Christmas 2020

 7.00 AM.

Well we made it. Lib's gone to work. I've got the washing on. It's beautifully quiet outside. Not a vehicle on the road when I went out to bring the the bins in. Yes, garbos work Christmas day (I heard the truck about 6am). Not a soul to be seen in the street. Not a breath of wind. Looks like a nice day ahead. Think I'll go lie down again for an hour or so, before getting busy doing vegies for dinner, preparing a batch of dog food for the coming week, and wrapping a couple of gifts for Lib. She's the only one I do. Just a bit perfume and a couple of books. Tradition.

Boxing Day 7 AM

Lib's gone to work again. She doesn't seem to mind. She knows the end is in sight, we are soon to retire, she's happy to earn what she can while she can and help them out at work while they go through difficulties of staff shortage due to illness etc. Officially she does 2.5 days a week but she's been doing more since we moved, by her choice.

Gord Rob and I had Xmas lunch at the farm. It went well. Meredith and her daughters did all the food. Jod behaved. I had a busy morning before we left. we arrived about 1 PM. Nice feast, lovely seeing Meredith's four grandchildren aged 15?(Evie, 13?Ella) down to 6 (Toby)- Annie's kids, and Grace 8? Rosie's daughter. Grace gave a violin performance, her dad Mat is a music teacher at Caulfield Grammar. Amazing. After lunch and presents I sowed some butter bean seeds in the vegie garden.We got back to Gembrook at about 5pm to ready for our feast , just the four of us about 8pm, roast turkey and veg with ham also and cream cake, gift from farm for Gord's birthday.

In the morning I put a post on my Facebook AF private group saying I was considering having a glass of good red with Xmas dinner, just one I promised. I was overwhelmed by the response, 40+ comments by the time we left for lunch telling me NO don't do it in short. Too risky. I took their advice and watched Lib and Rob enjoy the Monolith 2015 Shiraz while i stuck to my AF alternative. I did take a sip from Lib's glass and mouthed it to check if the taste was the same for me as it would have been a year ago. No it wasn't, seemed very strong, but yes lovely aftertaste, I could see how I could easily be re seduced by wine witch. So happy I took advice from AF Facebook friends and didn't. 355 days now AF. Ten days to reach one year target, then reassess, but think I'll continue AF. Comments on Facebook post reached 80+ now, later ones congratulating me and saying how glad they were I stayed the course.

I have no interest in Boxing Day Test beyond wishing Mathew Wade well. I have been amazed at the huge media coverage of the cricket. So much of our society, politics and economy is media driven. Marketing and advertising sets the tone and direction, including the consumption of alcohol culture and gambling. pretty scary when you detach and look at it.

Going to friend Maria's with Gord after lunch for Boxing Day get together.