part, I would like to be an "alien." In Australia or Norway, or possibly Reykjavik. Someplace where they don't have mass murders 50 times a year would be nice, but I'm not picky. A reasonably warm asteroid would do.
Brenda wrote: What will you do with your cat while you're away? Have a wonderful Christmas with your family Mel:)
Well its really my room mates cat (but kind of everyones at the same time as I pitch in and help with the cost of him) and she is not going back to the coast of chrissy so he will be fine and happy ay home annoying her instead.
Im sure there will be a few happy tears when I get to see my beagle again! Im a sucker for that dog, I already have christmas presents for her! my brothers send me daily photos of her, so I know she got fatter in my absence and more cheeky!
Well its really my room mates cat (but kind of everyones at the same time as I pitch in and help with the cost of him) and she is not going back to the coast of chrissy so he will be fine and happy ay home annoying her instead.
Im sure there will be a few happy tears when I get to see my beagle again! Im a sucker for that dog, I already have christmas presents for her! my brothers send me daily photos of her, so I know she got fatter in my absence and more cheeky!
Michael wrote: "★ Jess wrote: "I got rostered on for a 10AM start on New Years Day. How about no."
Im on an arvo shift new years day Jess. Oh well lest i can see the new year in though. :)"
I will see the New Year in. There is no way my plans for NYE celebrations will be altered.
Does anyone here have anything planned for Christmas Eve? What is everyone doing for New Years? Any exciting plans? ^_^
Liz wrote: "Does anyone here have anything planned for Christmas Eve? What is everyone doing for New Years? Any exciting plans? ^_^"Absolutely nothing whatever. Have no family. Plan to get some sleep. Perhaps I'll get to talk to four ghosts (counting Marley), but I really have a low tolerance for presumptuous ectoplasm.
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Well its really my room mates cat (but kind of everyones at the same time as I pi..."
Oh that's cute Mel!!! I would love to be a fly on the wall at your reunion!!!
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Don't go to Norway, there are mass murderers there too!!
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Haha! Too old for exciting plans Liz;) We will watch the carols on TV, maybe go for a walk around the Christmas lights, and on New Years watch the fire works from Sydney on TV with our own little party of nibbles and drinks! Very boring in our house;)
Brenda wrote: "We had our final bookclub for the year tonight...lots of nibbles (no wine!) but cups of tea:) And our January read is Wonder by R.J. Palacio which I have had on my TBR f..."What NO Wine? Ah you might have to change that next year :P
Lol! Only joking. Glad you had a great night Brenda...It sounds like a good book
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Wonder by R.J. Palacio which I have ..."I almost took some Mish, but I'm glad I didn't cos our librarian was a bit nervous about it (it's against the rules apparently!) and we had it last year!! So, had my wine when I came home;)
You haven't read this one?
Brenda wrote: "Mish wrote: "Brenda wrote: "We had our final bookclub for the year tonight...lots of nibbles (no wine!) but cups of tea:) And our January read is Wonder by R.J. Palacio ..."Well that’s understandable I suppose if she was bit nervous.
No haven’t read it but according to the blubs it does sound good. I’m always interested in finding good middle grade books
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Wonder b..."I'm not sure what age it's for, I thought YA, but maybe it's younger...I'll have to reserve my opinion on that until I've read it.
Just looking at it, the side panels go from YA down to childrens and anything in between!
Brenda wrote: "Mark wrote: "In this city (an undisclosed location in Southwest Texas named after a saint, but *I'll* never tell), there are many deceased and lamented armadillos, but a regrettable paucity of mars..."Yes, but I think the tragedy in Norway was notable for its anomalousness. What would be anomalous in the States would be for a week to pass by without a massacre, or a full day without 100 gun-related deaths. And anyway, Norway has a social safety net and doesn't apparently believe in putting old people and disabled people out on ice floes to starve and be eaten by sharks (the local term for "hedge fund managers who swim"). Also, I can read Norwegian and Danish, so I'd have a head start, whereas I still haven't actually learned to speak "Texan," though I gather it involves invoking ritual language from Fox news, and complaining that science is based on facts. You are, as always, kind and compassionate to be concerned about my chances of being massacred in Norwegian, Brenda, but I think I'd rather take my chances... *anywhere but here*! Reykjavik still sounds good. I used to play a lot of chess, and was USCF-rated, so maybe they'd grant me a "Bobby Fischer" exemption. :)
Mark wrote: "Liz wrote: "Does anyone here have anything planned for Christmas Eve? What is everyone doing for New Years? Any exciting plans? ^_^"Absolutely nothing whatever. Have no family. Plan to get som..."
