New Year Cheer

Camp David

I feel rather sad this morning as I pack the cards and decorations away. But that won't last long; there are three Birthdays to celebrate this evening! An al fresco barbecue under the stars!

GOLD COAST FUN

Last week we spent five days on the Gold Coast
(a little over an hour down the coast from Brisbane in Queensland)
visiting our Son for his Birthday.

On Sunday morning we went for a walk along the beach.
This is the statue on the foreshore of Main Beach.
We arrived at 6:45am, just as the sun was coming up.

My Son, Dane, ahead of me.

My footprint in the sand.

Heading back, rain in the distance.

Shells and coral collected; only one perfect,
I wish I'd had more time!

Back to a triple Birthday party
for Christie, Dane and Joel.

We had a fantastic time, too much of everything,
wonderful company and balmy weather.

As the saying goes,
'Queensland, beautiful one day,
perfect the next.'

LA FENICE (The Phoenix)

Last week I watched a documentary, 'The Phoenix Rises Again', about the re-building of the famous opera house, Gran Teatro la Fenice di Venezia. It took 630 days working non-stop on the restoration and the end result was fitting for what it is, a grand opera house.

In 1996 an Italian electrician from Venice deliberately lit a fire that burnt La Fenice to the ground. He and his cousin had been hired as sub-contractors on the renovation of the opera house. As they were behind schedule, they would have faced hefty fines which would have bankrupted them.

This was the second fire to destroy the opera house since it opened in 1792. After a fire in 1836 it was rebuilt on a new site to the original plans of Tommaso and Giambattista Meduna.

When the legendary phoenix rose from the ashes again in 2003, its rebirth was celebrated with a series of concerts and partying.

OSCARS UPDATE

Australian Heath Ledger was awarded Best Supporting Actor for the sensational role of The Joker in 'The Dark Night'. It was a bittersweet moment for Heath's family as his Father, Mother and Sister accepted the award on behalf of Heath's daughter Matilda; the Oscar to be held in trust until her 18th Birthday. Richard Wilkins, entertainment reporter for our local msn network said, "This was the crowning glory to an all too brief career".

On a high note, wasn't Kate Winslet's speech brilliant, calling for her Dad to whistle and he did! Such a great Oscars moment for prosperity. And Hugh Jackman really arrived on the world stage as the Academy Awards' host. Hugh was one of the big winners on the night and I'm sure there will be many accolades tomorrow.

YES WE CAN!

I particularly loved a photo in today's newspaper of little Sasha giving her Dad the thumbs up following the oath of office. 

He's a great communicator, sees the big picture and I hope he will make a better world for us.

CELEBRATIONS

I've been away for three days, catching up with family, my birthday celebrations and a 60th Birthday party for a friend.

It's a busy month for our family; two of our grandsons are also Capricorns with birthdays this week also.