New Year Fireworks

On New Year's Eve, we elected to remain in our suburb and join with others at a high vantage point to spot local fireworks and view the fireworks the city put on. Though it is illegal to explode "unofficial" fireworks in Australia but there was plenty of it in all parts of the city. The police have turned a blind eye to it. The very local fireworks were hard to catch on camera given we did not know when one would be set off; so it was a fun challenge, like catching an illusive fish. Below are just four that were caught close by. Above was what the city looked like from our vantage point with telephoto on full stretch. Happy New Year, and may 2017 bring real peace and truth to our "post-truth" world.

Sparkler Drawing

On New Year's Eve while waiting for the odd fireworks explosion in our suburb we distracted ourselves with sparkler drawing and catching some of it with the fireworks filter setting on Peter's camera. It was a bit hit and miss but it was pretty neat and some good images came out of it to share.

Tropical Downpour

It seems worth sharing that a tropical rain front actually crossed Australia from the tropical north and dumped over 100 mm in our area of Melbourne in two hours. The front also brought very sticky high humidity, something our evaporator cooler did not handle very well. We usually get our rain from the south-west so this is unusual indeed. When we finally arrived home we found this lake in our side yard, a place without easy drainage. There were no leaks inside that we could see so we consider ourselves blessed.

Christmas Unfiltered

With camera off its filter, we caught the more usual snaps to wind up our Christmas celebration at Lillydale Lake. Some of us even got wet in the cool water. Others threw the frizbee and later we all partook in a game of cricket. Darkness closing in forced us to pack and go home. A great day to remember Christmas by.

Christmas Filtered

The joke is on us! Our camera was left on a polarising setting and faithfully took half of our Christmas celebration before we noticed the oddity. They are such memorable snaps that we thought we still ought to share them but as a separate post. So here following are catches of our present opening on the day. Again we were at Lillydale Lake and it was again quite hot (34 degrees C) but there was a breeze which gave us relief.

Whittlesea Staff Christmas

There remained one last thing to do after all the kids left for 2016, and that was the annual Christmas Lunch. At least 35 of the staff were present and were treated to a version of charcoal chicken and salads. Each staff member gave in a secret KK for their prescribed name. It was an enjoyable time.

Christmas Wishes for 2016

This is our Christmas message for 2016 helped by our stained glass Nativity resting on our mulch pile!

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel (“with us is God”). Isaiah 7:14 ^NRSV

May Christmas be a special time for you with friends and family about, and that you find rest and relaxation in the midst of it. Love from the both of us. 

Images from blogs throughout 2016

Tallarook Graduation

Peter was privileged to give out the five Values Awards at the Tallarook Graduation for 2016. The names of the values were: Respect, Responsible, Personal Achievement, Caring, Fair Go. The students and their families did not know who was going to be chosen and so each was an excited surprise and lots of hasty photos taken with many mobile phones. The various awards were interlaced with songs by the children plus a Christmas pantomime or two.

Funk Overnighter

We had the pleasure of having our grandkids over for two nights. We did all the usual fun things which included playing with a large cardboard cubby house, plus going to a community Christmas celebration nearby. Nice memories.

When Bec and Gord picked their kids up that included a lot of the lopped tree. The leaf springs on their truck were forced flat, such was the weight. Gord took off very carefully and probably drove home avoiding any unnecessary road bumps.