Update before Christmas

Well, thought I would hop on the computer quickly before getting ready to go out to dinner.

Things are going well with all of us - Al was a TV star this week. Last week when we went to see his surgeon on Brisbane, the surgoen asked Al if he would come in this week as he is busy with a research paper on the vibrating plate which Al stands on for 20 mins per day (this is supposed to speed up the bone regrowth process). Al said yes OK. Then he got a call the day before to ask if he was all ready for tomorrow - Al said - yes why ? Oh, because the local TV station and newspapers are going to be there !!!!! Well he wasn't keen on that idea but it was too late for him to pull out - we went up and they took heaps of photos and did an interview both with him and the surgeon and he was on TV later that night. Now I can see how they can cut what people say to suit themselves - he spoke for ages and they probably showed about 5 sentences ! The rest of the time you saw him on his crutches and the dr examining his leg and making (fake) adjustments to the frame. Anyway, it is all over now but we did land up at the dr's this afternoon as it is now looking infected again so he is back on the anti-biotics to make sure that the infection doesn't get into the bone.

I am happy to say that my Christmas shopping is all done - just a couple of groceries to get closer to the time and that is that.

Kaitlin has been working some extra shifts at work now that she is on holiday - she has also spent some time with my folks and lots of time putting up the Christmas decorations and the tree (and then changing them around again, and again, and again !!!) Last night she stayed with my folks as we went to Al's Christmas drinks at a night club in Surfers - it was amazing to watch the people out and about - how they were dressed, how they behaved and boy was that music loud !!!! We were very pleased when a respectable amount of time had passed and we could come home - geez we are getting old !!! It was funny because we landed up sitting with another (older ?) couple and we were laughing at exactly the same things and thinking pretty much along the same lines as each other. They are a lovely couple although we only ever catch up with them at the Christmas parties each year - we battle to find time to stay in touch with our close friends and much as I would like to stay in contact during the year, we just never seem to find the time. I guess we would make the time if we really wanted to - maybe we can invite them to our "Entertainment Area Warming" when we eventually get that all finished.

The concreter was here last week - he has done a fantastic job with the concreting. The tiler was really impressed and said he wished that all the jobs he had to do on concrete were as good as this is - that is good as it means we will get a great finish when he is done. He thinks he should be able to do the pavers around about Feb / Mar which will be good as Al should be a lot more mobile by then and we can really get stuck into the garden then. I can't tell you how many times I wished we could go somewhere to get a piccanin to come and help with the manual labour in the yard !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The third Ashes test is on now - think we are going to win them (the Ashes) back from the Poms this series (well I would be very disappointed in the boys if we lost it from the position that we are in at the moment !) as we are 2-0 up already.

Other than that - not much else in the way of news. It has been really quite muggy here the last couple of days (well muggy for here - not anything like Durban used to be) - we had a huge electrical storm last night and some rain which was great as it has been so dry here over the past few months.

I hope that you all have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and wish you everything you wish for yourselves in 2007 !!!

Take care and go safely if you are travelling over the holiday period.