Saturday 31st December - New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve Celebrated at 

Gosford Sailing Club

Well that is the end of 2011 - moving right along to 2012 which I hope will bring us some happy days.

Today Peter made my day by finally putting up a new mail box for me that has been sitting in the back shed for about 4 years.  Hooray!

We celebrated the new year in at the Gosford Sailing Club which was a great advantage point to watch the waterfront fireworks display.   We were there with some of our Golf Club friends Duncan & Rosalie Dyer, Des & Yvonne Wilson, Col Kelly and Alice Diamond.  A good time was had by all as you can see by the attached photos.

I have lots to do in 2012 and places to go - so bring it on!.  

Friday 30th December 2011

My new toy

Bluetooth waterproof mini flexible

keyboard for my iPhone

(Christmas present from Shane & Sam)

I have a very relaxed and peaceful week between Christmas and the New Year - not doing a whole lot.

Monday Evening 26th December 2011 we had Tracey Burrett and her children Tori & Joel for dinner.  We have not had too many opportunities to catch up other than by email or facebook so it was good to have a chance to have a good chat.  Tracey was a good friend of Greg's who we saw a lot of in those days.

Tuesday 27th December 2011 Peter had a big painting job at the Club to finish off.  I went over to give him a hand with a few of the other F-Troopers.  It was a big day of painting and my arms were aching at the end of the day from unaccustomed brush work.  Prior to painting I was out on the course planting in some new plants that were donated to the club.  That was a big day that required a nanny nap.  Shane called around and we organised for he and Rod to install the new Home security camera system that Peter and I had bought for each other for Christmas.

Wednesday 28th October 2011 Peter went over to the club to do some finishing off of the painting work and I had a morning out in the golf club gardens weeding one of the club gardens.

Thursday 29th December 2011 we had a catchup day at home with the house and gardens.   In the evening Graham called in on his way back to Sydney from Copacabana where has been holidaying.  We had a drink for the New Year as we will not be seeing each other until 2012.  

Friday 30th December 2011 was a busy day with Shane & Rod arriving about 9.30 am to install the home security cameras.  It was an exciting day seeing it all come together.  I have been wanting this system for a long time as we have so many low life wandering our street.  The boys put four cameras in place that record continuously when there is motion anywhere around the house.  The camera results are recorded on a monitor that I can see inside the house so I can easily see who is at the door or around the house at any given time.  It is a very sophisticated system which I will be able to view on my iPhone when I work my way through all the technical instructions.  I feel much more secure in my own home now and it is good to be able to replay tapes to see just who is wandering around when we are not at home.

I have had such a lot of fun with my iPhone this week as I have had plenty of time to play with it.  The available applications never cease to surprise me.  I have so many I don't know which ones to use first.

Tomorrow is the last day of 2011 and I am looking forward to seeing 2012 arrive as I have places to go and things to do next year.   

Monday 26th December 2011 - Boxing Day

Christmas 2011 went very smoothly.  The lead up week was typical last minute shopping and social events.

Tuesday 20th December 2011 I did not play golf.  Instead I put some time into preparing the lavender plants that I have been nurturing at home - getting them trimmed and fertilized ready to go into the golf club gardens.
We were over at the Golf Club in time to have morning coffee with the girls that did play today.  The rain set in which brought a lot of the social golfers in off the course which was a shame.

Wednesday 21st December 2011 Peter played golf & I finished off the lavenders & did some work in the back gardens.

Thursday 22nd December 2011 I spent some time burning photos to disc of our golfing holiday in China to give to Annie & Bert; Col & Lauren; Lynn & Ron who we traveled with.  We went to a Christmas Party at Bert & Annie's with a group of the Gosford Golfers.  We had a lovely night chatting and celebrating the Christmas Season.  I was up early to cut a bunch of roses to take to Annie.

Friday 23rd December 2011 we were a bit slow to get up after a late night.  We managed to get the last minute grocery shopping done & some tidying of the house in readiness for Christmas.  We were at the Golf Club at 5 o'clock to meet Anne, Joel & Emily who were coming over to see Santa Claus at the Children's Christmas Party.  Joel had a wonderful time racing around & was happy with his bag of lollies from Santa.   Anne had to leave straight after as they had another dinner to go to.  We stayed on for the club raffles and badge draw and met with Di Mosely, Neil Travers, Col & Lauren Matterson for a pre-Christmas Dinner at the club.    It was a good night catching up with everyone.

Saturday 24th December 2011 Peter played golf & I filled in the day at home cleaning up the front gardens and the hedges at the front of the house.  I made some Rocky Road to take to Anne's for Christmas Day & generally got ready for Christmas Day. I found some time to do a bit of shopping in Gosford in the morning for all the little things I had forgotten.

Sunday 25th December 2011 - Christmas Day.  I have been very good this last week with my early morning walking & thought that Christmas Day should not interfere with that.  I have downloaded the Beatles No 1 hits from iTunes to my iPhone & have fun pacing it out on my walking machine for an hour.   Surely it will do me some good (eventually). I made a pavlova for Christmas Dessert which was my contribution for lunch as well as the ham that I had won at Friday night raffles.  We were over at Rod & Anne's about 10 o'clock loaded up with all the presents from under the tree.  Joel was in his element - not knowing which toy to play with first.  He loved his "Bob the Builder" building set, his trampoline, scooter, truck, Diago Rescue Unit, train sets, new swing just to name a few.  He played himself to a standstill at lunchtime and had to have a nap.  Rod & Shane kept us amused as we watched them put together Joel's Train set - I think they had more fun than he did.  Little Emily took the day in her usual placid style - not understanding what all the fuss was about.  We had a lovely lunch out on the back lawn with Anne's Mum & Dad, her Aunty and three cousins, Shane & Sam.  It was a very enjoyable day.  We left about 3 o'clock to go out to Avoca where Butch & Anne & family had rented the Avoca Resort 4 bedroom penthouse apartment overlooking Avoca Beach which was a lovely spot.  We caught up with all the kids and grandchildren & enjoyed a gin and tonic out on the veranda soaking up the view.  We were home about 6 o'clock after a very tiring day, not doing much at all.   I did very well with my Christmas gifts getting some lovely stuff. Some formal portrait photos of Rod, Anne, Joel & Emily, Face creams, beauty products, golf gift voucher, wine, wireless bluetooth flexible keyboard for my iPhone and laptop, costume jewelery, soap, sudoku puzzles and chocolates - how good does it get!

Monday 26th December 2011 - Boxing Day (today) Peter spent the day at the Golf Club doing some painting.  I have been pottering around catching up with washing and ironing before the predicted rain sets in.  I will now have some time to play with my new keyboard.    We are having dinner guests this evening - old friends of Greg's from many years ago.  Tracey, Tori & Joel are now living in Tamworth and Greg was Godfather to both Tori and Joel.  It will be good to catch up with them.  Tracey is one of my Facebook Friends which helps me to keep in touch.  I am looking forward to seeing them now that they are all grown up into young adults.