THE YEAR THAT WAS 2022

The year has flashed past and we will have made it to a new year in a few hours. We have slowed down a lot this year. Past years are catching up with us. We do not travel far distances anymore Covid helped that along. I have had hospital visits, we have had family visit and we have joined in the many activities at the village. I have had two of my best friends die this year.  

Here are some memories from 2022:

In January, Carol and David said goodbye after spending a few weeks with us over Christmas.

In February, Bill celebrated his 79th Birthday with friends at a Daisy Thai Restaurant.

In March we had floods in Brisbane

In April, Fox and Bernie got a part in a TV series. Fox is being filmed below.

In May, Jan was diagnosed with cancer and a debilitating lung problem. I helped her around the village to take photos of gardens for a book she is making. She is an inspiration.

In June, I celebrated my 80th birthday in the community centre with family and friends.

In July, Carol, David, Sonya, Bernie, Fox and Banjo came from Melbourne to spend a week at Burleigh Heads with us to celebrate my birthday.

In August, our monthly dinner had a Gatsby roaring 20's theme.

In September, Chiou See (our managing director) and Brendan were married.

In October, my friend of 58 years, Joan passed away. We worked together and played together.

In November, we went on an excursion to a historic village in the Scenic Rim Region.

In December, Carol and David drove from Melbourne to be with us for Christmas Eve.

And so ends 2022. 

Wishing everybody a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

CHRISTMAS 2022

We always celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve like they do in Switzerland which is Bill's home country. Our daughters are very happy with this because they can then go to their in laws for Christmas Day. This year Carol and David drove from Melbourne to us in Brisbane (2000km) to spend Christmas with us and David's parents who also live in Brisbane. Sonya, Bernie and the boys couldn't come this year and they will spend Christmas with Bernie's family in Melbourne. Bernie is in the stage show "A Christmas Carol" over the holidays. However, we facetimed when we were celebrating Christmas Eve and opening presents, which they had sent with Carol. They opened presents we had posted to them. So it was a nice family get together, which I was lucky to attend as I was in hospital for two nights until 21st.

I had stroke tests, which were ruled out and then I had a heart monitor for 24 hours. Still waiting for results and hope I don't pass out again.

The village singers walked around all the streets singing Carols. They stopped beneath our back balcony.

The next day our daughter and SIL arrived from Melbourne just in time to put me in an ambulance and send me to hospital to check if I had a TIA mini stroke.

I felt okay but I was worried and after lying down for two days my back complained when I bent down to put on my shoes. It remained sore for two days. Luckily it was better for Christmas.

The view from my room in the hospital. I can see the city in the distance. After tests ruled out a stroke I was sent home wearing a heart monitor for 24 hours. I'm still waiting for results which I don't expect until after the holidays.

On Christmas Eve Bill, Carol and David prepared the lunch/dinner. Bill made Potato Salad, Bean Salad and Russian Salad, which we now call Ukrainian Salad.

Carol made Green Salad, Mince Pies and Pavlova. David prepared the prawns and lobsters. We prefer a cold seafood feast rather than the traditional roast ham and turkey. However, we do have cold cuts of ham and turkey. It's too hot to be in the kitchen roasting for hours.

Only half the family this year but it is better than none. We had a lovely time together as we don't see each other in the flesh very often.

This was David's helping I had half that.

After the delicious meal we opened presents and facetimed the other half of the family as we opened the presents they had sent us. David was Santa and gave out the gifts.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my blogger friends and Happy Holidays to those of other faiths.

BIRDS THAT VISIT US

 Over the five years that we have lived in 'Elements Retirement Living, Springwood' I have collected quite a few photos of birds that visit us. Some come to our balcony, others to our tree and many more in the village gardens. It is a pleasure watching them. Sometimes they get a bit noisy.

Blue Faced Honeyeater

Rainbow Lorikeet

Curlew

Brown Honeyeater

Kookaburra

Plover

Pale Headed Rosella

Noisy Miner

Galah

Red Honeyeater

Friarbird

There are too many for one post.

CHRISTMAS DINNER

It's that time of the year when we have Christmas lunches and  Christmas Dinners with all the groups we belong to. Last Saturday night was the residents Christmas Party. No village staff are involved. The residents social secretary and her committee organised the party for 130 guests. We had a caterer cook the food and a guitarist/singer provide the music. The committee organised us to sing Carols. We had a fun night but I found it a bit noisy and hard to hear. The PA system wasn't working the best and me having hearing aides didn't help. Anyway the food was good and the company great. I was impressed with our community spirit. People helped those who are less mobile to attend by giving them a lift to the Community Centre. Others delivered dinner to those who couldn't get there due to illness. 

The social committee decorated the hall and tables. We are watching 12 volunteers who sang the 12 days of Christmas.

The 12 Days of Christmas

Dinner time. Salads, vegetables , pork, turkey and ham.

Each group of three tables had a Carol to sing.

We finished off with a dance. The committee and volunteers cleaned up.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

On the first Saturday of December every year we have a "Turn on the Lights Night". The residents of the village turn on their Christmas lights and invite family and friends to walk around the village streets and enjoy the colouful display. Some residents have stalls outside their unit providing passers by with a Christmas  drink, chocolates, sweets and cookies.  Afterwards we congregate in the community centre for Christmas drinks, friendship and Carols. We weren't the best with the Carols this year. In past years the village singing group sang for us but they weren't available this year due to sickness.

I set off just before nightfall. Outside David and Diane's unit they were giving out some Christmas Cheer for adults and sweets for children.

More and more visitors were arriving.

This garden was lit up with little moving lights. It was beautiful.

A pretty hedge.

The girls were enjoying each other's company while the boys sat at the bar. (A typical Australian custom which Bill and I don't like.)

The bar is operated by volunteers.

Then it was time for me to walk home. Bill hadn't come with me because he wasn't feeling the best. (Low blood pressure). This is our street and the video below is our lights. It gets harder and harder each year to put them up, especially as we don't have family living close by to help.