I hope you have a wonderful day all the same :)
Brenda wrote: "Liz wrote: "Does anyone here have anything planned for Christmas Eve? What is everyone doing for New Years? Any exciting plans? ^_^"Haha! Too old for exciting plans Liz;) We will watch the carol..."
You do far more than some. On Christmas Eve I won't be doing much, I use to attend a Christmas Eve Party they were nice. :) But this year, unsure whats happening.
Have no plans for new year as yet. I will have to wait and see what happens.. :-P
Liz wrote: "Mark wrote: "Liz wrote: "Does anyone here have anything planned for Christmas Eve? What is everyone doing for New Years? Any exciting plans? ^_^"Absolutely nothing whatever. Have no family. Pl..."I hope you have a wonderful day all the same :)
That's kind of you, Liz. I hope you have a wonderful day, too. I hope Santa will give especial attention to Australia this year. (His reindeer would be well-advised to steer clear of the air space over the United States. I think most of the population has an undue propensity to shoot at living things, and may be in possession of rocket launchers, since there is apparently no weapon so ridiculous that the national gun lobby will not stump to have it made available to lunatics, preferably by mail, or at the local Walmart's.) Anyway, I'm certain that Australians are on the "nice" list :) , and here's wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!
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Haha! Too old for exciting plans Liz;) We will ..."
One year, we thought that just MAYBE we might take a Christmas/New Year cruise!!! That would be fun...but I think I'd miss my family too much:)
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Sounds like Norway it is then Mark;)
Brenda wrote: "Mark wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Mark wrote: "In this city (an undisclosed location in Southwest Texas named after a saint, but *I'll* never tell), there are many deceased and lamented armadillos, but a... sounds like Norway it is, then, Mark..."Australia would do quite well, too. Unfortunately, no civilized country I'm aware of is eagerly recruiting disabled senior citizens without significant financial resources, whether or not they "speak the speech." If it were Norway, I'm afraid I'd have to take "Oslo" boat. :)
I find myself remembering Tom Lehrer's Christmas "ditties." Did he ever achieve any popularity in Australia? (This was vintage 1963, mind you.) An example:
"Hark, the Herald Tribune sings,
Advertising wondrous things.
God rest ye merry merchants,
May ye make the Yuletide pay...
Angels we have heard on high,
Tell us to go out and buy!
So let the raucous sleighbells jingle,
Hail our dear old friend, Kris Kringle,
Driving his reindeer across the sky...
Don't stand underneath when they... fly by.
Actually, I did rather well myself this past Christmas.The nicest present I received was a gift certificate good at any hospital for a lobotomy... rather thoughtful."
(from "An Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer")
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Well done Michael!!! You won't need dinner;)
ATARS came out today. Thats me next year, I'm actually freaking out so much.
Oi! Mark....didn't you know that Santa always visits Australia last....(-: Merry Christmas mate...(-:
Santa’s Aussie Run
When Christmas time comes around, ev’ry body knows
that Santa leaves behind, the north poles winter snows
now on his yearly quest to spread goodwill and cheer
and bringing children gifts — those — who’ve been good all year.
Now Santa’s covered from his head down to his toes
he’s staying warm while trav’ling, icy wind that blows
and while you’re soundly sleeping, tucked inside your bed
He’s getting closer now with Rudolph’s nose bright red.
So through the night he travels with all kinds of toys
till Santa fin’lly reaches Aussie girls and boys
he leaves Australia last, yes! this he’s always done
and loves the time he spends — trav’ling our great nation.
He starts in Northern Territ’ry, then hops to W. A.
then South Australia and Tasmain’ya in his sleigh
now over to Victoria, then to New South Wales
and fin’lly Queensland to the great far north he sails.
Now way up in the tropics chimneys are so rare
or if there is a fireplace, it is left quite bare
so how does Santa leave, your presents by the tree
your house is all locked up, and doesn’t have a chim’ny.
I’d like you all to know, that Santa’s not alone
he has a special Elf, looks like a garden gnome
a wise and clever chap who’s name is simply Lee
he’s Santa’s fav’rite, with a truly magic key.
Now with Lee’s magic key, he opens any door
and then he helps in placing presents on the floor
there is another reason Santa rides with Lee
it is our little secret, just ‘tween you and me.
