Christmas Newsletter 2021

 I usually write our Christmas Newsletter much earlier than this

 but as our Christmas cards should be arriving soon (well, depending on the post...) 

I thought I better get on with it... 

And in fact last year I was only three days earlier!

Covid restrictions have flavoured the year but it has not all been 'doom and gloom' as my Mum would have said!! 

In February we will have been in Australia for 2 years - and so far, getting on for 40% of the time we have been in strict lockdown. Much of the rest has been under Covid restrictions. Opportunities to meet up with family and friends here in Victoria have been few and far between; inter-state and overseas non-existent. The last time we went on a plane was when we flew here.

We are fortunate however to have had various stretches of normality throughout the year and we obviously have tried to make the most of them. Now it feels like we are getting back to some kind of normal, although it's not over yet...

We are almost ready for Christmas - although as I write this, Sophie and Kevin are wrapping. I have been pretty late (making and) sending out Christmas cards. The post has been so unreliable I didn't think it would really matter! 

We will be meeting up with all the family on Christmas Day but not necessarily all at the same time!

Last year we had everyone here for a Christmas dinner as lockdown had ended and in fact we then had several months with eased restrictions.

This meant that Sophie, Kevin and I could go for a trip to the Grampians in January - we also saw some of the Silo Art -

and then to the Australian Open in February- we plan to watch some of this year's Open too in January.

We have managed several trips over to East Gippsland to see Matty and the girls - This was in March.

We spent much of the earlier part of the year travelling around looking at where we might buy a house. In the end we decided to buy a block and build - more of this later. Around April time we discovered the Australian Botanic Garden just South of Cranbourne.

 Alongside this we found a block that we decided to buy. In the meantime we continue to live here in the rental in Patterson Lakes with the lovely view:

We have managed to see quite a lot of shows and exhibitions: the Travelling Wilbury's, Harry Potter, an exhibition of impressionist paintings, a Doll's House exhibition, Van Gogh's Lume.

We have enjoyed picnics and days out - a memorable trip was to go whale watching!

In May, Aiden was 21 - we were lucky enough  to celebrate his birthday in a restaurant but within days we were into lockdown. 

(Sophie, Lizzie and Tom all spent a second birthday in lockdown!)

Aiden and Tom

During lockdown Kevin and I had to find projects. Kevin renovated a sailing dinghy amongst other things and of course I had my Crafting. I have participated in virtual retreats and Zoom craft and chat meetings - and Zoom crafty sessions with Sophie.

We were so pleased when lockdown eased again! Finally we could take part in events that had been postponed - in particular Sophie and I did a Champainting session at Melbourne Aquarium - drinking champagne and painting a jelly fish.

Dan and Lizzie's baby was born on August 1st. None of the rest of us could see Ollie for ages - but now it is quite a regular occurrence.

Work began on our house in November. We keep going over to watch progress and we're very excited to see the wall frames up this week. Of course the next stage will not be for a while because of the Christmas holidays.

Once again we have decorated the house for Christmas - boats on the canals each night take trips to see the lights. We hope to get the canoes out soon to go and have a look.

 

And this is this year's decoration using junk...

So, here's wishing you a very happy Christmas and let's hope 2022 is a better year!

The girls arrived and now I have a picture of Jas and Isa in the same spot!

 love Sue and Kevin xx

P.S. Most of my Facebook posts have been memories as it seems that we have fewer new stories to tell. But these memories do remind us of lovely occasions spent with Mum and Dad - it is now over a year since each of them left us...the orchid that Matty and family sent us at the time of Mum's funeral has amazed us with its reflowering!