It's now a new year and I am reflecting on life more than usually at this time. A lot has happened during the year which will lead to big changes in a variety of ways.
Xmas was spent divided neatly between our two families as usual. 
Lunch in Melbourne with the
Norris's followed by a drive to the Menzies meet up in Ocean Grove for high tea.
It goes without saying that much was eaten and drunk unnecessarily, but very enjoyably.
The pudding - my first attempt at the Norris family recipe, was a success. The slightly burnt Xmas cakes that kept me up 'til the wee small hours decorating tasted fine and looked sparkly, thanks to the gold cachous and painted gold stars.
The real Xmas tree was wonderful, and I had fun decorating that too. I hadn't done it for years at OG and this time was my turn. I'm glad we did the real tree, it may be for the last time.
We did miss my father, but it was not as difficult as I had imagined, perhaps the hard work of packing things away helped to obliterate the gap in our ranks
We must make decisions about what to do with the house.
In the meantime we have taken home most of our inherited pieces with the intention of leaving just holiday home basics to be used in the interim.
New Year was also different with Tony's mum spending a few days with us. The heat forced the decision to stay home in the cool of our one airconditionable room. We dined on oysters, prawns, mango salad with asian dressing and topped it off with raspberries. My version of the good fortune foods that are associated with Chinese New Year - they make me happy anyhow. Our better than usual bubbly added to the festivities. My only sadness here was that I was the only reveller in the household, apart from Charlie the cockatiel, to ring in the new year by watching the fireworks on the TV.
It's a lonely job but it must be done!!
Now for the big decision making - I expect this year to be a very different one, with new thoughts about work and health, as well as life in general.
Bring it on- I'll just have to keep jumping the hurdles as they arise!!