See, Santa truly thinks up north here is the best
and on his final drop, looks forward to a rest
so not that far from here, slightly north of Daintree
and now that Lee has gone, Santa sips his lemon tea.
Relaxing by a pool, and glad his job is done
enjoys his time now basking, in the Queensland sun
it’s just a short break, from the freezing cold north pole
he loves our pleasant weather, when he takes a stroll.
In only two short weeks — on the return of Lee
he’ll go back to his home, where it’s often frosty
where Santa has a new list, and he’ll check it twice
he’ll then find out — who’s been naughty and who’s been nice.
David J Delaney ©
Santa’s Aussie Run
When Christmas time comes around, ev’ry body knows
that Santa leaves behind, the north poles winter snows
now on his yearly quest to spread goodwill and cheer
and bringing children gifts — those — who’ve been good all year.
Now Santa’s covered from his head down to his toes
he’s staying warm while trav’ling, icy wind that blows
and while you’re soundly sleeping, tucked inside your bed
He’s getting closer now with Rudolph’s nose bright red.
So through the night he travels with all kinds of toys
till Santa fin’lly reaches Aussie girls and boys
he leaves Australia last, yes! this he’s always done
and loves the time he spends — trav’ling our great nation.
He starts in Northern Territ’ry, then hops to W. A.
then South Australia and Tasmain’ya in his sleigh
now over to Victoria, then to New South Wales
and fin’lly Queensland to the great far north he sails.
Now way up in the tropics chimneys are so rare
or if there is a fireplace, it is left quite bare
so how does Santa leave, your presents by the tree
your house is all locked up, and doesn’t have a chim’ny.
I’d like you all to know, that Santa’s not alone
he has a special Elf, looks like a garden gnome
a wise and clever chap who’s name is simply Lee
he’s Santa’s fav’rite, with a truly magic key.
Now with Lee’s magic key, he opens any door
and then he helps in placing presents on the floor
there is another reason Santa rides with Lee
it is our little secret, just ‘tween you and me.
See, Santa truly thinks up north here is the best
and on his final drop, looks forward to a rest
so not that far from here, slightly north of Daintree
and now that Lee has gone, Santa sips his lemon tea.
Relaxing by a pool, and glad his job is done
enjoys his time now basking, in the Queensland sun
it’s just a short break, from the freezing cold north pole
he loves our pleasant weather, when he takes a stroll.
In only two short weeks — on the return of Lee
he’ll go back to his home, where it’s often frosty
where Santa has a new list, and he’ll check it twice
he’ll then find out — who’s been naughty and who’s been nice.
David J Delaney ©
Earlier this week, I posted a short piece about my reaction to the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy in Newtown Connecticut.I put aside my Christmas shopping excursion the other day and instead did a search for an appropriate charity to which I could donate some money.
I found one...
http://www.deanfromaustralia.com
David wrote: "Oi! Mark....didn't you know that Santa always visits Australia last....(-: Merry Christmas mate...(-:Santa’s Aussie Run
When Christmas time comes around, ev’ry body knows
that Santa leav..."
Love your poem, David, though I do think that Santa ought to re-prioritize, even given the logistical exigencies. (I assume many of the elves are trained in linear programming applications to the transportation problem, though it *is* intractable in a nondeterministic polynomial time frame. Elves are clever.) Aussies are obviously more deserving.
Holidays, da da da da da! Holidays, da da da da! :D
Michael wrote: "No fair Emily. The only day i get of over the Christmas period is is Christmas day."
well that sucks a big one!
well that sucks a big one!
Mark wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Mark wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Mark wrote: "In this city (an undisclosed location in Southwest Texas named after a saint, but *I'll* never tell), there are many deceased and lamented ar..."Made me smile. :)
Michael wrote: "No fair Emily. The only day i get of over the Christmas period is is Christmas day."It's very unfair. It is rather definitionally in the nature of employers, however, that they fundamentally don't care. For all I know, your own employer is otherwise wonderful in all respects. Just making an annoying generalization because I'm irritable about capitalism, cedar fever, and biting insects. But hey, it's Christmas. A blessing on every one of their gazillion-dollar luxury yachts. And on pollen, of course.
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Which means I can almost go back to the coast for some much needed sun, salt and sand & Puppy!
Beach is way to far away from me in Melbourne, and Ellie does not live with..."
When do you leave Mel, and how long are you able to stay up there for?