Christmas 1999 - 4

Dad and Eva on the train to Brisbane. It's about a 20 minute drive from their place to the nearest station. All drives on the Gold Coast are scary because of the enormous volume of traffic, so that's the hard bit. The train takes about an hour, and our lunch was a mere escalator ride away. Helen took a brilliant picture (warning: it's big) of the view we had.

For Fathers' Day Dad and Eva had a barbecue which Eva's children and grandchildren came down for. Here's Dad with Tara.

When we go up to Queensland we stay in rented accommodation as close by as possible. D & E are thereby protected from my unsavoury habits of smoking and snoring, and don't get too disrupted in their busy schedule. They run or are involved with a heap of tennis clubs, and also have a rigorous morning routine of walking and swimming. We join them for that, although we don't walk as far as they do!

In March we rented the cottage next door, but found it a trial (especially in the heat) locking everything up every time we stepped outside. In September we were lucky enough to rent a neighbouring unit with security screens on windows and doors. Burglary is a big problem on the coast. Wildlife isn't. Breakfasting and lunching on the porch at Bilinga, it's a passing parade: little lizards scuttle everywhere, a blue heron stalks through the garden, a willie wagtail pivots on the fence, and then there's the resident blue tongued lizard.

October was Helen's 25th birthday, which we celebrated with a small dinner at the Canberra Club. With my 50th coming up in February 2000, we thought a combined 75th birthday celebration would be a good idea. We wanted it to coincide with the JAnnieQ (a reunion of friends from around Australia from the old bulletin board days) which is generally held the weekend before Australia Day. We also wanted D & E there, and Fiona & Ricky; the date of Amy's christening was chosen accordingly. After everything was settled, however, the date of the JAnnieQ was changed.

So a small dinner at the Canberra Club was it for Helen's quarter-century. The tale of my half-century celebrations (and Amy's christening) will appear in next year's Christmas letter.

In November it was time for another visit to Sydney. Fiona, Ricky and Amy were back in their own house, beautifully extended and decorated, at last. Amy, who moved from a bassinet to a cot the day I arrived, made an exception to her non-sleeping rule for a few nights and I, in the quiet and comfortable guest quarters downstairs, made an exception to mine, so everyone was rested and happy.

The biggest thrill for me was being there when Amy rolled over for the first time. She chose to do this on a shopping centre changing table with side bars from which her legs then had to be extricated, so it was an exciting moment in general. It was lovely to be able to spend some relaxed time with my sister, and share moments like that.

I also took a day trip up to Toukley to meet another relative, Heather Topfer, and talk about the family history. She generously shared her memories over lunch. One of the photos she showed me solved a mystery - the first genealogical progress I'd made since the beginning of the year. She also showed me a pen drawing of "Beechworth", my great-grandparents' house in Lismore. Plans are afoot to go back with a proper camera - the photos I took are marred by reflections of the flash.

I enjoyed our conversation so much that the time got away from me, and I arrived back in Sydney much later than I'd said I would, in peak hour traffic. Fiona had lent me her mobile phone for the trip, and rang me just as I was waiting to turn from Parramatta Road into Liverpool Road - big, scary traffic for a Canberra driver! The lights were about to change but I knew she'd be worrying, so I grabbed the phone - which had hooked itself firmly to my handbag. It was a quick, breathless and obtrusive call as I turned the corner with two kilograms of handbag dangling from my ear!

Dac spent Christmas in Adelaide with his family, and I spent it here with the usual suspects - Helen, Annabel and Brian. First there was midnight mass at St Brigid's, which for once was actually held at midnight - normally the traditional mass people have to be out by midnight so the "regular" parishioners can come in. Helen and Brian were delighted about this; I wasn't so sure. It proved to be a very late night - I got home after two - but the service had been so peaceful and the singing so pleasant that I slept promptly and well.

Canberra's summer didn't really start till February 2000, and Christmas Day was mild. Good company, good food, and as usual one person obeyed the "rule" about only giving home-made presents: Brian had made beautiful jars of Italian preserves. (Last year Daryl joined us en route to Adelaide. I'd told him about the "rule" so he flew in with cheesecake - and was the only one who'd complied. It must have seemed a cruel jest!)

My last trip for 1999 was to Sydney to celebrate New Year with Fiona, Ricky and Amy. They'd made amazing progress with their garden in the six weeks since I'd been up. From a pile of builders' rubble around a rain-filled pit, Ricky had created a handsome lawn surrounded by garden beds and paved areas, ready for the big christening/housewarming party in January.

Ricky's family came round to see the New Year in with us, and we had a good view of Sydney's spectacular fireworks from the balcony. I made the same New Year's resolution as last year: my computer has been reminding me faithfully every week for fifteen months to get some advice on my finances. I've almost done last year's tax, and I've written this letter - I'm fairly confident that I'll get around to making the appointment this year!

Best wishes for 2000.

Christmas 1999 - 1
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Page created after Christmas 1999; last updated 20 July 2002